Anna Lee Walters facts for kids

Anna Lee Walters (born September 9, 1946) is an important American author. She is a member of the Pawnee and Otoe–Missouria tribes. Her stories and novels often explore Native American culture and history.

About Anna Lee Walters

Her Life Story

Anna Lee Walters was born on September 9, 1946. Her birthplace was Pawnee, Oklahoma. Her mother was Pawnee, and her father was Otoe-Missouria. This heritage is very important to her writing.

She studied at Goddard College in Vermont. There, she earned degrees in writing. Later, Anna became a teacher. She taught at Diné College in Arizona. She also worked as a publisher. She helped create educational books. Today, she lives in Tsaile, Arizona. Her husband, Harry Walters, used to direct the museum at Diné College.

Her Important Books

Anna Lee Walters is known for her powerful stories. Her first novel is called Ghost Singer. It was published in 1988. This book is about Native American items. It talks about how these items are kept in museums. The story shows how this affects both Native and non-Native people. It also explores how Native Americans connect to their past.

Ghost Singer came out at an important time. It was just before two major laws. These laws were the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and the National Museum of the American Indian Act. These laws help protect Native American remains and cultural items. They also help return them to their tribes. Walters' book helped people think about these important issues.

Her collection of short stories is titled The Sun Is Not Merciful. This book won two big awards. It received the American Book Award in 1985. It also won the Virginia McCormick Scully Award. These awards show how important her writing is.

See also

• List of Native American writers