List of writers from peoples indigenous to the Americas
This is a list of notable writers who are Indigenous peoples of the Americas.
This list includes authors who are Alaskan Native, American Indian, First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Indigenous peoples of Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, as defined by the citizens of these Indigenenous nations and tribes.
While Indigenous identity can at times be complex, inclusion in this list is based upon citizenship in an Indigenous nation, based upon the legal definitions of, and recognition by, the relevant Indigenous community claimed by the individual. They must be documented as being claimed by that community. Writers such as Forrest Carter, Ward Churchill, Jamake Highwater, Joseph Boyden and Grey Owl, whose claims of Indigenous American descent have been factually disproved through genealogical research, are not included in this list.
A
- Louise Abeita, Isleta Pueblo, 1926–2014
- Janice Acoose, Sakimay First Nation-Métis, Canada, b. 1954
- Evan Adams, Sliammon First Nation Coast Salish, Canada, b. 1966
- Howard Adams, Métis, Canada, 1921–2001
- Freda Ahenakew, Ahtahkakoop First Nation Cree, Canada, b. 1932
- Ai, Choctaw-Chickasaw-Cheyenne-Comanche-descent, 1947–2010
- Humberto Ak'ab'al, K'iche' Maya, Guatemala, b. 1952
- Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Anishinaabe, Canada, b. 1965
- Clarence Alexander, Gwichyaa Zhee Corporation, b. 1939
- Robert Arthur Alexie, Gwich'in, Canada, b. 1956
- Sherman Alexie, Spokane-Coeur d'Alene, b. 1966
- Gerald Taiaiake Alfred, Kahnawake Mohawk, Canada, b. 1964
- Elsie Allen, Cloverdale Pomo, 1899–1990
- Paula Gunn Allen, Laguna-Sioux-Lebanese, 1939–2008
- Fernando de Alva Cortés Ixtlilxochitl, Texcocan, Mexico, ca. 1570–1648
- Arthur Amiotte, Oglala Lakota, b. 1942
- William Apess, Pequot, 1798–1839
- Annette Arkeketa, Otoe-Missouria-Muscogee Creek
- Jeannette C. Armstrong, Penticton Indian Band, Canada, b. 1948
- José María Arguedas, Mestizo of Quechua-descent, Peru, 1911–1969
- Joan Tavares Avant, Mashpee Wampanoag, b. 1940
B
- Carol Bachofner, Abenaki descendant
- Marie Annharte Baker, Anishinabe, Canada, b. 1942
- Dennis Banks, Leech Lake Ojibwe, b. 1932
- Keith Barker, Métis, Canada
- Jim Barnes, Choctaw, b. 1933, Poet Laureate of Oklahoma, 2009
- Jose Barreiro, Taíno, Cuban-American, b. 1948
- James Bartleman, Chippewas of Rama First Nation, Canada, b. 1939
- Glecia Bear, Cree, Canada, b. 1912
- Shane Belcourt, Métis, Canada, b. 1972
- Diane E. Benson, Tlingit, b. 1954
- Gertrude Bernard, Mohawk, Canada, 1906–1986
- Gloria Bird, Spokane, b. 1951
- Sandra Birdsell, Métis, Canada, b. 1942
- Andrew Blackbird, Odawa, ca. 1815–1908
- Ned Blackhawk, Te-Moak Shoshone
- Governor Blacksnake, Seneca, c. 1760–1859
- Peter Blue Cloud, Mohawk, 1935–2011
- Buffalo Bird Woman, Hidatsa, ca. 1839–1932
- Sherwin Bitsui, Navajo, b. 1975
- Kimberly M. Blaeser, White Earth Ojibwe, b. 1955
- Peter Blue Cloud, Mohawk, b. 1935
- Kimberly M. Blaeser, White Earth Ojibwe, b. 1950
- Columpa Bobb, Tsleil Waututh-Nlaka'pamux, Canada, b. 1971
