Diné College Students Attend Story Catcher Festival, meeting with three-time U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo
April 29, 2025
TSAILE, Ariz. Three Diné College students recently participated in the annual Story Catcher Festival at Western Colorado University located at Gunnison, Colorado, where they were awarded Young Lance Fellowships. They had the unique opportunity to engage with three-time U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo.
The event, held on April 9-10, brought together writers and poets from across the nation for workshops, readings, and discussions. Harjo, an internationally acclaimed writer from the Muscogee Nation and the first Native American Poet Laureate of the United States, served as the featured speaker, inspiring participants with her perspectives on storytelling and creativity.
Shannel Garcia, Jalen Smallcanyon, and Milton Bluehouse, all emerging writers and students at Diné College, were recognized as Young Lance Fellows for their promising contributions to literature. The fellowship supports underrepresented voices in storytelling.
Garcia, a resident of Shiprock, is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Creative Writing and has been published in Chapter House Journal and Yellow Medicine Review. Smallcanyon, who hails from Pinon and Coppermine, holds an associate degree in Diné Studies and is working toward her BFA in Creative Writing. Her poetry has appeared in Poetry Magazine. Bluehouse, from Ganado, is currently enrolled in creative writing courses and has also seen his work published in Poetry Magazine and Yellow Medicine Review.
Interim Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities, Dr. Haesong Kwon, accompanied the students to the event and reflected on the significance of the experience. “It was great. I loved it,” Dr. Kwon said. “We got a sense that poetry still matters and that Indigenous consciousness is of the utmost importance.”
The festival coincided with National Poetry Month, an annual celebration designed to raise awareness and appreciation for poetry. Throughout April, Diné College showcased student work to honor the occasion, with participation in the Story Catcher Festival standing out as a major highlight.
This year’s festival emphasized the power of storytelling to preserve and amplify Indigenous voices. Inspired by author Mari Sandoz, whose work centered on celebrating human narratives, the event continues her legacy by fostering emerging talent and supporting writers from diverse backgrounds.
The Mari Sandoz Society, the organization behind the festival, highlights its commitment to empowering storytellers by funding fellowships and organizing unique opportunities for students.
