Diane Marie Burns (January 11, 1956 – December 22, 2006) was an Anishinaabe (Lac Court Oreilles) and Chemehuevi artist, known for her poetry and performance art highlighting Native American experience.
[3][8] Both come together in her piece "Sure You Can Ask Me a Personal Question," as she outlines a fictional conversation with a White woman interrogating the poet's identity and then piling on a litany of stereotypes.
[9] Burns performed her poetry at numerous local New York City venues, including the American Indian Community House.
[11] A recitation of this poem is featured by Ho-Chunk and Luiseno (Pechanga) visual artist Sky Hopinka, who presented a video homage to Burns as part of his exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art, I'll Remember You as You Were, not as What You'll Become (2016).
Burns' combination of humor and performance can also be seen in an apparent exchange with Anishinaabe (Fon du Lac) writer and comedian Jim Northrup.
In his book Anishinaabe Syndicated: A View from the Rez,[12] Northrup describes reading poetry at the Nuyorican Poets Café and then offering Burns wild rice.
"[12] Burns shared the stage with numerous high-profile poets and writers, including Simon Ortiz, Ntozake Shange, June Jordan, Linda Hogan, Maurice Kenny, Jessica Hagedorn, Allen Ginsberg, Barbara Barg, Fay Chiang, Lois Elaine Griffith, Paula Martinac, and Rashidah Ismaili.
In addition to the Nuyorican Poets Café, she frequently performed at St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery (where her memorial was held) and the Bowery Poetry Club.