- Elias Boudinot, Cherokee, 1740–1821, first Native American novelist
- Beth Brant, Bay of Quinte Mohawk, b. 1941
- Mary Brave Bird, Sicangu Lakota, 1953–2013
- Silvester J. Brito, Comanche-Purépecha
- Ignatia Broker, Ottertail Pillager Band Ojibwe, United States, 1919–1987
- Vee F. Browne, Navajo, b. 1956
- Joseph Bruchac, Abenaki descendant, b. 1942
- Louis F. Burns, Osage Nation, 1920–2012
- Frank Christopher Busch, Cree, Canada
C
- Gregory Cajete, Santa Clara Pueblo
- Cristina Calderón, Yaghan, Chile, b. ca. 1938, last speaker of the Yaghan language
- Adela Calva Reyes, Otomí
- Maria Campbell, Métis, Canada, b. 1940
- Nicola Campbell, Interior Salish Nleʔkepmx, Canada
- Rob Capriccioso, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
- Harold Cardinal, Cree author, 1945–2005
- Aaron Albert Carr, Laguna Pueblo-Navajo, b. 1963
- Lorna Dee Cervantes, Chicana-Chumash-descent, United States, b. 1954
- Betsey Guppy Chamberlain, Wabanaki, ca. 1797–1886
- Dean Chavers, Lumbee Tribe, b. 1942
- Shirley Cheechoo, Cree, Canada, b. 1952
- Chrystos, Menominee-descent, b. 1946
- Eddie Chuculate, Muscogee Creek Nation-Cherokee
- Marie Clements, Métis, Canada, b. 1962
- Susan Clements, Seneca-Mohawk-descent, United States, b. 1950
- George Clutesi, Tseshaht First Nation, Canada, 1905–1988
- Thomas Commuck, Narragansett, 1805–1855
- Robert J. Conley, Cherokee Nation, 1940–2014
- Elizabeth Cook-Lynn, Crow Creek Lakota, b. 1930
- Linda Coombs, Aquinnah Wampanoag
- George Copway, Mississauga Ojibwa, Canada, 1818–1869
- Jesse Cornplanter, Seneca, 1889–1957
- Rupert Costo, Cahuilla, 1906–1989
- Leonard Crow Dog, Oglala Lakota, b. 1942
- David Cusick, Seneca, ca. 1780–ca. 1831
D
- Joseph A. Dandurand, Kwantlen First Nation, Canada
- Nora Marks Dauenhauer, Tlingit, 1927–2017
- Garcilaso de la Vega, 1539–1616, Mestizo/Quechua descent, Peru
- Nora Thompson Dean, Touching Leaves Woman, Delaware Tribe of Indians, 1907–1984
- Philip J. Deloria, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
- Ella Cara Deloria, Yankton Dakota-Standing Rock Sioux, 1889–1971
- Vine Deloria, Jr., Yankton Dakota-Standing Rock Sioux, 1933–2005
- Bonnie Devine, Serpent River First Nation, Canada
- Cherie Dimaline, Métis, Canada
- Edward Dozier, Santa Clara Pueblo, 1916–1971
E
- Charles Eastman, Santee Dakota, 1858–1939
- Anita Endrezze, Yaqui, b. 1952
- Tommy Enuaraq, Inuk, Canada
- Heid E. Erdrich, Turtle Mountain Ojibwe, b. 1963
- Louise Erdrich, Turtle Mountain Ojibwe, b. 1954
F
- Stephanie Fielding, Mohegan
- Connie Fife, Cree
- Waawaate Fobister, Grassy Meadows First Nation Anishinaabe, Canada
- Naomi Fontaine, Innu
- Natasha Kanapé Fontaine, Innu
- Jack D. Forbes, Powhatan-Renapé-Lenape-descent, 1934–2011
- Lee Francis III, Laguna Pueblo-Anishinaabe, 1945–2003
- Vera Francis, Passamaquoddy, b. 1958
- L. Frank, Tongva-Acjachemen-descent
- Alice Masak French, Inuk, Canada, b. 1930
G
- Eric Gansworth, Onondaga
- Garcilaso de la Vega, Quechua, Peru, 1539–1616, first published in 1609
- Andrew George, Jr., Wet'suwet'en First Nation, Canada b. 1963
