3 Poets & Water Poems from the High Desert

They will share their \”flow\” of poetry and prose inspired by water.

Venaya J. Yazzie is a member of the Eastern Diné Nation in northwest New Mexico, she also carries Hopi heritage from father’s lineage. Venaya resides in the San Juan Valley and migrates from Dziłnaodithłe community to Tótá in northwest New Mexico. Venaya visits Navajo and bordertown communities as a multi-media artist, poet, guest cultural speaker and educator and presented was a keynote speaker for Restoring & Celebrating Family Wellness in Shiprock, NM, the NM Water Resources Research Institute and Sisters Circle Women’s Conference. In 2022 Venaya presented “Trekking the Land of the Matriarch” with Aztec Ruins National Monument Lecture Series. She authors a blog titled, Southwest Indigenous Adornment and hosts a podcast titled, Native Art Voices of the 4Corners.

Michael Thompson (Mvskoke Creek) was born in Holdenville, OK, and raised on a south Georgia cattle ranch near the Flint River among pine trees, oaks, creeks, and swamp. For most of his life, he was a high school English teacher. He has presented on contemporary Native literature at state and national conferences and published poetry and articles in a variety of journals. His family supports numerous Native American activities, traditions, and political causes. He uses he/him pronouns.

Tina Deschenie, she/her, is Ta’neeszahnii, born for Tó’aheedlíini. Her cheii are of the Tewa from First Mesa in AZ, and her nálí are Bit’ahnii. She grew up in Crystal, NM, her family home, and also in the Becenti community near Crownpoint, NM, (where her paternal family live). Deschenie is married to Michael Thompson (Muscogee), both are retired educators. She holds a BA from Fort Lewis College, MA from UNM and an EdD from NMSU.