Maurice Kenney
Encyclopedia
Maurice Kenny is a Mohawk
poet.
from Canada, and his mother was born in Upstate New York
. The family spent time living both on and off the nearby reservation.
Kenny's father was a stern man, given to rough treatment of his son, and at 16 Maurice ran away from home, living in New York City for a brief period before returning home.
Maurice Kenny lives between Saranac Lake
, and Potsdam
. He occasionally teaches at North Country Community College
, but currently is assigned courses at SUNY Potsdam.
, St. Lawrence University
and New York University
, where he studied with American poet Louise Bogan
.
Kenny's 1982 book of poems, "Blackrobe: Isaac Jogues, B. March 11, 1607, D. October 18, 1646" was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize
, as was "Between Two Rivers." He is the recipient of a National Public Radio Award for Broadcasting.
Kenny has held residencies at a number of colleges and universities.
Mohawk nation
Mohawk are the most easterly tribe of the Iroquois confederation. They call themselves Kanien'gehaga, people of the place of the flint...
poet.
Life
Maurice Kenny was born on in Watertown, New York. His father is a MohawkMohawk nation
Mohawk are the most easterly tribe of the Iroquois confederation. They call themselves Kanien'gehaga, people of the place of the flint...
from Canada, and his mother was born in Upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
. The family spent time living both on and off the nearby reservation.
Kenny's father was a stern man, given to rough treatment of his son, and at 16 Maurice ran away from home, living in New York City for a brief period before returning home.
Maurice Kenny lives between Saranac Lake
Saranac Lake, New York
Saranac Lake is a village located in the state of New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,406. The village is named after Upper, Middle, and Lower Saranac Lakes, which are nearby....
, and Potsdam
Potsdam (town), New York
Potsdam is a town located in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 15,957 at the 2000 census. The ZIP code is 13676. The town is named after the city of Potsdam in Germany...
. He occasionally teaches at North Country Community College
North Country Community College
North Country Community College, founded in 1967, is a community college of the State University of New York located in Upstate New York. The main campus is in Saranac Lake, New York, and serves Franklin and Essex Counties; enrollment is approximately 2300 students. It employs 143 permanent and 300...
, but currently is assigned courses at SUNY Potsdam.
Education
Kenny was educated at Butler UniversityButler University
Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health...
, St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University is a four-year liberal arts college located in the village of Canton in Saint Lawrence County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2300 undergraduate and 100 graduate students, about equally split between male and female....
and New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, where he studied with American poet Louise Bogan
Louise Bogan
Louise Bogan was an American poet. She was appointed the fourth Poet Laureate to the Library of Congress in 1945.-Early years:...
.
Awards
- In 2002, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers' Circle of the AmericasNative Writers' Circle of the AmericasThe Native Writers' Circle of the Americas is an organization of Native American writers, most notable for its literary awards, presented annually to Native American writers in three categories: First Book of Poetry, First Book of Prose, and Lifetime Achievement...
. - In 2000, the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers awarded Kenny the Elder Recognition Award.
- In 1996, "On Second Thought" was a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award in fiction.
- In 1995, he received an honorary doctorate by St. Lawrence UniversitySt. Lawrence UniversitySt. Lawrence University is a four-year liberal arts college located in the village of Canton in Saint Lawrence County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2300 undergraduate and 100 graduate students, about equally split between male and female....
. - In 1983, "Wounds Beneath the Flesh" was awarded Bloomsbury reviewBloomsbury reviewThe Bloomsbury Review is a nationally distributed literary magazine founded by Thomas Auer in Denver, Colorado, in 1980. It focuses on small, regional, university, and international presses, as well as "smaller" titles from large publishers. Authors Tony Hillerman, Wallace Stegner and Clarissa...
's best anthology - In 1984, "The Mama Poems" received the American Book AwardAmerican Book AwardThe American Book Award was established in 1978 by the Before Columbus Foundation. It seeks to recognize outstanding literary achievement by contemporary American authors, without restriction to race, sex, ethnic background, or genre...
Kenny's 1982 book of poems, "Blackrobe: Isaac Jogues, B. March 11, 1607, D. October 18, 1646" was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
, as was "Between Two Rivers." He is the recipient of a National Public Radio Award for Broadcasting.
Kenny has held residencies at a number of colleges and universities.
Publications
- Blackrobe: Isaac Jogues, b. March 11, 1607, d. October 18, 1646: Poems (1982).
- Wounds Beneath the Flesh (1983).
- The Mama Poems (1984).
- Greyhounding This America (1988).
- On Second Thought (1996).