Native American Authors

Maurice Kenny, 1929-

Mohawk

Maurice Kenny was born in Watertown, New York State and has been a poet, editor, publisher, and professor at North Community College and the University of Oklahoma. He earned a B.A. in English literature in 1956 from the Butler University. Kenny’s writing and editorial work have influenced many Native Americans toward an appreciation of values and political insight into their cultures. He was greatly influenced by Louise Bogan who helped to direct his growing sense of voice and craft. Kenny has been a leading figure in the Renaissance of Native American poetry since the 1970’s.

Awards and Honors

National Public Radio Award, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, 1984
Cup Award, Signal, 1990.

Online resources by or about Maurice Kenny:

I Do Not Waste What Is Wild … Louis (Little Coon) Oliver
Author: Maurice Kenny
Type: authorbio
Description: A piece written by Kenny about Oliver, from On Second Thought: A Compilation. (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1995, 258-259.)

URL: http://www.hanksville.org/storytellers/kenny/poems/littlecoon.html

Maurice Kenny
Author: Maurice Kenny and Karen Strom
Type: authorbio
Description: Biographical and bibliographical information about Kenny.

URL: http://www.hanksville.org/storytellers/kenny/

Studies in American Indian Literatures, Volume 7, No. 1
Author: Association for the Study of American Indian Literature
Type: authorbio
Description: This newsletter from 1983 contains a Maurice Kenny Bibliography, reviews of Maurice Kenny’s “Dancing Back Strong the Nation” and “I am the Sun”, a review of Duane Niatum’s “Songs for the Harvester of Dreams”, and a general discussion of Niatum’s poem.

URL: http://oncampus.richmond.edu/faculty/ASAIL/SAILns/71.html

Books by Maurice Kenny:

Kenny, Maurice. Backward to forward : prose pieces
Fredonia, N.Y. : White Pine Press, 1997.
Genre: Essays
ISBN: 1877727695

Kenny, Maurice. Between two rivers : selected poems 1956-1984
Fredonia, N.Y : White Pine Press, 1987.
Genre: Poetry
Audience: Adult
ISBN: 0934834733 (pbk.)

Kenny, Maurice. Blackrobe : Isaac Jogues, b. March 11, 1607, d. October 18, 1646 : poems
Saranac Lake, N.Y. : Chauncy Press, 1988.
Genre: Poetry
Language: English and French
Audience: Adult
ISBN: 0918517052

Kenny, Maurice. Dancing back strong the nation : poems
Marvin, S.D. : Blue Cloud Quarterly Press, 1979.
Genre: Poetry
Audience: Adult

Kenny, Maurice. Dead letters sent, and other poems
New York : Troubador Press, 1958.
Genre: Poetry
Audience: Adult

Kenny, Maurice. Greyhounding this America : poems and dialog
Chico, CA : Heidelberg Graphics, 1988.
Genre: Poetry
Audience: Adult
ISBN: 0918606071

Kenny, Maurice. I am the sun
Buffalo : White Pine Press, 1979.
Genre: Poetry
Audience: Adult

Kenny, Maurice. In the time of the present : poems
East Lansing : Michigan State University Press, 2000.
Genre: Poetry
ISBN: 0870135465

Kenny, Maurice. Kneading the blood
New York : Strawberry Press, 1981.
Genre: Poetry
Audience: Adult
ISBN: 0936574046

Kenny, Maurice. The mama poems
Buffalo, N.Y : White Pine Press, 1984.
Genre: Poetry
Audience: Adult
ISBN: 0934834385 (pbk.)

Kenny, Maurice. North : poems of home
Marvin, S.D. : Blue Cloud Quarterly, 1977.
Genre: Poetry
Audience: Adult

Kenny, Maurice. On second thought : a compilation
Norman, Okla : University of Oklahoma Press, 1995.
Genre: Biography
Audience: Adult
ISBN: 080612766X (pbk.)

Kenny, Maurice. Rain, and other fictions
Fredonia, N.Y. : White Pine Press, 1990.
Genre: Short Stories
Audience: All Ages
ISBN: 0934834989/0934834210

Kenny, Maurice. The smell of slaughter
Marvin, S.D. : Blue Cloud Quarterly Press, 1982.
Genre: Poetry
Audience: Adult

Kenny, Maurice. Tekonwatonti / Molly Brant (1735-1795) : poems of war
Fredonia, N.Y : White Pine Press, 1992.
Genre: Poetry
Audience: Adult
ISBN: 1877727202

Kenny, Maurice. Tortured skins, and other fictions
East Lansing : Michigan State University Press, 2000.
Genre: Short Stories
ISBN: 0870135317

Kenny, Maurice. Wounds beneath the flesh
Fredonia, NY : White Pine Press, 1987.
Genre: Poetry
Audience: Adult
ISBN: 0934834105