After serving in the United States Navy, Niatum graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington, completed work on a M.A at Johns Hopkins University, and earned a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Michigan in 1997.
Niatum is often cited as belonging to the second wave of what critic Kenneth Lincoln has termed the Native American Renaissance. Niatum has taught at Johns Hopkins University, The Evergreen State College, the University of Washington, Eastern Washington University, Seattle Central Community College, Western Washington University, Northwest Indian College, and the University of Michigan. He was editor of the Native American Authors Program, Harper & Row Publishers.
"Duane a key figure in the poetry of the contemporary Native American literary explosion, has produced a sixth collection of poems.
lieutenant"s an important event.".
