Ocmulgee Rising: A Celebration of Muscogee Creativity with Joy Harjo

Join Georgia Humanities on April 24, 2025, for a special event honoring the artistry and enduring legacy of the Muscogee (Creek) people. This special gathering features Joy Harjo—internationally acclaimed poet, musician, and the first Native American U.S. Poet Laureate.

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Harjo is a member of the Muscogee Nation and the author of ten books of poetry, two memoirs, and numerous plays and children’s books. During a morning reading at Middle Georgia State University in Macon, Harjo will share stories, reflections, and poems that explore identity, ancestry, and place—exploring the deep cultural ties between the Muscogee people and the lands of present-day Georgia.

Following the reading, a guided tour of the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park will provide select guests with the chance to experience this sacred and historic landscape through poetry and conversation. Harjo will be joined by Dr. Matthew Jennings, a history professor at Middle Georgia State University who has written about the site and its history. Together, they will reflect on the meaning of return, remembrance, and resilience—bringing voice and context to a place central to Muscogee heritage.

Ocmulgee Rising is part of the Being Human Festival (US), a national series of community-driven events in April celebrating how the humanities help us better understand ourselves, our communities, and our world. Organized by the National Humanities Center, the U.S. festival is part of the global Being Human initiative, originally launched in the United Kingdom to showcase the role of the humanities in everyday life.

This free event is presented in partnership with Middle Georgia State University, the Ocmulgee Mounds Association, the Georgia Council for the Arts, and the National Humanities Center.

Date: April 24, 2025
Time: 11:00 am
Location: Middle Georgia State University – Macon Campus (Volleyball Gym, 5098 Romeiser Dr.)

Please come join us to hear from one of the most influential poets of our time! RSVP today to save your seat.

Thank you to our partners