Kurt Schweigman (Luke Warm Water) Papers, 1995-2024
Collection Overview
Title: Kurt Schweigman (Luke Warm Water) Papers, 1995-2024
ID: OGLMC1729
Extent: 1.75 Linear Feet
Date Acquired: 09/05/2024
Subjects: Literary - Poetry, University of North Dakota - Alumni
Languages: English
Abstract
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Collection Historical Note
Kurt Schweigman, a Native American poet, public health professional, and literary figure, is known for his contributions to both indigenous literature and public health. Born in 1965 in Rapid City, South Dakota, Schweigman is an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Nation. His academic background includes a B.A. in American Indian Studies from the University of North Dakota (1996) and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (2000). Throughout his career, Schweigman has worked extensively on various Native American public health initiatives.
Though not formally educated in literature, Schweigman became a self-taught writer, beginning his literary career as a spoken word poet. He performed under the pseudonym Luke Warm Water from 1999 to 2017 before transitioning to publishing under his own name. His poetry, deeply rooted in contemporary indigenous experiences, gained attention and support from notable writers like Jimmy Santiago Baca, Adrian C. Louis, and performance artist James Luna.
Schweigman’s poetry career spans well over two decades, during which he delivered over 200 public readings across the United States and Europe and published in over fifty literary journals, anthologies, internet website publications, and magazines. His participation in Poetry Slam competitions saw him winning fourteen and placing second in eight events from 1999 to 2010. He also published nine poetry chapbooks and was featured in many literary journals and anthologies, including Shedding Skins: Four Sioux Poets (Michigan State University Press, 2008).
In addition to his literary achievements, Schweigman earned various awards, including the prestigious Archibald Bush Foundation Artist Fellowship in Literature in 2005, which made him the first spoken word poet to receive such a grant. His involvement in social justice also led him to organize poetry events, some focused on the political activism surrounding American Indian issues, such as the freedom of political prisoner Leonard Peltier.
Schweigman co-edited Red Indian Road West: Native American Poetry from California (Scarlet Tanager Books, 2016) and collaborated on the animated short film Iktomi and the Food Stamp Incident (2005), which was screened at American Indian film festivals. Although retired from public poetry readings in 2024, he is currently writing his first novel, Sitting Bull in Paris, blending historical and contemporary fiction. His literary legacy is marked by a deep commitment to his indigenous roots, contemporary storytelling, poignancy, humor, and the promotion of Native American voices in literature.
Submitted by Kurt Schweigman, January 2025
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.
Acquisition Source: Kurt Schweigman, Santa Rosa, California
Acquisition Method: Donation; 2024-3515
Preferred Citation: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Processing Information: Processed by Curt Hanson in September 2024.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Oversize Folder 1: Publicity Posters],
[All]
- Box 2
- Folder 1: "American Bison Demand Removal from Terrorist Watch List," "Black Hills Buffalo," "Leonard Peltier," and "Junior's Dream." Yellow Medicine Review. 2023
- Folder 2: "Collecting Medicine. Fourteen Hills: the San Francisco State University Review. 2023
- Folder 3: Confluences of Solitude: Poetry. Mitote Press. 2023
- Folder 4: "Kurt Schweigman: Spoken Word Poet." The 222 (Performing Arts Organization). 2004
- Folder 5: "Sitting Bull in Paris." Yellow Medicine Review. 2024
- Folder 6: Publicity Posters
- Item 1: "Closer to the Sky." Pacific Western Traders, Folsom, California. 2007
- Item 2: "The Third Sunday Salon of the Healdsburg Literary Guild Proudly Presents Luke Warm Water." Open Mic at City Hall, Healdsburg, California. 2008
- Item 3: 14th Annual Petaluma Poetry Walk. Petaluma, California. 2009
- Item 4: "Celebrate Indigenous People's Day By Seeing...Luke Warm Water." Native American Student Center. University of Idaho. 2009
- Item 5: 15th Annual Petaluma Poetry Walk. Petaluma, California. 2010
- Item 6: North Beach ArtWalk. Beat Museum. San Francisco. 2009
- Item 7: "The 23rd Biannual Visiting Writer Event Featuring: Luke Warm Water." Fullerton College Wilshire Auditorium. 2010
