EVENTS 2026-
UPCOMING readings and talks: OCT. 27 6:30 Convo with Layli Long Soldier, Central Library, Minneapolis; OCT. 30, reading at Poet’s House NYC; NOV. 5 8pm, reading at Vermont Studio Center; NOV. 6, 10 a.m. Craft Talk at Vermont Studio Center; NOV. 18th, 7;30, Minnesota Museum of American Art (the M) reading and talk with poet Beth Piatote rsvp here Nov. 30th, reading and class visits at Bismarck State College, time TBA.
JULY- SEPT Things have been pretty quiet on the public side of the poetry and art front. But family events were hectic for Heid so she’s in catch up mode. However, she did enjoy an August workshop for the writers’ cohort gathered by Native American Community Development Institute. She also had the chance to sing and drum with the Asigaanak Singers & Friends at the Minnesota State Fair. In September Heid is recording for radio and will have some fall events to list soon including the slightly delayed release of a little poem film she made with Elizabeth Day and Tashia Hart. And a BIG announcement. Meanwhile, Heid will be taking a few weeks to focus on writing. At last!
The singers above include writers Diane Wilson, Ardie Medina, Pauline Danforth, and Sharon Day -along with many friends and strong women of our urban Native community.
MAY – JUNE After a super busy National Poetry Month, Heid is gardening and finishing a book for school libraries on Ruth A. Meyer, Grand Portage Anishinaabe, a Minnesota education advocate known as “The Grandmother of Indian Education.” She’s also part of a reading on June. 3 at 6pm at the Arlington Hills Library in St. Paul and will help launch Hema Erdrich Patel’s book on June 15: https://www.mnhum.org/event/minneapolis-book-launch-for-marie-louise-bottineau-baldwin-political-pathfinder/
MARCH- APRIL: it was still quite ICE – y in the metro, so Heid was busy out there giving folks a bit of hope or grace, a chance to consider their own healing, raising funds, connecting people, showing up, and giving a lot of readings to a LOT of people. Here’s one of the highlights:
NO KINGS MARCH – https://www.instagram.com/rel/DWcE9AjCdjO
Heid also gave almost a dozen readings and talks in April. It was bonkers! But in each location she invited folks to work with her on her PoeS.A. project and now over 1000 people have contributed lines to a crowd-sourced poem Heid will construct and publish later this year. All of this came out of her work as Poet Laureate in 2024 and continues with PoeS.A. as a Gage Fellow in 2025/26.
JAN.-FEB. Heid worked with snow sculptor Heather Friedli to find space and provide support for “ICE OUT FOR GOOD” a memorial in snow to honor fallen poet Renee Nicole Good and all who are victims of ICE. The sculpture was at West Franklin Avenue and Lake of the Isles Parkway near 2002 West Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis.
Heid has organized a poetry reading for a vigil at the sculpture site on Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. Poets Anthony Ceballos, Kris Bigalk, and Corey China will read a poem. Heid will read a new poem dedicated to Renee Nicole Good. The event will be ASL interpreted byIndigenous Interpreters. Through PoeS.A., Heid is working to incorporate poetry in a number of public art projects and art actions though projection, screen print, ASL interpretation, letterpress, readings and performances.
You can read about the sculptures, how early work was censored and destroyed and support their creators below. https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-lifestyle/snow-sculpture-disqualified-from-winter-carnival-competition-for-anti-ice-message
You can also read Heid’s perspective on occupied Minneapolis here: https://lithub.com/letter-from-mni-sota-makoce-no-one-is-illegal-on-stolen-land/
Heid E. Erdrich 