Overview:
Former U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo shared poetry challenging political leadership and reflecting on community, while recalling her experience teaching New Mexico Governor-elect Deb Haaland at the University of New Mexico.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Former U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo (Muscogee Nation) did not disappoint a standing-room-only crowd Thursday evening, Nov. 12, 2026, at Aquinas College’s Contemporary Writers Series 30th Anniversary Celebration.
Harjo read several of her poems, many of which explore Indigenous traditions, grief, the natural world, and the role of art in sustaining community and hope.
Among the selections was her timely poem For Those Who Would Govern (2019), which resonates with today’s political climate. Harjo reflected on how she came to write the poem while observing politics at the national, state, tribal and community levels.
“I thought, why don’t we have a test to see if people are qualified? Because most people just have to put down a fee, and you sign up, and then you find backing and raise money and make promises. And why don’t we have tests so that people have to pass a civics test? What do you know about the government? What do you know about governing? Do you know any administrative skills? You know, what do you know about history? What do you know about history? What do you know about American and world history? What do you know about humanities? Do you know any poems or songs? You know, a test like that. And there should also be a community service component. What have you done to serve the community?”
For Those Who Would Govern poses seven questions for those seeking positions of leadership and authority:
First question: Can you first govern yourself?
Second question: What is the state of your own household?
Third question: Do you have a proven record of community service
and compassionate acts?
Fourth question: Do you know the history and laws of your principalities?
Fifth question: Do you follow sound principles? Look for fresh vision to lift all the inhabitants of the land, including animals, plants, elements, all who share this earth?
Sixth question: Are you owned by lawyers, bankers, insurance agents, lobbyists, or other politicians, anyone else who would unfairly profit by your decisions?
Seventh question: Do you have authority by the original keepers of the lands, those who obey natural law and are in the service of the lands on which you stand?
The questions challenge political leaders to look beyond campaign promises and consider their character, knowledge, community service, independence and responsibilities to the lands and people they serve.
Harjo recalls teaching Deb Haaland
During the question-and-answer portion of the evening, Harjo was asked about her experience teaching New Mexico Governor-elect Deb Haaland, whom she taught at the University of New Mexico in the 1990s.
Harjo recalled that Haaland came to her office seeking permission to enroll in her advanced creative writing class.
“Deb came to my office. She had a motorcycle helmet, and came in and asked to get into my class. She was a returning student, and she wanted to be in a 300 level riding class, and I saw some of her work. She showed me some of her work, and I let her into my class. And she said she was riding a motorcycle to save on fossil fuels, you know. And when we would go for lunch in the cafeteria sometimes, she always carried her own utensils, so she wouldn’t use paper or anything. This was way back. This is not something that she just came to. And so she was my student, a really good student. And then she, I hired her as my assistant,” Harjo said.
Harjo also referenced Haaland’s autobiography, A Voice Like Mine, noting that the future governor’s commitment to community service has been evident for decades.
“Basically her thing was community work, and that’s what she’s doing. New Mexico is her community,” Harjo said.
A distinguished literary career
Harjo served as the 23rd U.S. Poet Laureate and is the author of numerous books of poetry, several plays, children’s books, two memoirs and seven music albums.
Her honors include Yale University’s 2023 Bollingen Prize for American Poetry, the National Book Critics Circle’s Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award, the Ruth Lilly Prize from the Poetry Foundation, a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Tulsa Artist Fellowship.
She is a former chancellor of the Academy of American Poets and former chair of the Native Arts & Cultures Foundation. She currently serves as the inaugural Artist-in-Residence for the Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she lives.
