N. Scott Momaday
- Born:
- February 27, 1934, Lawton, Oklahoma, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Author, Poet, Professor, Painter
Early Life and Education
- Born Navarre Scott Mammedaty; adopted the name N. Scott Momaday later.
- Of Kiowa descent.
- Grew up on reservations in Oklahoma, Arizona, and New Mexico.
- B.A. in Political Science, University of New Mexico (1958).
- M.A. in English, Stanford University (1960).
- Ph.D. in English, Stanford University (1963). Dissertation focused on the Kiowa oral tradition.
Career and Major Achievements
- Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
- Professor of English at Stanford University.
- Professor of English at the University of Arizona.
- Awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (1969) for House Made of Dawn.
- Established the Buffalo Trust, dedicated to preserving Native American culture and heritage.
- Named Oklahoma Poet Laureate (2007).
- Awarded the National Medal of Arts (2007).
Notable Works
- House Made of Dawn (1968) - Novel
- The Way to Rainy Mountain (1969) - Memoir
- Angle of Geese and Other Poems (1974) - Poetry
- The Names: A Memoir (1976) - Memoir
- Set Singing Bird (1994) - Children's Book
- In the Presence of the Sun: Stories and Poems (1992)
- Again for a World is Born: Renga (2018)
Legacy and Impact
N. Scott Momaday, the subject of numerous critical analyses like this scott momaday biography, is celebrated for bringing Native American literature to a wider audience and for his profound exploration of identity, memory, and the power of storytelling. His work has influenced generations of writers and artists and contributed significantly to the understanding and appreciation of Native American culture.