night is a sharkskin drum

Native American/First Nations Woman Writer of the Week

NORA MARKS DAUENHAUER

Continuing on our trek through what remains of March, I offer you another Indigenous woman writer, Nora Marks Keixwnéi Dauenhauer (1927-2017), a Tlingit writer from Juneau, Alaska. Born in Juneau, Dauenhauer grew up there as well as in Hoonah, Alaska with a father who was a fisherman and carver, and a mother who was a beader. Dauenhauer lived at times with her parents on a fishing boat and in seasonal camps. Being a member of the Tlingit tribe, her first language was Łingít, and she did not learn English until she was eight. 

Following her mother in the Tlingit matrilineal system, she was a member of the Raven moiety of the Tlingit nation, of the Yakutat Lukaax̱.ádi (Sockeye Salmon) clan, of the Shaka Hít or Canoe Prow House, from Alsek River. She was chosen as clan co-leader of Lukaax̱.ádi (Sockeye Salmon) in 1986 and as trustee of the Raven House and other clan property. She was then given the title Naa Tláa (Clan Mother) in 2010, becoming the ceremonial leader of the clan.

Dauenhauer earned a BA in anthropology from Alaska Methodist University in Anchorage. In the early 1970s, she married poet and Tlingit scholar Richard Dauenhauer and together they made significant contributions to preserve the Tlingit oral traditions in their Classics of Tlingit Oral Literature book series. Nora Dauenhauer became a Tlingit language researcher for the Native Language Center at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks from 1972-1973, and then became the principal researcher in language and cultural studies at the Sealaska Heritage Foundation in Juneau from 1983-1997.

On the subject of preserving the Tlingit oral tradition and its importance, Dauenhaur said:

People are now beginning to take action for language and cultural survival, and my work is to help provide inspiration and tools for this through my writing.

Dauenhauer had several accomplishments, including being named the 1980 Humanist of the Year by the Alaska Humanities Forum. Together, the Dauenhauers were awarded the Alaska Governor’s Award for the Arts, two American Book Awards, and a Before Columbus Foundation American Book Award. In 2005, Nora Dauenhauer was the recipient of the Community Spirit Award from the First People’s Fund.

As a poet, Nora Dauenhauer published to collections. one of which we hold in Special Collections, Life Woven With Song, published by the University of Arizona Press in 2000 (the other is The Droning Shaman, Black Current Press, 1989). This book recreates the oral tradition of the Tlingit people through written language in a variety of literary forms, and records memories of Dauenhauer’s heritage from old relatives and Tlingit elders, to trolling for salmon and preparing food in the dryfish camps and making a living by working in canneries.

Author Photo is by Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie

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Miteh: heart

Mitehimina: strawberry, literally "heart berry"

Nicîmos: sweetheart, boyfriend/girlfriend/S.O

Sâkihakan: lover

Sâhkihitowin: love, romance

Kisâhkîtin: "I love you"

awîyak kowicimosihk: sweetheart

Sîwinikan: sugar

Nicîwakan: friend, my friend (where neechie derives from)

Miyohtwawin: kindness

Great news bestie, I have the perfect replacement holiday for you:

James “Colonizer Bitch” Cook was murdered in Hawai’i by my ancestors on Feb 14th, 1779, on Kealakekua Bay. This iconic move ended his reign of terror across the Pacific, where he ruined everything and was overall a massive dick. Buy yourself some chocolate and fondly remember how Kānaka Maoli stabbed James to death and burned his corpse. It’s the perfect holiday for all ages ❤️

Then you should support the decolonization of Hawai'i and give it back to the indigenous peoples there because they are why it's so beautiful and the waters are perfectly clear.

And while we're at it support #Land Back because if we give authority to care for the indigenous people here on the main land, we can probably have a place that's that beautiful as well (assuming it's not too far gone yet).

Maria Padilla and the Pomba Gira are part of very specific traditions. If you don’t have Iberian or South American origins, mind your business.

Keep in mind Padilla was REAL. She was a Spanish noblewoman who knew first hand the power of lineage. What makes you think she wants anyone and everyone petitioning her? Or that she’d respond and bless your shit? That ain’t her.

Pomba Gira is LEGION. These are spirits of women that suffered for love, that died protecting their pride, femininity, and power.

She is powerful, passionate, and VOLATILE. I hope she does cut y’all for throwing her name around like she’s some tame love and light goddess.

Now THIS is how you perform bardic poetry. No slow, careful reading like the orator is recording an audiobook. Bards and their like were the original TV. You have to be the soundtrack and the stage directions and not just the words.

When this version of Beowulf got written down (and it is a version, because there’s evidence it was passed around, at least in part, orally), the author included the critical first word, which by itself shows you how and when recited poetry played a part in social life:

Hwæt.

In a word: “Yo shut the fuck up and listen, I’m doin’ the thing.” You have to get peoples’ attention and quiet them down so everyone can hear the story.

My friends, do you want to know what it feels like to time travel? Sit in a room with a bunch of other people and hear an epic poem performed the way your ancestors would have seen it performed.