Alaska Literary Award, 2023
Fairbanks
Annie Wenstrup, a Dena’ina poet from Fairbanks, Alaska, brings the essence of her heritage to life through her stirring words. Her poetic achievements have graced the Alaska Quarterly Review, the New England Review, and Poetry Magazine. Her talent also shone in Poetry Northwest as a finalist for the James Welch Indigenous Poetry Prize.
2023 marked a year of recognition for Annie, as she received The Alaska Literary Award and support from The Rasmusson Foundation. Furthering her artistic journey, she was welcomed at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and previously at Storyknife in 2021.
Annie’s dedication to her craft was honored as she became an Inaugural Indigenous Nations Poets Fellow in 2022, a title she proudly held again in 2023. This recognition came on the heels of earning her MFA in Creative Writing from Stonecoast at the University of Southern Maine in 2022.
Through her work, Annie Wenstrup continues to be a vibrant voice in poetry, intertwining her Dena’ina roots with the vast landscapes of Alaska, offering a unique perspective that captivates and inspires.