Column: 23rd U.S. poet laureate Joy Harjo to visit MGA, Ocmulgee Mounds Tuesday

Worried there’s nothing to do in the week ahead? Don’t be. Opportunities to get out and about abound as September starts to wind down.

Like this: right on the heels of last weekend’s Ocmulgee Indigenous Celebration at Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park and Fire Starters Festival events downtown, Joy Harjo, 23rd U.S. Poet Laureate, returns to town Tuesday for two engagements. One is a reading and book signing at Middle Georgia State University and the other a reading at Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park.

MGA’s School of Arts & Letters presents Harjo at 11:30 a.m. in the school’s volleyball gym on the campus’ northeast side off its main parking lot.

At 4 p.m., Harjo is at Ocmulgee Mounds’ outdoor classroom in front of the visitor center.

Both are free and open to the public and will have Harjo’s books available for purchase.

“It’s exciting having Joy Harjo back with us,” said Mary Wearn, English professor and Dean of the School of Arts & Letters. “She’s been here twice before and her presence elevates our city as she shares her life and work as a poet, writer and musician. It’s an honor having her here to shed light in her own way on the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park and Muscogee (Creek) Nation whose traditional homeland this is.”

Wearn said it’s an opportunity for MGA to serve the community by offering the free poet’s talk. The school has also made special efforts to bring in area K-12 students to hear, learn from and be inspired by Harjo.

Harjo is a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the first Native American to be named Poet Laureate. She served for three terms from 2019-2022. She’s written 10 books of poetry, two memoirs and several children’s books, the latest being “Remember.”

A talented saxophonist and flute player, she’s recorded award-winning albums as well as garnered major awards and acclaim for her poetry. She’s editor of several collections of Native American poetry, including “When the Light of the World was Subdued, Our Songs Came Through — A Norton Anthology of Native Nations Poetry” and “Living Nations, Living Words: An Anthology of First Peoples Poetry” which is a companion piece to her work as Poet Laureate to identify and map Native writers.

Harjo is also a chancellor of the Academy of American Poets, the board of directors chair for the Native Arts & Cultures Foundation and the first artist-in-residence at the Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa, where she lives.

The National Book Critic Circle calls Harjo “a leading voice for Native American communities on and off the page,” and praises her for “harnessing the traditions of the Muscogee Nation and the vast landscape of her limitless imagination.”

But beyond the accolades, Harjo is at heart a talented, honed communicator-storyteller reflecting thoughts and feelings from her own experiences, those of her people and of others. And, she’s an appreciator of the poet’s gift and responsibilities and of her ancient roots in the land, especially her heritage here.

Harjo told me on a previous visit, “When you walk the earth in Georgia, you see it’s a dense, beautiful land and that it’s no wonder our people loved it so before being forcibly and illegally removed. It’s sad and disturbing that there’s no real Muscogee presence here now, no major presence of native people, because it makes it seem we and our culture just vanished. We didn’t.

“I think it’s important we not live in the past and I believe the mounds should be about a living people who went through great hardship but here we are still. We exist and we’re one of America’s voices, a voice that needs to be heard. It’s important the mounds be a monument to the living and not to death.”

Muscogee (Creek) families once lived throughout Georgia as businesspeople, farmers and artisans. They were the last Native Americans to inhabit the Ocmulgee Mounds until they were illegally ejected following the Indian Removal Act of 1830. Ties are now being renewed and strengthened between the nation in Oklahoma and Macon resulting in more Muscogee (Creek) people visiting the area and, in time, a cultural center will be established here.

Lisa Lemon of the Ocmulgee Mounds Association, the community organization that supports the educational and other work and projects of Ocmulgee Mounds, said Harjo is always worth listening to.

“There was a great turnout when she was here in early 2020 and what she had to say was very moving,” Lemon said. “To hear her read her poetry and talk about her experience as a writer and being Muscogee (Creek) brings it all to life in a way only a seasoned, insightful poet can do. You feel it much more deeply.”

Turning to another significant happening in Macon this weekend, Allman Brothers Band fans are pouring into the city from all over the world to be part of the annual GABBAfest put on by the Georgia Allman Brothers Band Association. Shows are filling venues downtown for concerts and after-parties, all paying tribute to the Brothers. A highlight is tonight when the Tony Tyler Band opens and Lee Roy Parnell headlines at the Grand Opera House with an official GABBAFest after-party following at Historic Grants Lounge.

But then again, some regulars at GABBAfest might prefer getting together with friends at Gallery West, hearing a band at the Capitol Theatre or getting in on the GABBA jam session at the Big House.

The schedule is extensive and full details and ticketing are at www.gabbafest.org.

But there’s more. How about this sampling:

• 2023 Macon Pride begins its fifth year and 9 days of activities Saturday with the Mx Macon Pride Pageant, the annual Macon Pride Pageant, at JBA on Cherry Street from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Details on all events are at www.maconpride.org/2023-pride-week-events but a couple of highlights might include a showing of the film “RENT” at the Douglass Theatre Sunday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and “Broadway Does Pride” at the Grand Opera House Wednesday beginning at 7:30 p.m.

• Macon200’s Bicentennial Art Show at Macon Mall continues but shifts gears today with a new selection of art and artists in a show titled “Sense of Place,” an exhibition that explores the essence of Macon. The opening reception is tonight from 5-8 p.m. with complimentary refreshments and live entertainment. Textile art by Wini McQueen remains on display through the end of the year.

• Check out the Folk Blues Art Show at Grant’s Lounge today beginning at 5 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. running until late each day. Admission is free until 9 p.m. The show is in its seventh year and features collections of new, original and funky artwork that goes well with music. Works are by the artists of Local 47-Macon with a few guest artists thrown in. Go to www.historicgrants.com for info on bands who’ll be playing at Grant’s and tickets after 9 p.m.

• Mercer University Theater presents “Alice in Wonderland,” a free outdoor children’s theater event reimagined, adapted and directed by Mercer Theatre’s Scot Mann. It’s at Tattnall Square Park today and Saturday at 10 a.m. The production introduces special effects and a steampunk setting to the classic Alice plot. No tickets or reservations are required.

Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com.