Leslie Marmon Silko, born Leslie Marmon on March 5, 1948, is an American writer of Laguna Pueblo descent. She stands as a pivotal figure in the First Wave of the Native American Renaissance. Her contributions to literature have been recognized with significant awards, including the MacArthur Foundation Grant in 1981, known informally as the "Genius Grant", and the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994. In 2020, she received the Robert Kirsch Award, further cementing her legacy within the literary community.

Silko's career is multifaceted, encompassing roles as a writer, educator, and filmmaker. Her work often explores themes related to her Native American heritage, and she is renowned for her ability to weave together the personal and the universal in her storytelling. Silko currently resides in Tucson, Arizona, where she continues to inspire and influence both readers and writers alike.