Maurice Kenny

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Maurice Kenny is a Mohawk poet.

1 Life
2 Education
3 Awards
4 External links

[edit] Life

Maurice Kenny was born in Watertown, NY in 1929. His father is Mohawk from Canada, his mother was born in upstate New York. The family spent time living both on and off the nearby reservation.

Kenny's father was a stern man, given to rough treatment of his son and at 16 Maurice ran away from home. He lived in New York City for a brief period before returning home.

Maurice Kenny lives between Saranac Lake, NY, and Potsdam, NY. He occasionally teaches at North Country Community College, but currently is assigned courses at SUNY Potsdam.

[edit] Education

Kenny was educated at Butler University, St. Lawrence University and New York University, where he studied with American poet Louise Bogan.

[edit] Awards

In 2000, the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers awarded Kenny the Elder Recognition Award.
In 1996, "On Second Thought" was a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award in fiction.
In 1995, received an honorary doctorate by St. Lawrence University.
In 1983, "Wounds Beneath the Flesh" was awarded Bloomsbury Review's best anthology
In 1984, "The Mama Poems" received the American Book Award

Kenny's book of poems, "Blackrobe: Isaac Jogues, B. March 11, 1607, D. October 18, 1646" was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, as was "Between Two Rivers." He is the recipient of a National Public Radio Award for Broadcasting.

Kenny has held residencies at a number of colleges and universities.