List of Indigenous writers of the Americas
This is a list of notable writers who are Indigenous peoples of the Americas.
This list includes authors who are Alaskan Native, American Indian, First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Indigenous peoples of Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, as defined by the citizens of these Indigenous nations and tribes.
While Indigenous identity can at times be complex, inclusion in this list is based upon reliably-sourced citizenship in an Indigenous nation, based upon the legal definitions of, and recognition by, the relevant Indigenous community claimed by the individual. They must be documented as being claimed by that community. Writers such as Forrest Carter, Ward Churchill, Jamake Highwater, Joseph Boyden and Grey Owl, whose claims of Indigenous American descent have been factually disproved through genealogical research, are not included in this list.
A
- Louise Abeita, Isleta Pueblo, 1926–2014
- Janice Acoose, Sakimay First Nation-Métis, Canada, 1954–2020
- Evan Adams, Sliammon First Nation Coast Salish, Canada, b. 1966
- Howard Adams, Métis, Canada, 1921–2001
- Freda Ahenakew, Ahtahkakoop Cree, Canada, 1932–2011
- Humberto Ak'ab'al, K'iche' Maya, Guatemala, 1952–2019
- Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Nawash Chippewa, Canada, b. 1965
- Clarence Alexander, Gwichyaa Zhee Corporation Gwich’in, b. 1939
- Robert Arthur Alexie, Gwich'in, Canada, 1957–2014
- Sherman Alexie, Spokane/Coeur d'Alene, b. 1966
- Gerald Taiaiake Alfred, Kahnawake Mohawk, Canada, b. 1964
- Elsie Allen, Cloverdale Pomo, 1899–1990
- Minerva Allen, Assiniboine, 1934–2024
- Paula Gunn Allen, Laguna Pueblo descent, 1939–2008
- Fernando de Alva Cortés Ixtlilxochitl, Texcocan, Mexico, ca. 1570–1648
- Irma Alvarez Ccoscco, Quechua, Peru, b. 1980
- Arthur Amiotte, Oglala Lakota, b. 1942
- Ch'aska Anka Ninawaman, Quechua, Peru, b. 1973
- William Apess, Pequot, 1798–1839
- Annette Arkeketa, Otoe-Missouria/Muscogee
- Jeannette C. Armstrong, Penticton Indian Band, Canada, b. 1948
- José María Arguedas, Mestizo of Quechua-descent, Peru, 1911–1969
- Joan Tavares Avant, Mashpee Wampanoag, b. 1940
B
- Joséphine Bacon, Innu, Québec, Canada, b.1947
- Marie Annharte Baker, Little Saskatchewan Ojibway, Canada, b. 1942
- Dennis Banks, Leech Lake Ojibwe, 1937–2017
- Keith Barker, Métis, Canada
- Jim Barnes, Choctaw Nation descent, b. 1933, Poet Laureate of Oklahoma, 2009
- James Bartleman, Chippewas of Rama First Nation, Canada, b. 1939
- Tara Beagan, Nlakaʼpamux, Canada
- Glecia Bear, Cree, Canada, 1912–1998
- Shane Belcourt, Métis, Canada, b. 1972
- Diane E. Benson, Tlingit, b. 1954
- Gertrude Bernard, Mohawk, Canada, 1906–1986
- Brandi Bird, Saulteaux/Cree/Métis, Canada
- Gloria Bird, Spokane, b. 1951
- Sandra Birdsell, Métis, Canada, b. 1942
- Andrew Blackbird, Odawa, ca. 1815–1908
- Ned Blackhawk, Te-Moak Shoshone
- Governor Blacksnake, Seneca, c. 1760–1859
- Peter Blue Cloud, Mohawk, 1935–2011
- Buffalo Bird Woman, Hidatsa, ca. 1839–1932
- Sherwin Bitsui, Navajo, b. 1975
- Kimberly M. Blaeser, White Earth Ojibwe, b. 1955
- Peter Blue Cloud, Mohawk, b. 1935
- Selina Boan, Cree, Canada
- Columpa Bobb, Tsleil Waututh/Nlaka'pamux, Canada, b. 1971
- Elias Boudinot, Cherokee, 1740–1821, first Native American novelist
- Beth Brant, Bay of Quinte Mohawk, 1941–2015
- Mary Brave Bird, Sicangu Lakota, 1953–2013
