Poetry Northwest’s James Welch Prize is awarded for two outstanding poems, each written by an Indigenous U.S. poet. The prize is named for Blackfeet and Gros Ventre writer James Welch, whose early poems were featured in Poetry Northwest and who went on to become one of the region’s most important writers.
About Our Judge
Heid E. Erdrich grew up in Wahpeton North Dakota and is Ojibwe enrolled at Turtle Mountain. Her poetry collection Little Big Bully won a National Poetry Series award for 2020. Heid’s awards include a 2022 Bobbit Prize, a Native Arts and Cultures Foundation Fellowship, and she has twice won a Minnesota Book Award for poetry. Heid edited the 2018 anthology New Poets of Native Nations from Graywolf Press and teaches in the low-residency MFA Creative Writing Program of Augsburg University. Heid served as the 2019 Distinguished Visiting Professor in Liberal Arts at University of Minnesota Morris, the 2021 Glasgow Writer-in-Residence at Washington and Lee, the 2022 Elliston Writer-in-Residence for University of Cincinnati, and she recently taught a term in Native American and Indigenous Studies at Dartmouth College.
The prize is open to emerging poets who are community-recognized members of tribal nations within the United States and its trust territories (including American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Chamorros, and American Samoans). Only poets who have not published more than one book-length literary work in any genre are eligible; however, previous publication is not a requirement. Eligible contestants must be community-recognized members of their tribal nation. Formal tribal enrollment is not the only way of acknowledging belonging, and this prize aims to recognize all Native writers who are in community. Previous first place winners of this prize are not eligible, but previous finalists are welcome to submit work.
Each entrant may submit up to three poems in a single submission. Please submit only once.
There is no submission fee for this prize.
Submissions must include a cover letter with any tribal affiliation(s) and ties (official enrollment is not necessary) as well as a brief biography. However, please do not include any personal information (name, mailing address, etc.) on the poems themselves. All entries will be screened by writers and editors from In-Na-Po (Indigenous Nations Poets). All identifying information will be removed from the submissions before each round of judging, and entries will be read blind at each stage of the judging process.
Entries must be previously unpublished. We accept simultaneous submissions. You may withdraw your submission at any time via Submittable.
General submission guidelines can be found here.
Poetry Northwest complies with the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP) contest code of ethics. CLMP’s community of independent literary publishers believes that ethical contests serve our shared goal: to connect writers and readers by publishing exceptional writing. We believe that intent to act ethically, clarity of guidelines, and transparency of process form the foundation of an ethical contest. To that end, we agree to 1) conduct our contests as ethically as possible and to address any unethical behavior on the part of our readers, judges, or editors; 2) to provide clear and specific contest guidelines—defining conflict of interest for all parties involved; and 3) to make the mechanics of our selection process available to the public. This Code recognizes that different contest models produce different results, but that each model can be run ethically. We have adopted this Code to reinforce our integrity and dedication as a publishing community and to ensure that our contests contribute to a vibrant literary heritage.
The contest deadline has been extended through March 15!
About the Winners
The final judge selects two first-place winners. A small group of finalists is selected for print and/or online publication alongside the winner by writers and editors from our partner organizations and the editors of Poetry Northwest.
Both winning poets will be featured in a reading with the judge (2023 location TBA). This reading will include travel, lodging, and a very celebratory welcome for the winners.
Every entrant will receive a copy of Poetry Northwest featuring the prize-winning poems.
Previous Winners & Finalists
WINNERS
Selected by Elise Paschen
Halee Kirkwood
Sublime Dream as the Fabulous Night Panther
On Moccasin Mike Road
Halee Kirkwood is a direct descendant of the Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe, with poems published recently in Poem-A-Day, Water~Stone Review, Muzzle Magazine, and others.
Melanie Merle
Warmouth
Calling Back the Birds
Melanie Merle is an associate editor for a literary and art publication, Inverted Syntax. Her work is forthcoming in the anthology Infinite Constellations: Speculating Us (University of Alabama Press).
Download a printable digital broadside featuring the winning poems:
FINALISTS
selected by poets from the board and advisory committee of In-Na-Po (Indigenous Nations Poets) with the editors of Poetry Northwest
Sean Sam • Jessica Cohn • Delaney Keshena • Max Early • Tacey M. Atsitty
POEMS BY 2022 WINNERS & FINALISTS APPEAR IN THE SUMMER & FALL 2022 ISSUE
WINNERS
selected by Sherwin Bitsui
Kenzie Allen
Oskʌnu·tú
Kenzie Allen is a Haudenosaunee poet and transmedia artist. She is a descendant of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. Her work has appeared in Boston Review, Narrative, Best New Poets, The Iowa Review, and other venues.
Brendan Shay Basham
Do Not Drink from the Tailing Pond
Brendan Shay Basham (Diné), is the author of the forthcoming novel Swim Home to the Vanished (Harper, 2023). He received his MFA from the Institute of American Indian Arts.
Download a printable digital broadside featuring the two winning poems:
Watch a recording featuring 2021 winner Brendan Shay Basham:
FINALISTS
selected by poets from the board and advisory committee of In-Na-Po (Indigenous Nations Poets) with the editors of Poetry Northwest
Melanie Merle • Abigail Chabitnoy • Kalehua Kim • Shelbi Fitzpatrick • Annie Wenstrup • Rachel Johnson • Josie Valdez • Michael Wasson
POEMS BY 2021 WINNERS & FINALISTS APPEAR IN THE SUMMER & FALL 2021 ISSUE
Thank You
The James Welch Prize is made possible by the generosity and participation of the following:
Partners
Donors
Including all who supported our successful 2021 Kickstarter campaign.
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