Meet Our New Poet Laureate, Dee Sweet!

Denise Sweet, Bayfield, Wisconsin 2022-2023 Poet Laureate

Dee Sweet, Bayfield Poet Laureate 2022-2023

Bayfield, Wisconsin’s new Poet Laureate, Denise Sweet, a resident of Bayfield, also served as the second Poet Laureate for the state of Wisconsin from 2004-2008. She is Faculty Emerita of UW-Green Bay, having taught Humanistic Studies, Creative Writing, and First Nations Studies for the University of Wisconsin―Green Bay.

A writer of poetry, short stories, and creative non-fiction, Dee has given over 100 readings in North and Central America, Canada and Europe.

Her most recent book, Palominos Near Tuba City: New and Selected Poems, was published in 2018. Her previous books of poetry include Know by Heart, Songs for Discharming, and Days of Obisidian, Days of Grace.

She has received several awards, including the WI Posner Award for Poetry (1998), Decorah Award for Poetry (1998), Outstanding Women of Color (1995), and Linda Sundberg Civil Rights Defender Award (2020).

Dee is Anishinaabe (White Earth). First Nations Organizer for Wisconsin Conservation Voices and for Wisconsin Native Vote, she initiates contact and builds working relationships with tribal communities—both urban and rural—fostering civic engagement though voter registration and voter participation.

We are excited to have Dee Sweet as Bayfield’s official poet, and look forward to her two year-term unfolding as she brings greater appreciation of the reading and writing of poetry to our community.