Joy Harjo, the 2020-21 Avenali Chair in the Humanities, engages in conversation with Beth Piatote (Comparative Literature and Ethnic Studies, UC Berkeley).

A writer, editor, and musician, Harjo is the 23rd US Poet Laureate. She is a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the first Native American to hold the position of Poet Laureate.

Harjo discusses her signature project as Poet Laureate. Living Nations, Living Words: A Map of First Peoples Poetry presents the work of contemporary Native poets in a national, fully digital and interactive map featuring audio recordings by authors. A companion anthology, edited and with an introduction by Harjo, is forthcoming from Norton in May 2021.