Joy Harjo, born in May 1951, hails from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her literary work predominantly reflects her Native American roots, a part of her identity she resonates with deeply. Although she began life as Joy Foster, her lineage spans Creek and Cherokee Indian, African American, Irish, and French ancestry. Officially, she is a member of the Muscogee tribe within the Creek Nation. Her poetry often explores themes of mixed heritage and the sense of not wholly belonging to any one race or culture.

Ancestral Legacy

Harjo's family history is rich with notable figures and complex interactions. Her paternal lineage includes a great-great-grandfather who fought against Andrew Jackson’s forces, yet his daughter, Harjo’s great-grandmother, married a Baptist minister of mixed Creek and African descent. From her paternal grandmother, Naomi Harjo, who was of Cherokee and French descent, Joy inherited the name "Harjo" at nineteen. On her maternal side, her grandmother’s Cherokee and Irish roots added further layers to her multifaceted heritage.

Challenges of Childhood

Harjo's early years were marked by instability and hardship. Her father, a full Creek Indian and an airline mechanic, was prone to violence and alcoholism, often bringing chaos into the family home. This tumultuous environment included witnessing her mother suffer abuse and the presence of her father's extramarital partners. The eventual divorce of her parents did not bring peace, as her mother’s second husband proved to be even more abusive. At sixteen, Harjo was expelled from her home by her stepfather, forcing her to fend for herself with various odd jobs. Among her experiences was a stint with an all-Indian dance group affiliated with the Institute of American Indian Arts, where she was also a student. Harjo's early romance led to the birth of her first child at seventeen, propelling her onto a path of both challenge and discovery.

Academic Pursuits and Literary Beginnings

Returning to academia, Harjo enrolled at the University of New Mexico in Santa Fe. Here she encountered influential contemporary writers, including the Native American poet Simon Ortiz, with whom she developed both a creative and personal relationship, resulting in her second child. Although their partnership was short-lived, Harjo's academic journey was fruitful; she earned her bachelor's degree and subsequently completed a Master of Fine Arts at the University of Iowa. This period marked the beginning of her writing career, where she began to gain recognition for her poetry.

Professional Life and Achievements

Harjo embarked on an academic career, teaching at various institutions throughout the western United States before securing a tenured position at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Her literary contributions include six volumes of poetry, with the notable inclusion of Map to the Next World, featuring the poem “Anniversary.” In addition to writing, Harjo is a talented musician and performs with her band, “Poetic Justice.” Now residing in Hawaii, she frequently visits the mainland to connect with her children, grandchildren, and extended family, all of whom inspire her creative work.