{"id":187209,"date":"2023-11-16T15:42:09","date_gmt":"2023-11-17T01:42:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=187209"},"modified":"2023-11-17T15:53:38","modified_gmt":"2023-11-18T01:53:38","slug":"perez-indigenous-poetry-book-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2023\/11\/16\/perez-indigenous-poetry-book-award\/","title":{"rendered":"M\u0101noa professor wins National Book Award for Indigenous poetry"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Santos-Perez
Perez at the 74th National Book Awards Dinner and Ceremony, November 15, 2023 at Cipriani Wall Street (Photo credit: Nathalie Schuelle)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"poetry<\/p>\n

A collection of poems created to help heal traumatic wounds linked to colonialism, militarism and environmental injustice in the western Pacific island of Gu\u00e5han or Guam catapulted a University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa English<\/a> professor into the national spotlight. Craig Santos Perez won the 2023 Award for Poetry<\/a> at the 74th National Book Awards in New York City on November 15 for his book, from unincorporated territory [\u00e5mot]<\/em>, a deeply personal piece of work about his Indigenous Chamoru people.<\/p>\n

Perez accepted the award in front of star-studded company in the Big Apple. The ceremony was attended by powerhouse celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Kerry Washington, Cindy Crawford and the cr\u00e8me de la cr\u00e8me of America\u2019s literary world.<\/p>\n

from unincorporated territory [\u00e5mot]<\/em>\"Picture<\/h2>\n

Perez\u2019s book is the fifth in his ongoing collection about the history and culture of Guam\u2019s Indigenous people. \u00c5mot is the Chamoru word for “medicine,” and his intent is to offer healing through experimental and visual poetry.<\/p>\n

Each year, the National Book Foundation recognizes outstanding literary work by U.S. citizens. Perez\u2019 book was one of 10 finalists in the running for the 2023 National Book Award for Poetry<\/a> after 295 were initially submitted from across the country.<\/p>\n

An esteemed panel of judges selected Perez as an overall winner.<\/p>\n

Award-winning author<\/h2>\n
\"Craig
Craig Santos Perez<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 2022, Perez landed the Modern Language Association Prize for Studies in Native American Literatures, Cultures and Languages, for his book, Navigating CHamoru Poetry: Indigeneity, Aesthetics, and Decolonization. He has received the American Book Award, Pen Center USA<\/abbr>\/Poetry Society of America Literary Prize, Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Literary Arts Council Award and Nautilus Book Award, among others.<\/p>\n