Gwen Westerman Explained

Gwen Westerman
Honorific Suffix:	PhD
Occupation:	poet, educator, and artist
Language:	Dakota, English
Nationality:	Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation, Cherokee Nation, American
Alma Mater:	Oklahoma State University, BA and MA; University of Kansas, PhD
Genre:	poetry
Subjects:	-->
Spouses:	-->
Partners:	-->

Gwen Nell Westerman^[1] is an educator, writer and fiber artist.

She is a professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and the Director of the Native American Literature Symposium.^[2] Governor Tim Walz appointed her as Poet Laureate of Minnesota in September 2021.

Background

Westerman is Dakota and Cherokee. She is an enrolled citizen of both the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation and the Cherokee Nation.^[3] She speaks the Dakota language.^[4] Her mother was Cherokee, and Westerman grew up in Kansas.^[5]

Education

Westerman earned her bachelor's and master's degrees English from Oklahoma State University. She received a PhD in English from the University of Kansas.^[6]

Teaching career

She is Professor of English and Director of the Humanities Program at Minnesota State University, Mankato.^[7]

Fiber arts

Westerman is a fiber artist who specialized in quilt-making.^[6]

Awards

• 1999: Native American Inroads. The Loft, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mentor: Diane Glancy (American).
• 1999: Native American Inroads. The Loft, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mentor: Mona Susan Power (Standing Rock Sioux).
• 2004: Fellowship. The Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History. American Indian Programs. Research project: Traditional Dakota beadwork, under the direction of JoAllyn Archambault, PhD (Standing Rock Sioux).^[8]
• 2012: Douglas R. Moore Research Award Fellow. Minnesota State University, Mankato.^[8]
• 2012: Presidential Teaching Scholar. Minnesota State, Mankato.^[8]
• 2013: Minnesota Book Award, Minnesota Category.^[8]
• 2013: Leadership in History Award. American Association for State and Local History.^[8]
• 2014: Hognander Minnesota History Award^[9]
• 2014: Distinguished Faculty Scholar, Minnesota State University, Mankato.^[8]
• 2015: Native American Artist in Residence at the Minnesota Historical Society^[10]

Publications

Books

• Book: Gwen . Westerman . Bruce . White . . St. Paul . Minnesota Historical Society Press . 2012 . 978-0873518697.
• Book: Westerman, Gwen Neil . Follow the Blackbirds . American Indian Studies . East Lansing . Michigan State University Press . 2013 . 978-1611860924.

Articles and chapters

• Book: Gwen . Westerman . Generosity in Continuance: The Gifts of Simon J. Ortiz . Simon J. Ortiz: A Poetic Legacy of Indigenous Continuance . Brill de Ramirez, Susan Berry . Lucero, Evelina . Albuquerque . University of New Mexico Press . 2009 . 177–182 . 978-0826339881.
• Book: Gwen . Westerman . George Shiras, III . Modern American Environmentalists: A Biographical Encyclopedia . Cevasco, George A. . Harmond, Richard P. . Baltimore . Johns Hopkins University Press . 2009 . 470–472 . 978-0801891526.
• Web site: Gwen . Westerman . Going Back . A View from the Loft . The Loft Literary Center . September 14, 2009 . 2015-04-13.
• Book: Gwen . Westerman . Sister Lost, Sister Found: Redemption in Louise Erdrich’s The Painted Drum and Shadow Tag . Critical Insights: Louise Erdrich . Hafen, P. Jane . Ipswich, MA . Salem Press . 2012 . 245–255 . 978-1429837231.
• Book: Gwen . Westerman . She Wore a Yellow Ribbon . Seeing Red—Hollywood's Pixeled Skins: American Indians and Film . Howe, LeAnne . Markowitz, Harvey . Cummings, Denise . East Lansing . Michigan State University Press . 2013 . 25–29 . 978-1611860818.

Poetry

• Dakota Odowaŋ . Yellow Medicine Review . 1 . 1 . Spring 2007 . 133–134.
• He keya Wo'okiye . Yellow Medicine Review . 1 . 1 . Spring 2007 . 135.
• Dakota Odowaŋ . Water-Stone Review . 13 . 2010 . 141–142.
• Wowicak'u/Feed Them . Water-Stone Review . 13 . 2010 . 143.
• Root Words . Natural Bridge . 26 . Fall 2011 . 1.
• Where the Buffalo Roam . Natural Bridge . 26 . Fall 2011 . 2–3.
• Awakening . Natural Bridge . 26 . Fall 2011 . 4.
• Song for the Generations . Water-Stone Review . 15 . 2012 . 148–149.

Art

• Book: Caske's Pardon 2012 . Ded Uŋk'uŋpi—We Are Here . Exhibit Catalog . All My Relations Gallery and James J. Hill House Gallery . 2012 . http://discussions.mnhs.org/collections/tag/gwen-westerman/ .
• Book: Mitakuye Owas (All My Relations) . Hena Uŋkiksuyapi: In Commemoration of the Dakota Mass Execution of 1862 . Exhibit Catalog . Hillstrom Museum of Art . 2012 . http://craftcouncil.org/event/hena-u%C5%8Bkiksuyapi-commemoration-dakota-mass-execution-1862#sthash.UivHAAEy.dpuf .

Further reading

• News: NONFICTION: "Mni Sota Makoce, The Land of the Dakota," by Gwen Westerman and Bruce White . Curt . Brown . Star-Tribune . October 20, 2012 . March 12, 2012.

External links

• • "Governor Walz, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan Appoint Gwen Nell Westerman as Minnesota Poet Laureate," Gov. official website, September 9, 2021

Notes and References

1. Web site: Gwen Nell Westerman Poems. Wisdom Ways. en-US. 2019-08-13.
2. Web site: About NALS . MNSU.ecu . The Native American Literature Symposium . March 12, 2015.
3. Web site: Davis . Angela . Beskstrom . Angela . Meet Minnesota’s new poet laureate Gwen Westerman . MPR News . Minneasota Public Radio . 30 June 2024 . October 15, 2021.
4. Web site: Gwen Nell Westerman. 2019-08-13. Poetry Foundation. en. 2019-08-13.
5. Web site: Moore . Jane Turpin . Gwen Westerman, Minnesota's new poet laureate, is grounded in Mankato area . Mankato Free Press . December 1, 1969 . December 29, 2021.
6. Web site: Gwen Westerman, Ph.D. . Minnesota State University, Mankato . 30 June 2024.
7. Web site: about. Gwen Westerman. en-US. 2019-08-13.
8. Web site: Gwen Westerman - Award Winning Faculty. 2014. mnsu.edu. College of Arts and Humanities, Minnesota State University, Mankato. March 12, 2015.
9. News: Laurie . Hertzel . Hognander History and Kay Sexton awards winners announced . Star-Tribune . March 7, 2014 . March 12, 2015.
10. Web site: Native American Artist-in-Residence: Gwen Westerman. 2017-04-25. History Education MN. en. 2019-08-13.