Warm Springs native named Oregon’s poet laureate

Gov. Kate Brown recently named a Warm Springs native as Oregon’s next Poet Laureate. The Poet Laureate’s job is to share the art of poetry and encourage literacy throughout Oregon.

Elizabeth Woody developed her love for poetry as a teen. She won a poetry competition at Madras High School that she says changed her life forever. The awards continued throughout the years.

She will be the eighth Oregonian to hold the position, but the first Native American.

“Poetry is the oldest form of history in the world,” Woody said Tuesday. “It’s the way we memorize. It’s the way we tell ancient story.”

Woody is a Warm Springs tribal member. An environmentalist at heart, she spends her time being acquainted with nature.

“The Pacific Northwest is very important to me. My work comes from being informed culturally and being part of this community. Not just Warm Springs, but Oregon,” Woody said.

Woody said her heritage is very important to her. He father was a Navajo and mother was from the Columbia River Basin. She uses her culture and history as inspiration for her work.

“It’s a hard part of our history here in Oregon to understand the Indian Wars that happened here,” Woody said.” They call them ‘wars,’ but really they (natives) were non-combatants. They were trying to escape the U.S. soldiers.”

In naming her to the post, Governor Brown said, “The energy of Woody’s words brings together the life, landscapes, and creatures who make Oregon special.”

Woody recited some of her poetry:

“This is not one voice but the beginning of all voices in unison. Yes the crescendo of waves spirals utterances of the plateau canyons.”

Woody officially takes on the poet laureate role the last week in April. She will then serve for two years. During her term as Oregon’s poet laureate she will give public readings across the state.

You can learn more about Woody and read some of her poems here: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/elizabeth-woody#poet