- Item 8: "Brown Poets Reading." E.M. Wolfman, Oakland. 2014
- Item 9: "28th Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition: Poetry Afternoon." Emeryville, California. 2014
- Item 10: "A Native American Tribute. Sausalito Books by the Bay." Sausalito, California. 2022
- Item 11: 26th Annual Petaluma Poetry Walk. Petaluma, California. 2023
- Item 12: "Krista Brown. Luke Warm Water." Readers Bookstore. Fort Mason. San Francisco. undated
- Item 13: "Poetry Slam." Foolscap Books. Eugene, Oregon. undated
- Item 14: "Spoken Word at The Loft Presents Luke Warm Water and Al Letson. The Loft. Minneapolis. undated
- Item 15: Berkeley Poetry Slam, featuring Luke Warm Water. undated
- Item 16: Berkeley Poetry Slam, featuring Luke Warm Water and Geoff Trenchard. undated
- Item 17: San Luis Obispo Poetry Festival. Featuring Luke Warm Water. undated
- Item 18: undated
- Item 1: "Closer to the Sky." Pacific Western Traders, Folsom, California. 2007
- Folder 7: Certificates
- Item 1: "Certificate of Appreciation. In Recognition of Your Outstanding Spoken Words and Support for the Freedom of Leonard Peltier." Oglala Commemoration Committee. 2004
- Item 2: "Certificate of Appreciation. In Recognition of Your Outstanding Spoken Word in Honor of Leonard Peltier's Freedom." Oglala Commemoration Committee. 2005
- Item 1: "Certificate of Appreciation. In Recognition of Your Outstanding Spoken Words and Support for the Freedom of Leonard Peltier." Oglala Commemoration Committee. 2004
- Folder 8: Photographs
- Photograph 1: Schweigman with two unidentified people at BBC Radio Bristol
- Photograph 2: Schweigman with Dino Butler at Leonard Peltier Fundraiser at Red and Black Cafe, Portland, Oregon. circa 2001
- Photograph 3: Schweigman, Dino Butler, and unidentified people at Leonard Peltier Fundraiser at Red and Black Cafe, Portland, Oregon. circa 2001
- Photograph 4: Schweigman, Dino Butler, and unidentified people at Leonard Peltier Fundraiser at Red and Black Cafe, Portland, Oregon. circa 2001
- Photograph 5: Schweigman at event at Portland State University. circa 2002
- Photograph 6: Schweigman at event at Portland State University. circa 2002
- Photograph 7: Schweigman and John Trudell at event at Portland State University. circa 2002
- Photograph 8: John Trudell at event at Portland State University. circa 2002
- Photograph 9: Schweigman performing spoken word poetry. undated
- Photograph 10: "Tribue to Luke Warm Water." 2007
- Photograph of acrylic painting
- Photograph 11: "Luke." Illustration by Esteben Villa. 2014
- Photograph 12: "Feature Poet." Illustration by Esteben Villa.
- Photograph 1: Schweigman with two unidentified people at BBC Radio Bristol
- Folder 9: Newspaper Clippings
- Item 1: "Oglala Poet Spins a Yarn, Finds Heroes on Pine Ridge." Indian County Today. October 17, 2001
- Item 2: "Luke Warm Water Performs Tonight." Argus Leader. November 7, 2003
- Item 3: "Plains English: a Transatlantic Poetic Experiment." High Plains Reader. March 25, 2004
- Item 4: "Poet Making Craft Accessible." Argus Leader. March 31, 2004. (partial-missing first page)
- Item 5: "Writing and the West." Billings Gazette. July 4, 2004
- Item 6: "Friday Night Rhymes." Billings Gazette. July 10, 2004
- Item 7: "Words Rule in the Ring." Lakota Journal. July 23-30, 2004
- Item 8: "Warm Water Writes from the Heart." Dakota Journal. November 18-25, 2004
- Item 9: "Oglala Spoken Word Poet Publishes New Book." Lakota Journal. April 29-May 6, 2005
- Item 10: "Rapid City Spoken Word Poet Named 2005 Bush Artist Fellow." Lakota Journal. June 10-17, 2005
- Item 11: "'Spoken Word' Poet Earns Prestigious Arts Fellowship." Rapid City Journal. July 17, 2005
- Item 12: "Unsafe Topics, Drolly Explained." Sacramento News and Review. December 14, 2006
- Item 13: "Ishi's Hiding Place." The Daily Democrat. April 22, 2007
- Item 14: "Luke Warm Water Heats Poetry Stage." The Scene. August 31, 2007
- Item 15: "Iktomi's Uprising: Poems by Luke Warm Water." Dakota Lakota Journal. November 2007
- Item 16: "Prigioniero Dell Uomo Bianco." il manifesto. November 19, 2013
- Item 17: "Warm Water Spreads the Message." Lakota Journal. undated
- Item 18: "Luke Warm Water to Read at SDSU." Dakota Journal. undated
- Item 19: "'Cowboys and Indians' Event Showcases Talent of Local Authors." Rapid City Journal. undated
- Item 1: "Oglala Poet Spins a Yarn, Finds Heroes on Pine Ridge." Indian County Today. October 17, 2001
- Folder 1: "American Bison Demand Removal from Terrorist Watch List," "Black Hills Buffalo," "Leonard Peltier," and "Junior's Dream." Yellow Medicine Review. 2023
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Oversize Folder 1: Publicity Posters],
[All]