N. Scott Momaday

Date of Birth: February 27, 1934

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Biography

Navarre Scott Momaday, more commonly known as N. Scott Momaday, is a distinguished Native American author, poet, and academic. Born on February 27, 1934, in Lawton, Oklahoma, Momaday is a member of the Kiowa tribe and has made significant contributions to Native American literature and culture. He is best known for his novel “House Made of Dawn,” which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1969 and is considered a seminal work in the Native American Renaissance—a period marked by a resurgence of Native American literature. Momaday’s early years were spent in various Native American reservations in the Southwestern United States, where his parents worked as teachers. This unique upbringing deeply influenced his writing, instilling in him a profound respect for his heritage and a deep connection to the landscapes of the American Southwest. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of New Mexico in 1958 and later obtained a Ph.D. in English from Stanford University in 1963. Throughout his career, Momaday has held numerous academic positions, including professorships at the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, and the University of Arizona. His works often explore themes of identity, memory, and the natural world, blending traditional Native American storytelling with contemporary literary techniques. In addition to his fiction and poetry, Momaday is also a talented painter and has contributed to various anthologies and scholarly publications.

5 Interesting Facts about N. Scott Momaday

1. N. Scott Momaday’s novel “House Made of Dawn” is credited with launching the Native American Renaissance in literature.

2. He is a recipient of the National Medal of Arts, awarded to him in 2007 by President George W. Bush.

3. Momaday is also an accomplished painter, and his visual art often complements his literary work.

4. He founded the Rainy Mountain Foundation and the Buffalo Trust, organizations dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of Native American culture and heritage.

5. Momaday’s work has been translated into multiple languages, making him one of the most widely read Native American authors in the world.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from N. Scott Momaday

1. “A word has power in and of itself. It comes from nothing into sound and meaning; it gives origin to all things.”

2. “We are what we imagine. Our very existence consists in our imagination of ourselves. The greatest tragedy that can befall us is to go unimagined.”

3. “I am interested in the way that perception and language define and shape our reality.”

4. “In the beginning was the word, and it was spoken.”

5. “There is a profound sense of place in the Kiowa language, and in that place, there is a deep and abiding sense of being.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

N. Scott Momaday’s highest net worth is estimated to be around $1 million.

Children

N. Scott Momaday has one daughter, Jill Momaday, who is an actress and writer. She has followed in her father’s artistic footsteps and has been involved in various cultural and literary projects.