Chrystos

Not to be confused with: Christos (disambiguation), Christo (disambiguation) or Christus.

Chrystos (born November 7, 1946) is a Menominee two-spirit writer and activist. She has published many books and poems that explore indigenous rights, social justice and feminism. She is also a lecturer, writing teacher and fine-artist.

Life and career

Born in San Francisco, United States, Chrystos is a Lesbian- and Two-Spirit-identified writer. Her writing introduces a diverse mixture of characters and ideas and focuses on social justice issues. She also tries to raise awareness of Native American heritage and culture, while breaking down stereotypes. She has published many works including Not Vanishing, Dream On, In Her I Am, Fugitive Colors, Fire Power, Red Rollercoaster, and Wilde Reis. She has won numerous awards including NEA, Human Rights Freedom Of Expression, Sappho Award of Distinction from the Astrea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, Barbara Demming Grant, and the Aude Lorde International Poetry Award. She has lived on Bainbridge Island, Washington since 1980.

Bibliography

• This Bridge Called My Back (anthology) Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, 1981, contributor
• Not Vanishing, Vancouver: Press Gang Publishers, 1988, ISBN 0-88974-015-1
• Dream On, Vancouver: Press Gang Publishers, 1991
• In Her I Am, Vancouver: Press Gang Publishers, 1993
• Fugitive Colors, Cleveland: Cleveland State University Poetry Center, 1995, ISBN 1-880834-11-1
• Fire Power, Vancouver: Press Gang Publishers, 1995, ISBN 0-88974-047-X
• Some Poems By People I Like (anthology of 5 poets) Toronto: sandraslittlebookshop, 2007, ISBN 978-0-9739540-1-2

See also

• List of writers from peoples indigenous to the Americas
• Native American Studies

External links

• Chrystos from Voices in the Gaps