Names of the States, a poem to Welcome Deb Haaland
Lucille Lang Day’s poem “Names of the States” reveals how the original Indigenous names of their lands remain embedded to this day in the names of the states of the United States of America. At the same time, her poem, expressed with a hopeful and sensitive heart, tells the story of land theft and cultural obliteration against the tribes, a story that is suppressed in our history. “Names of the States” dramatizes the enduring strength and persistence of Indigenous cultures showing the roots of place names that we all know and use everyday.
Estuary Press publishes Lucille Lang Day’s video reading (with captions) of her poem “Names of the States” at the moment when Deb Haaland is appointed the first ever Native American to head the Department of the Interior and the first ever Native American to sit in the Cabinet of President of the US. Welcome and thank you, Deb Haaland.
From an Episode of Literary Dialogs with Nina Serrano
The full video interview (45 min) on Literary Dialogs with Nina Serrano featuring Lucille Lang Day will soon be available on ninaserrano.com. You can learn more about Lucille Lang Day, who has advanced degrees in science and poetry, and see the full version when you visit Nina Serrano’s website, ninaserrano.com. The complete version of the interview contains Lucille Lang Day’s reading of nine poems from her book, Birds of San Pancho and Other Poems of Place. The poems are: Birds of San Pancho, Dream Hologram, Abandoned in Sarlat, Childs Grave and Finery, Names of the States, What Flows into the Gulf of Mexico, I Am Amazed, and Toys in My House.
Radio Broadcasts
Nina will broadcast an abbreviated (29 min) edition of the full interview on KPFA 91.4 fm radio on her Cover to Cover program, April 13, 2021 at 2:30 PM, as well as shorter excerpts on the KPFA “Nina and Jack Show”, April 6, 2021 at 2:30 PM. Also, the radio edition will broadcast on OZCAT radio in Vallejo, California, 89.5 fm, at 10:30 AM on April 8, 2021.
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