List of writers from peoples indigenous to the Americas

The Reverend Samson Occom, Mohegan, 1723–1792,^[1] thought to be the first Native American to publish in English

This is a list of notable writers who are Indigenous peoples of the Americas.

This list includes authors who are Alaskan Native, American Indian, First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and indigenous peoples of Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. Indigenous identity is a complex and contested issue and differs from country to country in the Americas.

Inclusion to this list is based on legal membership to an indigenous community, when applicable, or recognition by the relevant indigenous community/communities of the individual as a member of that community. Writers such as Forrest Carter,^[2][3] Ward Churchill,^[4][5][6] Jamake Highwater,^[7][8][9] and Grey Owl,^[2][10][11] whose claims of indigenous American descent have been factually disproved through genealogical research, are not included in this list.

A

Sherman Alexie, Spokane-Coeur d'Alene author

• Louise Abeita, Isleta Pueblo, 1926–2014^[12]
• Janice Acoose, Sakimay (Saulteaux) First Nation-Métis, Canada, b. 1954
• Evan Adams, Sliammon First Nation Coast Salish, Canada, b. 1966
• Howard Adams, Métis, Canada, 1921–2001^[13]
• Freda Ahenakew, Ahtahkakoop First Nation Cree, Canada, b. 1932^[14]
• Ai, Choctaw-Chickasaw-Cheyenne-Comanche-descent, 1947—2010^[15]
• Humberto Ak'ab'al, K'iche' Maya, Guatemala, b. 1952^[16]
• Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Anishinaabe, Canada, b. 1965^[17]
• Clarence Alexander, Gwichyaa Zhee Corporation, b. 1939
• Robert Arthur Alexie, Gwich'in, Canada, b. 1956^[18][19]
• Sherman Alexie, Spokane-Coeur d'Alene, b. 1966^[20]
• Gerald Taiaiake Alfred, Kahnawake Mohawk, Canada, b. 1964^[21]
• Elsie Allen, Cloverdale Pomo, 1899–1990
• Paula Gunn Allen, Laguna-Sioux-Lebanese,^[22] 1939–2008
• Fernando de Alva Cortés Ixtlilxochitl, Texcocan, Mexico, ca. 1570–1648
• Arthur Amiotte, Oglala Lakota, b. 1942^[23]
• William Apess, Pequot, 1798–1839^[24]
• Annette Arkeketa, Otoe-Missouria-Muscogee Creek^[25]
• Jeannette C. Armstrong, Penticton Indian Band (Okanagan), Canada, b. 1948^[18][26]
• José María Arguedas, Mestizo of Quechua-descent, Peru, 1911–1969
• Joanne Arnott, Métis, Canada, b. 1960
• Pitseolak Ashoona, Inuk, Canada, 1904–1983
• Joan Tavares Avant, Mashpee Wampanoag, b. 1940^[27]
• Marilou Awiakta, Eastern Band Cherokee, b. 1936^[28]
• Alice Azure, Mi'kmaq, b. 1940^[29]

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

• Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley, Inuk, Canada
• Quesalid, Kwakwaka'wakw, Canada

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

none

Y

Z

See also

• Category:Indigenous Australian writers
• Category:Native American writers
• Before Columbus Foundation
• List of 20th-century writers
• List of indigenous artists of the Americas
• Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States
• Native American Renaissance
• Native Americans in children's literature
• Native Writers' Circle of the Americas
• Navajo Community College Press

Notes

References

• editors, Gretchen M. Bataille, Laurie Lisa, (2001). Native American women : a biographical dictionary. New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-203-80104-0. 
• McClinton-Temple, Jennifer; Velie, Alan (2009). Encyclopedia of American Indian Literature. Infobase Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4381-2087-4. 
• New, W. H. (2003-08-06). A History of Canadian Literature. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. ISBN 978-0-7735-2597-9. 
• Peyer, Bernd (2007). American Indian Nonfiction: An Anthology of Writings, 1760s-1930s. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-0-8061-3798-8. 
• Porter, Joy; Roemer, Kenneth M. (2005-07-21). The Cambridge Companion to Native American Literature. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-82283-1. 
• Senier, ed., Sionhan (2014). Dawnland Voices: An Anthology of Indigenous Writing from New England. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-0-8032-4686-7. CS1 maint: Extra text: authors list (link)
• Sigafus, Kim; Ernst, Lyle (2012-04-01). Native Writers: Voices of Power. Seventh Generation Books. ISBN 978-0-9779183-8-6. 
• Waldman, Carl (2009-01-01). Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes. Infobase Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4381-1010-3. 
• Westfahl, Gary (2005). The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy: Themes, Works, and Wonders. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-313-32952-4. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Native American writers.

• Association for the Study of American Indian Literatures
• NativeWiki literature pages
• Associated Press/CNN.com: Reading into Native American Writers
• Storytellers: Native American Authors Online.
• Yax Te' Books catalog, publishing house for Mayan literature in Mayan, Spanish and English.