Nationality American Name Marilou Awiakta Ethnicity Eastern Band Cherokee Role Author | Spouse Paul Thompson Children Three children | |
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Occupation Poet, author, U.S. Air Force officer and translator Alma mater University of Tennessee B.A. magna cum laude, in English and French, 1958 Books SELU, Abiding Appalachia, Rising Fawn and the Fire M, Telling Tales: Colorful F | ||
Education University of Tennessee | ||
[ReadAloud at OSU] Selu: Seeking the Corn Mother's Wisdom, by Marilou Awiakta (2/2)
Marilou Awiakta (born January 24, 1936, Knoxville, Tennessee) is an Eastern Band Cherokee author. She is renowned for writing several books that blend stories, essays and poetry.
Contents
- ReadAloud at OSU Selu Seeking the Corn Mothers Wisdom by Marilou Awiakta 22
- Biography and career
- Awards
- Books
- Analysis
- References
Biography and career
Marilou Awiakta is the seventh generation of her family to grow up in Appalachia, mostly in East Tennessee. Since 1730, her Cherokee and Scots-Irish family has lived as a "designated family" in the mountainous area of the state.
She graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1958 receiving a B.A. magna cum laude, in both English and French. She worked as a civilian liaison officer and translator for the U.S. Air Force at Laon-Couvron Air Base, France from 1964-1967.
She worked in the Arts-In-Schools program in Memphis, Tennessee, and formed poetry workshops in the Women's Prison. She was co-founder of the Far Away Cherokee Association which is now the Native American Intertribal Association. She lives in Memphis, with her husband, Paul Thompson. They have three children.
In July 2014, her work was featured in www.recoursaupoeme.fr
Awards
Books
Analysis
Awiakta's poetry is analysed at length in Our Fire Survives the Storm by Daniel Heath Justice (Cherokee Nation).