- Owl Goingback, Eastern Band Cherokee-Choctaw-descent, b. 1959
- Jewelle Gomez, Iowa-descent, b. 1948
- Roxy Gordon, Choctaw, 1945–2000
- Janice Gould, Maidu-Koyangk'auwi, b. 1949
- George R. D. Goulet, Métis, Canada, b. 1933
- Fred Grove, Osage Nation-Oglala Lakota, 1913–2008
- Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala, Quechua, Peru, ca. 1535–after 1616
H
- Janet Campbell Hale, Coeur d'Alene-Kootenay, b. 1946
- Terri Crawford Hansen, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, b. 1953
- Ann Meekitjuk Hanson, Inuk, Canada, b. 1946
- Joy Harjo, Muscogee Creek Nation-Cherokee, b. 1951
- Suzan Shown Harjo, Southern Cheyenne-Muscogee Creek
- LaDonna Harris, Comanche
- Ernestine Hayes, Tlingit, b. 1945
- James Youngblood Henderson, Chickasaw/Cheyenne, b. 1944
- Gordon Henry, White Earth Band of Ojibwe, b. 1955
- Vi Hilbert, Upper Skagit, 1918–2008
- Tomson Highway, Cree, Canada, b. 1951
- Linda Hogan, Chickasaw Nation, b. 1947
- Andrew Hope III, Tlingit, 1949–2008
- John Christian Hopkins, Narragansett, b. 1960
- George Horse-Capture, Gros Ventre, 1937–2013
- Robert Houle, Saulteaux, Canada, b. 1947
- LeAnne Howe, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, b. 1951
- Ralph Hubbard, Seneca, 1885–1980
- Al Hunter, Anishnaabe, Canada
I
- Alootook Ipellie, Inuk, Canada, 1951–2007
- Peter Irniq, Inuk, Canada, b. 1947
- Madeline Ivalu, Inuk, Canada
J
- Paulla Dove Jennings, Narragansett
- Rita Joe, Mi'kmaq, Canada, 1932–2007
- Emily Pauline Johnson, Mohawk, Canada, 1861–1913
- Aviaq Johnston, Inuk
- Basil H. Johnston, Anishinaabe, Canada, b. 1929
- Ian C. Johnston, Canada
- Stephen Graham Jones, Blackfeet, b. 1972
- William Jones, Sac and Fox Nation, 1871–1909
- Edith Josie, Gwich'in, Canada, 1921–2010
- Hugo Jamioy Juagibioy, Kamentsa, Colombia
- Daniel Heath Justice, Cherokee Nation, Canada
K
- Peter Kalifornsky, Dena'ina 1911–1993
- Joan Kane, Inupiat
- Margo Kane, Cree-Saulteaux, Canada, b. 1951
- Jacqueline Keeler, Navajo, Yankton Sioux
- Maude Kegg, Ojibwe, 1904–1999
- William Kennedy, Métis, Canada, 1814–1890
- Maurice Kenny, Mohawk, b. 1929
- Robin Wall Kimmerer, Citizen Potawatomi Nation, b. 1953
- Michael Kusugak, Inuk, Canada, b. 1948
L
- Francis La Flesche, Omaha-Ponca, 1857–1932
- Susette La Flesche, Omaha-Ponca, 1854–1903
- Winona LaDuke, White Earth Band of Ojibwe, b. 1959
- Carole LaFavor, Ojibwe
- Joseph Laurent, Abenaki, 1839–1917
- Ronald G. Lewis, Cherokee Nation, b. 1941
- Georgina Lightning, Sampson First Nation Cree, Canada
- William Harjo LoneFight, Muscogee Creek Nation-Natchez, b. 1966
- Donna M. Loring, Penobscot, b. 1948
- Kevin Loring, Nlaka'pamux, Canada
- Adrian C. Louis, Lovelock Paiute, b. 1946
- Phil Lucas, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, 1942–2007
- Henrik Lund, Kalaaleq, Greenland, 1875–1948
M
- Terese Marie Mailhot, Nlaka'pamux
- Wilma Mankiller, Cherokee Nation, 1945–2010
- Larry Spotted Crow Mann, Nipmuc
- Vera Manuel, Secwepemc -Ktunaxa, 1949–2010
- Lee Maracle, Salish-Cree, Canada, b. 1950
- Joseph M. Marshall III, Brulé Lakota, b. ca. 1946
- Henry Lorne Masta, Abenaki, 1853–?
