Marilou awiakta biography books

National and international recognition for her work began in with her first book, Abiding Appalachia: Where Mountain and Atom Meet.

Does humanity have enough reverence for life to cope with the atom? Poet Marilou Awiakta poses this question in this book, which was first published in , shortly before the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island. She follows his trail as he circles through the saga of Tsali and the Cherokee removal, then into the thoughts of early pioneers and the vision of John Hendrix, who foretold the coming of Oak Ridge with such accuracy.

Winding through the poet's childhood, when the atom was split in secret, the trail leads to the retired Graphic Reactor and, finally, into the heart of the atom itself -- and into our hearts, where we must ultimately resolve the question of reverence for life. She graduated from the University of Tennessee in receiving a Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude, in both English and French.

She is renowned for writing several books that blend stories, essays and poetry. Marilou Awiakta is the seventh generation of her family to grow up in Appalachia, mostly in East Tennessee. Since , her Cherokee and Scots-Irish family has lived as a "designated family" in the mountainous area of the state. She worked as a civilian liaison officer and translator for the United States.

They have three children. In July , her work was featured in www. Member literary panel Tennessee Arts Commission, , chair, Commissioner Mayor's International Heritage Commission, Board directors Tennessee Humanities Council, since , chair grants committee, Member Native American Inter Tribal Association co-founder , ambassador at large , Wordcraft Circuit of Native American Writers and Storytellers coordinator Tennessee , member board national caucus since Back to Profile.

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