- Ignatia Broker, Ottertail Pillager Band Ojibwe, United States, 1919–1987
- Emily Ticasuk Ivanoff Brown, Inuk,
- Vee F. Browne, Navajo, b. 1956
- Joseph Bruchac, Nulhegan Band, b. 1942
- Louis F. Burns, Osage Nation, 1920–2012
- Frank Christopher Busch, Cree, Canada
- Jodi Byrd, Chickasaw Nation, United States
C
- Cody Caetano, Pinaymootang Ojibway
- Gregory Cajete, Santa Clara Pueblo
- Cristina Calderón, Yaghan, Chile, 1928–2022, last speaker of the Yaghan language
- Victoria Belcourt Callihoo, 1861–1966, Métis historian
- Adela Calva Reyes, Otomí, Mexico, 1967–2018
- Maria Campbell, Métis, Canada, b. 1940
- Nicola Campbell, Interior Salish Nleʔkepmx, Canada
- Rob Capriccioso, Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa
- Cliff Cardinal, Cree/Lakota
- Harold Cardinal, Cree, 1945–2005
- Pedro Cayuqueo, Mapuche, Chile, b. 1975
- Aaron Albert Carr, Laguna Pueblo/Navajo, b. 1963
- Marisol Ceh Moo, Maya, Mexico, b. 1968
- Betsey Guppy Chamberlain, Wabanaki, ca. 1797–1886
- Dean Chavers, Lumbee, b. 1942
- Shirley Cheechoo, Cree, Canada, b. 1952
- Elicura Chihuailaf Nahuelpán, Mapuche, Chile
- Eddie Chuculate, Muscogee Nation/Cherokee, b. 1978
- Marie Clements, Métis, Canada, b. 1962
- Susan Clements, Seneca/Mohawk-descent, United States, b. 1950
- George Clutesi, Tseshaht First Nation, Canada, 1905–1988
- Jacinto Collahuazo, Quechua, Ecuador
- Thomas Commuck, Narragansett, 1805–1855
- Robert J. Conley, Cherokee Nation, 1940–2014
- Pascual Coña, Mapuche, Chile, late 1840s–1927
- Ivonne Coñuecar, Mapuche, Chile, b. 1980
- Elizabeth Cook-Lynn, Crow Creek Lakota, b. 1930
- Linda Coombs, Aquinnah Wampanoag
- George Copway, Mississauga Ojibwa, Canada, 1818–1869
- Jesse Cornplanter, Seneca, 1889–1957
- Rupert Costo, Cahuilla, 1906–1989
- Caleigh Crow, Métis, Canada
- Leonard Crow Dog, Oglala Lakota, 1942–2021
- Briceida Cuevas, Maya, Mexico, b. 1969
- David Cusick, Seneca, ca. 1780–ca. 1831
D
- Joseph A. Dandurand, Kwantlen First Nation, Canada
- Jenny L. Davis, Chickasaw Nation, United States
- Nora Marks Dauenhauer, Tlingit, 1927–2017
- Garcilaso de la Vega, 1539–1616, Mestizo/Quechua descent, Peru
- Nora Thompson Dean, Touching Leaves Woman, Delaware Tribe of Indians, 1907–1984
- Philip J. Deloria, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
- Ella Cara Deloria, Yankton Dakota/Standing Rock Sioux, 1889–1971
- Vine Deloria, Jr., Yankton Dakota/Standing Rock Sioux, 1933–2005
- Bonnie Devine, Serpent River First Nation, Canada
- Cherie Dimaline, Métis, Canada
- Edward Dozier, Santa Clara Pueblo, 1916–1971
- Dawn Dumont, Okanese First Nation, Canada, b. 1973/1974
- Yves Sioui Durand, Huron-Wendat Nation, Canada, b. 1951
E
- Charles Eastman, Santee Dakota, 1858–1939
- Kyle Edwards, Anishinaabe, Canada
- Tommy Enuaraq, Inuk, Canada
- Heid E. Erdrich, Turtle Mountain Ojibwe, b. 1963
- Louise Erdrich, Turtle Mountain Ojibwe, b. 1954
F
- Stephanie Fielding, Mohegan
- Connie Fife, Cree
- Waawaate Fobister, Grassy Meadows First Nation, Canada
- Naomi Fontaine, Innu, Canada
- Natasha Kanapé Fontaine, Innu, Canada
- Lee Francis III, Laguna Pueblo descent, 1945–2003
- Vera Francis, Passamaquoddy, b. 1958
- Alice Masak French, Inuk, Canada, 1930–2013
G
- Eric Gansworth, Onondaga
- Garcilaso de la Vega, Quechua, Peru, 1539–1616, first published in 1609
- Andrew George, Jr., Wet'suwet'en First Nation, Canada, b. 1963