- John Joseph Mathews, Osage, ca. 1894–1979
- Janet McAdams, Muscogee Creek-descent
- Gerald McMaster, Siksika Nation-Red Pheasant First Nation, b. 1953
- William D'Arcy McNickle, Salish Kootenai, 1904–1977
- Joe Medicine Crow, Crow, b. 1913
- Rigoberta Menchú, K'iché Maya, Guatemala, b. 1959
- Billy Merasty, Cree, Canada, b. 1960
- Edmund Metatawabin, Cree, Canada
- Tiffany Midge, Hunkpapa Lakota, b. 1965
- Dylan Miner, Métis, Canada-United States, b. 1976
- Devon Mihesuah, Choctaw, b. 1957
- Deborah A. Miranda, Esselen-Chumash
- Gabriela Mistral, Diaguita, Chile, 1889–1957
- Lewis Mitchell, Passamaquoddy, 1847–1930
- N. Scott Momaday, Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma, b. 1934
- Carlos Montezuma, Yavapai, 1866–1923
- Patricia Monture-Angus, Mohawk, Canada
- Tara Lee Morin, Canada
- Irvin Morris, Navajo, b. 1958
- Daniel David Moses, Delaware, Canada, b. 1952
- Mountain Wolf Woman, Ho-Chunk, 1884–1960
- Mourning Dove, Colville-Okanagan, 1888–1936
N
- Elicura Chihuailaf Nahuelpán, Mapuche, Chile
- Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk, Inuk
- Nora Naranjo-Morse, Santa Clara Pueblo, b. 1953
- Nas'Naga, Shawnee-descent, b. 1941
- David Neel, Kwakwaka'wakw, Canada, b. 1960
- Duane Niatum, Klallam, b. 1938
- Mildred Noble, Ojibwe, Canada-United States, 1921–2008
- Jim Northrup, Fond du Lac Ojibwe, United States, b. 1943
- nila northSun, Shoshone-Red Lake Ojibwe, b. 1951
O
- Jean O'Brien, White Earth Ojibwe, b. 1958
- Samson Occom, Mohegan, 1723–1792, the first Native American known to publish in English
- Orpingalik, Netsilik Inuk, Canada
- Simon J. Ortiz, Acoma Pueblo, b. 1941
P
- Aaron Paquette, Métis-Cree-Cherokee, Canada
- Arthur C. Parker, Seneca, 1881–1955
- Daniel N. Paul, Mi'kmaq, Canada, b. 1938
- Mihku Paul, Kingsclear First Nation Maliseet, Canada, b. 1958
- Elise Paschen, Osage Nation
- Markoosie Patsauq, Inuk
- William S. Penn, Nez Perce, b. 1949
- Robert L. Perea, Oglala Lakota-Mexican, United States
- Keewaydinoquay Peschel, Anishinaabe, 1919–1999
- Paula Peters, Wampanoag
- Lawrence "Pun" Plamondon", Odawa-Ojibwe, b. 1946
- Peter Pitseolak, Cape Dorset Inuk, Canada, 1902–1973
- Simon Pokagon, Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, ca. 1830–1899
- Alexander Posey, Muscogee Nation, 1873–1908
- Susan Power, Standing Rock Sioux, b. 1961
- Pretty-Shield, Crow Nation, 1856–1944
Q
- Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley, Inuk, Canada
- Quesalid, Kwakwaka'wakw, Canada
R
- Chief Henry Red Eagle,, Maliseet, 1885–1972
- Delphine Red Shirt, Oglala Lakota, b. 1957
- Duke Redbird, Ojibwe, Canada, b. 1939
- Bill Reid, Haida, Canada, 1920–1998
- Carter Revard, Osage Nation, b. 1931
- Lawney Reyes, Confederated Colville Tribes, b. 1951
- Waubgeshig Rice, Ojibwe, Canada
- Lynn Riggs, Cherokee, 1899–1954
- Eden Robinson, Haisla-Heiltsuk, Canada, b. 1968
- Henry Roe Cloud, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, 1884–1950
- John Rollin Ridge, Cherokee, 1827–1867
- Will Rogers, Cherokee, 1879–1935
- Will Rogers, Jr., Cherokee Nation, 1911–1993
- Wendy Rose, Hopi-Miwok, b. 1948
- Ian Ross, Métis, Canada, b. 1960
- Armand Garnet Ruffo, Ojibwe, Canada, b. 1955
- Steve Russell, Cherokee Nation
S
- Ray St. Germain, Métis, Canada
- Ralph Salisbury, self-identified Cherokee/Shawnee descent
- Carol Lee Sanchez, Laguna Pueblo
