About In-Na-Po

Indigenous Nations Poets

Mission Statement

Founded in 2020, In-Na-Po—Indigenous Nations Poets—is a national Indigenous poetry community committed to mentoring emerging writers, nurturing the growth of Indigenous poetic practices, and raising the visibility of all Native Writers past, present, and future. In-Na-Po recognizes the role of poetry in sustaining tribal sovereign nations and Native languages.

Statement on Indigenous Identity

The work of In-Na-Po supports the sovereignty of Native Nations determining their citizenship, and we understand Native identity and citizenship to be a complex and evolving matter. We are inclusive of Native writers who are citizens of their Native Nation or community, as well as those who may not be enrolled but are actively participating and working towards the survival and continuance of their Nation(s) and who can demonstrate a familial connection, or descent through lineage. Because we do not want to perpetuate false claims of citizenship or representation of any connections to Nations without the Nations' consent and collaboration, poets should be able to provide proof through documentation or via a narrative of membership that is supported by their family lineage and by their Native community.

IN-NA-PO Statement on Gifts

Indigenous Nations Poets is grateful for the many people and organizations that support our commitment to mentoring emerging writers, nurturing the growth of Indigenous poetic practices, and raising the visibility of all Native Writers past, present, and future. In-Na-Po recognizes the role of poetry in sustaining tribal sovereign nations and Native languages.

Our policy is to decline gifts that are inconsistent with our mission and values, that may harm our community members, or have negative impact on our reputation. 

We celebrate the work that we do with our partners and carefully invest the funds we receive to support the integrity of Indigenous writers and their work. With the help of funders we look forward to continuing to expand our community and build the organization for generations of Indigenous writers.

Grantors, Affiliations, and Partner Organizations

In-Na-Po is proud to be a member of The Poetry Coalition, a national alliance of more than 25 independent poetry organizations dedicated to working together to promote the value poets bring to our culture and the important contribution poetry makes in the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds. The Poetry Coalition and its programmatic efforts are supported by the Academy of American Poets with funds from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Current & Former Partners & Sponsors

Board Officers

  • Kimberly Blaeser

    Founding Director

    Bio
  • Heid E. Erdrich

    Acting Vice President

    Bio
  • Jake Skeets

    Secretary

    Bio
  • Nicole Wallace

    Treasurer

    Bio

Board Members

  • LeAnne Howe

    Board Member

    Bio
  • Denise Low

    Board Member

    Bio
  • Elise Paschen

    Board Member

    Bio
  • Laura Tohe

    Board Member

    Bio
  • Esther Belin

    Board Member

    Bio
  • Rob Arnold

    Board Member

    Bio
  • Gordon Henry Jr

    Board Member

    Bio
  • Beth Piatote

    Board Member

    Bio

Advisory Board

  • Joy Harjo

    Advisory Board Member

    Bio
  • Jennifer Foerster

    Advisory Board Member

    Bio
  • Edgar Silex

    Advisory Board Member

    Bio
  • Michael Wilson

    Advisory Board Member

    Bio
  • Tish Keahna

    Advisory Board Member

    Bio
  • Laura Solomon

    Co-Director, Woodland Pattern Book Center

  • Jenny Gropp

    Co-Director, Woodland Pattern Book Center

  • Jerod Santek

    Artistic Director, Write On, Door Country

  • Nick Demske

    Founder, Bonk! Series

Staff

  • Jodi Vander Molen

    Operations and Programming Manager

    Bio
  • Annie Wenstrup

    Alumni and Donor Relations Coordinator

    Bio
  • Tj Turner

    Communications Coordinator

  • Emily Clarke

    Academy of American Poets Fellow

    Bio
  • Sunni Parisien

    Language Back Project Assistant

    Bio

Past Collaborators

  • Aimee Inglis

    Past Staff

    Bio
  • Janet McAdams

    Past Board Member

    Bio
  • Deborah A. Miranda

    Past Board Member

    Bio
  • Margaret Noodin

    Past Board Member

    Bio
  • Craig Santos Perez

    Past Board Member

    Bio
  • Cedar Sigo

    Past Board Member

  • Arielle Taitano Lowe

    2021 - 2022 Poetry Coalition Fellow

    Bio
  • Ashley Houghton

    Past Associate

    Bio