Author, Poet, Artist
Sasha taqwšəblu LaPointe
Sasha taqwšəblu LaPointe is from the Upper Skagit and Nooksack Indian Tribe. Native to the Pacific Northwest, she draws inspiration from her coastal heritage as well as her life in the city. She writes with a focus on trauma and resilience, ranging topics from PTSD, sexual violence, the work her great grandmother did for the Lushootseed language revitalization, to loud basement punk shows and what it means to grow up mixed heritage. With strange obsessions revolving around Twin Peaks, the Seattle music scene, and Coast Salish Salmon Ceremonies, Sasha explores her own truth of indigenous identity in the Coast Salish territory.
Her collection of essays Thunder Song: Essays was released on March 5, 2024.
Thunder Song
Essays
“A ballad against amnesia, and a call to action for healing, for decolonization, for hope.”
—Lauren Puckett-Pope, Elle
“The collection is reminiscent of a mixtape, with essays as loud and splitting as a punk song.”
—Sophia June, Nylon
“[Sasha’s] way with words is powerful; her distinctive style is fresh, magnetic and compelling.”
—Karla Strand, Ms.
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Find a Local Book Store
Rose Quartz
Poems
“Sasha taqwšəblu LaPointe’s book of protection spells and unfairied-tales is the jewel anyone who knows the turbulent roads of life will want to hold close for the rest of the journey.”
— Danez Smith
“Rose Quartz grapples with the deep wounds inside of us all through evershifting rose-colored glasses.”
—Em Win, Autostraddle
“Gorgeous, vulnerable, and shimmering with strength.”
—Andrew King, Secret Garden, Seattle, WA
Buy Now: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Find a Local Book Store
Red Paint
The Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk
Named a Most Anticipated Book of the Year by
“Absorbing . . . a worthy tribute to Coast Salish women.”
“The Pacific-Northwest native’s story is one of survival . . . LaPointe reckons with a fraught past by weaving together memoir and poetry to create something that feels raw and unfiltered.”
—Shannon Carlin, Bust
“[A] poetically punk debut memoir about ancestry, loss, colonialism, rebuilding, power, hope and healing.”
—Karla Strand, Ms.
Buy Now: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Find a Local Book Store
Upcoming Events
In conversation with Tayi Tibble
04/13 | 7PM | Elliott Bay Book Company | Seattle, WA | LEARN MORE
04/14 | 1PM | King’s Books | Tacoma, WA | LEARN MORE
04/15 | 7PM | Eagle Harbor | Bainbridge Island, WA | GET TICKETS
04/16 | 7PM | Third Place Books | Lake Forest Park, WA | GET TICKETS
04/17 | 6PM | Broadway Books | Portland, OR | LEARN MORE
04/18 | 5:30PM | Lighthouse Writers | Denver, CO | GET TICKETS
Sasha’s Work
Examples
Sasha’s work has appeared in Hunger Mountain, The Rumpus Literary Journal, Indian Country Today, Luna Luna Magazine, The Yellow Medicine Review, The Portland Review, AS/Us Journal, THE Magazine, and Aborted Society Online Zine.
With an MFA through The Institute of American Indian Arts, the main focus of Sasha’s writing is on creative nonfiction and poetry.
HUFFPOST Feature
As An Indigenous Woman, I Always Hate Thanksgiving. This Year I’m Terrified Of It..
Strange Horizons: Mouth
The day they took my mouth hadn’t been spent eating De la Rosas, or smoking, or spitting.
The Jacket
An essay examining early obsessions with mermaid folklore, denim jackets and the desire to fit in. Originally posted on HungerMtn.org.
What He Should Have Had
A poem from her upcoming collection, Rose Quartz, by Sasha LaPointe. Originally posted on Lithub.com.
Bring Me the Girl
An essay response to the film The Revenant by Sasha LaPointe. Originally posted on Indian Country Today.
Reach Out
Sasha LaPointe is represented by Duvall Osteen. For inquiries, invitations, events please email kdoassistant@unitedtalent.com.