- William Sanders, Cherokee Nation, 1942–2017
- Greg Sarris, Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, b. 1952
- Cheryl Savageau, Abenaki, b. 1950
- Madeline Sayet, Mohegan, b. 1989
- Katherine Siva Saubel, Los Coyotes Cahuilla, 1920–2011
- Gregory Scofield, Métis, Canada, b. 1966
- Jane Johnston Schoolcraft, Sault Ste. Marie Ojibwe, 1800–1841, first Native woman to publish
- Bev Sellars, Xat'sull, Canada
- James Sewid, Kwakwaka'wakw, Canada, 1913–1988
- Charles Norman Shay, Penobscot, b. 1924
- Paula Sherman, Ardoch Algonquin First Nation,
- Kim Shuck, Cherokee Nation
- Angela Sidney, Tagish, Canada, 1902–1991
- Leslie Marmon Silko, Laguna Pueblo, b. 1948
- Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Alderville First Nation
- Ruby Slipperjack, Ojibwe, Canada, b. 1952
- Cynthia Leitich Smith, Muscogee Creek, b. 1967
- Monique Gray Smith, Cree/Lakota, Canada
- Paul Chaat Smith, Comanche
- Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, Brulé Lakota, b. 1933
- Donald Soctomah, Passamaquoddy
- Loren Spears, Narragansett
- Luther Standing Bear, Oglala Lakota, ca. 1868–1939
- James Thomas Stevens, Akwesasne Mohawk, b. 1966
- Virginia Stroud, United Keetoowah Band Cherokee-Muscogee, b. 1951
- Madonna Swan, Cheyenne River Lakota, 1928–1993
- Denise Sweet, White Earth Anishinaabe, Poet Laureate of Wisconsin 2004
- James Schoppert, Tlingit, 1947–1992
T
- Margo Tamez, Lipan Apache-Jumano Apache, b. 1962
- Gladys Tantaquidgeon, Mohegan, 1899–2005
- Luci Tapahonso, Navajo, b. 1953
- Drew Hayden Taylor, Ojibwe, Canada, b. 1962
- Ningeokuluk Teevee, Cape Dorset Inuk, Canada, b. 1963
- Lucy Thompson, Yurok 1853–1932, first indigenous Californian woman to be published
- Russell Thornton, Cherokee Nation, b. 1942
- Shannon Thunderbird, Tsimshian First Nation, Canada
- Susette LaFlesche Tibbles, Omaha-Ponca-Iowa, 1854–1903
- George Tinker, Osage Nation
- Natalia Toledo, Zapotec, Mexico, b. 1968
- Gail Tremblay, Mi'kmaq-Onondaga, b. 1945
- Raymond D. Tremblay, Métis, Canada
- David Treuer, Leech Lake Ojibwe, b 1970
- John Trudell, Santee Dakota, b. 1946
- Mark Turcotte, Turtle Mountain Chippewa
- Richard Twiss, Brulé Lakota, b. 1954
- E. Donald Two-Rivers, Anishinaabe, 1945–2008
U
- Uvavnuk, Iglulik Inuk, Canada
V
- Max Wolf Valerio, Kainai Nation, United States, b. 1957
- Richard Van Camp, Tli Cho, Canada, b. 1971
- Gerald Vizenor, White Earth Ojibwe, b. 1934
W
- Richard Wagamese, Ojibwe, Canada
- Velma Wallis, Athabaskan, b. 1960
- Anna Lee Walters, Pawnee-Otoe-Missouria, b. 1946
- William Whipple Warren, Ojibwe, 1825–1853
- Clyde Warrior, Ponca, 1939–1968
- Waziyatawin, Wahpetunwan Dakota
- James Welch, Blackfeet-Gros Ventre, 1940–2003
- Gwen Westerman, Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota Oyate
- Tom Whitecloud, Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe, 1914–1972
- Mary Louise Defender Wilson, Dakota-Hidatsa, b. 1930
- Sarah Winnemucca, Northern Paiute, ca. 1844–1891
- Elizabeth Woody, Navajo-Wasco, b. 1957
Y
- William S. Yellow Robe, Jr., Fort Peck Assiniboine, b. 1950
- Annie York, Spuzzum First Nation Nlaka'pamux, Canada, 1904–1991
- Ray Young Bear, Meskwaki, b. 1950
- Alfred Young Man, Chippewa-Cree, Canada, b. 1948
Z
- Ofelia Zepeda, Tohono O'odham, b. 1952
- Zitkala-Sa, Yankton Dakota-Standing Rock Sioux, 1876–1938
- Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel, Mohegan, b. 1960