- Rueben George, Coast Salish, Canada
- Janice Gould, Maidu/Koyangk'auwi, 1949–2019
- George R. D. Goulet, Métis, Canada, b. 1933
- Fred Grove, Osage Nation/Oglala Lakota, 1913–2008
- Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala, Quechua, Peru, ca. 1535–after 1616
H
- Janet Campbell Hale, Coeur d'Alene-Kootenay, 1946–2021
- Terri Crawford Hansen, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, b. 1953
- Ann Meekitjuk Hanson, Inuk, Canada, b. 1946
- Joy Harjo, Mvskoke, b. 1951
- Suzan Shown Harjo, Mvskoke/Southern Cheyenne
- LaDonna Harris, Comanche
- Ernestine Hayes, Tlingit, b. 1945
- Dakota Ray Hebert, Dene
- James Youngblood Henderson, Chickasaw/Cheyenne, b. 1944
- Gordon Henry, White Earth Ojibwe, b. 1955
- Natalio Hernández, Nahua, Mexico, b. 1947
- Hen-Toh, Wyandotte, 1870–1927
- Vi Hilbert, Upper Skagit, 1918–2008
- Carol Anne Hilton Hesquiaht/Nuu-chah-nulth, Canada
- Tomson Highway, Cree, Canada, b. 1951
- Linda Hogan, Chickasaw Nation, b. 1947
- Andrew Hope III, Tlingit, 1949–2008
- John Christian Hopkins, Narragansett, b. 1960
- George Horse-Capture, Gros Ventre, 1937–2013
- Robert Houle, Saulteaux, Canada, b. 1947
- LeAnne Howe, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, b. 1951
- Ralph Hubbard, Seneca, 1885–1980
- Graciela Huinao, Huilliche, Chile, b. 1956
- Beverly Hungry Wolf, Blackfoot Confederacy, Canada, b. 1950
- Al Hunter, Rainy River Ojibwe, Canada
I
- Alootook Ipellie, Inuk, Canada, 1951–2007
- Peter Irniq, Inuk, Canada, b. 1947
- Madeline Ivalu, Inuk, Canada
J
- Michel Jean, Innu, Québec, Canada
- Paulla Dove Jennings, Narragansett
- Rita Joe, Mi'kmaq, Canada, 1932–2007
- Jessica Johns, Cree, Canada
- Emily Pauline Johnson, Mohawk, Canada, 1861–1913
- Aviaq Johnston, Inuk, Canada
- Basil H. Johnston, Wasauksing Ojibway, Canada, 1929–2015
- Stephen Graham Jones, Blackfeet Tribe, b. 1972
- William Jones, Sac and Fox Nation, 1871–1909
- Edith Josie, Gwich'in, Canada, 1921–2010
- Hugo Jamioy Juagibioy, Kamentsa, Colombia
- Betty Mae Tiger Jumper, Seminole Tribe of Florida, April 27, 1923 – January 14, 2011
- Daniel Heath Justice, Cherokee Nation, Canada
K
- Joseph Kakwinokanasum, Cree
- Peter Kalifornsky, Dena'ina, 1911–1993
- Joan Kane, Iñupiaq
- Margo Kane, Cree/Saulteaux, Canada, b. 1951
- An Antane-Kapesh, Innu, Québec, Canada, 1926-2004
- Jacqueline Keeler, Navajo Nation citizen / Yankton Dakota descent
- Maude Kegg, Mille Lacs Ojibwe, 1904–1999
- William Kennedy, Métis, Canada, 1814–1890
- Maurice Kenny, Mohawk, 1929–2016
- Robin Wall Kimmerer, Citizen Potawatomi Nation, b. 1953
- Jules Arita Koostachin, Cree, Canada
- Michael Kusugak, Inuk, Canada, b. 1948
- J. D. Kurtness, Innu, Québec, Canada, b. 1981
L
- Francis La Flesche, Omaha/Ponca, 1857–1932
- Susette La Flesche, Omaha/Ponca, 1854–1903
- Carole Labarre, Innu, b. 1966
- Winona LaDuke, White Earth Ojibwe, b. 1959
- Carole LaFavor, Ojibwe
- Joseph Laurent, Abenaki, 1839–1917
- Ronald G. Lewis, Cherokee Nation, b. 1941
- Georgina Lightning, Sampson First Nation Cree, Canada
- Darcie Little Badger, Lipan Apache, b. 1987
- William Harjo LoneFight, Muscogee/Natchez, b. 1966
- Donna M. Loring, Penobscot, b. 1948
- Kevin Loring, Nlaka'pamux, Canada Canada
- Adrian C. Louis, Lovelock Paiute, 1946–2018
- Phil Lucas, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, 1942–2007
- Henrik Lund, Kalaaleq, Greenland, 1875–1948