Gordon Henry at Western Oregon University

Gordon Henry read, sang, and spoke on May 30, 2023, in WOU’s Willamette Room, where he was introduced by Native American literature scholar and WOU president, Jesse Peters. Dr. Peters called Henry  “a powerful, unflinchingly honest poet and novelist who has influenced a generation of Native writers.” Professor Henry read excerpts from his work, including the recent poetry collection, Spirit Matters. He also sang traditional Anishinaabe songs and discussed his writing and life.

On May 31, Professor Henry visited two creative writing classes at WOU, meeting with individual students and talking about their projects. “He’s such an honest writer and a warm accessible person,” commented Courtney Royer, a WOU graduate who now teaches at North Salem High School. “I was inspired by his work as a teacher and a poet.” WOU education major, Nolan Cramer, found Henry’s reading “a learning experience from both an academic and spiritual level” where the poet’s “diverse background, life experiences and traditions made me think deeper about my own.” Another WOU student, Ellister Katz, felt that having the poet present in the room, “was not only thrilling, but gave us the confidence to excavate our own work, memories, and feelings.” Aiden Grabill, a recent graduate in psychology, remarked personally: “Gordon Henry is also a very sweet guy who gave me good advice about being an author and inspired me on my journey to getting published.”

About Gordon Henry

An Anishinaabe activist, poet, scholar, and novelist, Gordon Henry is an enrolled member of the White Earth Chippewa Tribe of Minnesota.  His numerous works include the American Book Award-winning novel, Light People; the poetry collections, The Failure of Certain Charms and Spirit Matters; and a co-authored textbook, Ojibwa.  He also co-edited the essay collections, Afterlives of Indigenous Archives and North American Indian Writing, Storytelling and Critique.

Reviewing Henry’s most recent collection, Louise Erdrich writes, “Spirit Matters is haunted by people whose voices are so indelible they speak from a world beyond this one—a powerful country where stories are spells that inhabit the living. Gordon Henry has created a compelling, uncanny book.”

Dr. Henry holds the Leslie Endowed Chair in North American Indian and Indigenous Literary Studies at Michigan State University, where he teaches Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Literature, American Indian Literature, and Creative Writing, and serves as Senior Editor of the American Indian and Indigenous Studies Series at Michigan State University Press.