nila northSun facts for kids

nila northSun
Born	1951 Schurz, Nevada, US
Occupation	Poet
Nationality	Shoshone
Literary movement	Native American Renaissance
Notable works	A snake in her mouth: poems 1974–96

nila northSun is a talented Native American poet. She also helps record the history of her tribe.

Her poems are very real and show what life is like for Native Americans. She writes about life both on and off their reservations. This has made her one of the most popular Native American poets.

Many people see her as an important writer from a time called the Native American Renaissance. This was a period when Native American arts and literature became very popular.

About nila northSun

nila northSun was born in 1951 in Schurz, Nevada. Her mother was Shoshone, and her father, Adam Fortunate Eagle, was Chippewa. He was also a Native American activist.

She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. Later, she went to the University of Montana-Missoula and graduated from there.

northSun uses everyday language, humor, and a bit of sarcasm in her poems. She writes about feeling alone, losing rights, anger, sadness, and tough times.

Today, she lives on the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Reservation in Fallon, Nevada. She works as a grant writer for the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony. This means she helps get money for important projects.

Awards and Honors

nila northSun has received several awards for her writing.

In 2000, a group called "Friends of the Library" at the University of Nevada gave her the Silver Pen Award. This award is for great writing achievements. That same year, Governor Kenny Guinn asked her to join the Nevada State Arts Council.

In 2004, she received the "Indigenous Heritage Award in Literature" from ATAYL. This is an international group. She also won a Sierra Arts Foundation Literary Award.

Her Books

nila northSun has written many books of poetry. She has also written a book about history.

Poetry Books

• whipped cream and sushi (2008)
• Love at gunpoint (2007)
• A snake in her mouth: poems 1974–96 (1997)
• Small bones, little eyes: poems (1981) (with Jim Sagel)
• Coffee, dust devils and old rodeo bulls: poems (1979) (with Kirk Robertson)
• Diet pepsi and nacho cheese: poems (1977)

History Book

• After the Drying Up of the Water (1980) This book tells the history of the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone tribe.

See also

• List of writers from peoples indigenous to the Americas
• Native American Studies