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
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