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LeAnne Howe

リーアン・ハウ

LeAnne Howe

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1951-04-29 （Edmond, Oklahoma, U.S.）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Edmond, Oklahoma, U.S. → Athens, Georgia, U.S. (University of Georgia) → Northfield, Minnesota, U.S. (Carleton College) → Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. (University of Minnesota) → Urbana, Illinois, U.S. (University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign) → Iowa City, Iowa, U.S. (University of Iowa)

Career

Occupations
Author, Playwright, Scholar, Poet, Screenwriter
Active Years
1980-2025
Affiliations
University of Georgia (Department of English, Eidson Distinguished Professor), University of Minnesota (taught in American Indian Studies and English), University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (taught), University of Iowa (lectured and developed courses), Carleton College (lectured)

Education

Oklahoma State University
Department of English
Degree: BA/BS (英語専攻、詳細不明)
Country: United States
Majored in English at the undergraduate level; exact graduation year not specified in source
Vermont College of Norwich University
Creative Writing (MFA)
Degree: MFA
Period: 1990s–2000
Year of Graduation: 2000
Country: United States
Received an MFA in Creative Writing in 2000

Awards

American Book Award
2002
Work: Shell Shaker
Organization: Before Columbus Foundation
Result: 受賞
Oklahoma Book Award
2006
Work: Evidence of Red
Organization: Oklahoma Book Award (state award)
Result: 受賞
United States Artists Fellow
2012
Organization: United States Artists
Result: 受賞
MLA Prize for Studies in Native American Literatures, Cultures, and Languages
2015
Work: Choctalking on Other Realities
Organization: Modern Language Association
Result: 受賞（第一回受賞者）

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Shell Shaker

2001 Novel (Indigenous fiction)

A novel that interweaves historic and contemporary Native community lives, exploring storytelling, memory, revenge, and forgiveness.

Indigenous historyOral traditionMemory and revenge

Evidence of Red: Poems and Prose

2005 Poetry and prose

A collection of poems and prose that express Choctaw perspectives and Indigenous experiences.

Tribal identityHistory and traumaSpirituality

Miko Kings: An Indian Baseball Story

2007 Nonfiction / YA (story format)

A story centered on Native communities and baseball, depicting intersections of culture, community, and sport.

Sport and communityCultural continuity

Choctalking on Other Realities

2013 Novel / experimental fiction

A novel that incorporates Choctaw language and narratives to weave reality with other realms; an experimental work engaging Indigenous language and culture.

Language and realityPower of narrative

Savage Conversations

2019 Essays / Criticism

A collection of cultural criticism and personal essays addressing Indigenous representation and cultural dialogue.

Cultural criticismRepresentation

Seeing Red, Pixeled Skins: American Indians and Film (co-editor)

2013 Edited volume / film studies

An edited collection examining representations of American Indians in film, providing analyses of Indigenous portrayals in cinema.

Film and representationIndigenous studies

Bibliography

  • Shell Shaker
  • Evidence of Red: Poems and Prose
  • Miko Kings: An Indian Baseball Story
  • Seeing Red, Pixeled Skins: American Indians and Film (co-edited)
  • Choctalking on Other Realities
  • Savage Conversations
  • Singing, Still (libretto)

Adaptations

  • Indian Country Diaries: Spiral of Fire (2006) — screenwriter and on-camera narrator
  • Playing Pastimes: American Indian Fast-Pitch Softball, and Survival (2007) — co-producer

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Narrative style incorporating Choctaw oral traditionsLayered structures that intersect history and the contemporaryExperimental and poetic use of language
Recurring Motifs
Tribal memory and oral traditionRelationship between language and realityCommunity and roles of women

Legacy

LeAnne Howe has significantly contributed to Indigenous literature and film studies by bringing Choctaw perspectives into both creative and academic contexts. As an author, playwright, and scholar she has helped preserve and reevaluate Indigenous language and storytelling.

Academic Societies

  • Modern Language Association (recipient of MLA Prize)

Trivia

  • She is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation.
  • Received an MFA from Vermont College of Norwich University in 2000.
  • Works across genres including novels, poetry, plays, and film scripts.
  • Has lectured and performed readings internationally (Japan, Jordan, Israel, Romania, Spain).