Mission Statement

Chapter House Journal is an Indigenous-centered online literary journal committed to publishing and uplifting Indigenous thought and language. We understand Indigenous literature as an expansive living practice, one shaped by relation to land, to language, to kinship, to memory. These relations inform not only the work we publish, but also how we approach editorial collaboration and the structures through which Indigenous writing reaches readers. 

We want to make space for work that is still becoming: writing that takes risks, art that asks new questions, experiments with language and form, and creative practices rooted in the relationships, histories, places, and communities that shape Native life. This might include poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction, personal essays, visual art, photography, sound art, interviews, collaborative projects, translations, experimental writing, or work that does not fit neatly into a single category. We are interested in pieces that move between Native languages and English; engage oral traditions, family histories, archives, and community knowledge; experiment with visual or sonic form; or explore relationships to land, identity, memory, and belonging.

Housed within the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) Low Residency MFA Program, we publish issues on a biannual basis; all submissions, including solicitations, are read by our editorial team, which includes IAIA MFA students and faculty advisors. Our editors also manage publication decisions, website design, and blog content. 

Submission Guidelines 

Chapter House Journal accepts submissions twice a year:

• Fall/Winter Reading Period: November 1 – December 31
• Spring/Summer Reading Period: May 1 – June 30

We welcome simultaneous submissions, but please notify us promptly via our online system if your work is accepted elsewhere.

We do not accept previously published work, including material that has appeared on personal blogs or websites.

Poetry

• Submit 3–5 poems, not exceeding 5 pages total.
• Begin each poem on a new page.

Literary Fiction

•  Please submit one story, or up to three shorter pieces (such as flash fiction), with a combined word count of no more than 5,000 words.
•  All submissions must be original and unpublished, including online (blogs, websites, or social media).
•  Simultaneous submissions are welcome, but please notify us immediately through our submission platform if your work is accepted elsewhere.
•  Include a brief cover letter with your submission, introducing yourself, your background, and any relevant publication history or context for your work. If you identify as an Indigenous writer, please include your tribal affiliation in your letter.
•  Use a standard, readable font (e.g., Times New Roman, 12 pt), and format your manuscript with double spacing and page numbers.
•  Please submit your work as a single document (.doc, .docx, or PDF) via our online submission system.

Creative Nonfiction

•  Submit one full-length piece or up to three shorter pieces, totaling no more than 5,000 words combined. 
•  We encourage submissions that take risks in form, language, and perspective while remaining grounded in truth. 
•  Please include a cover letter with a brief bio and any relevant context for your work.
•  Double-space your manuscript and use a standard, readable font (e.g., Times New Roman, 12 pt).
•  All work must be previously unpublished, including on personal blogs or websites.
•  Simultaneous submissions are welcome; please notify us promptly if your work is accepted elsewhere.

Rights & Publication

We request first North American serial rights and non-exclusive electronic rights to publish your work on our website. All rights revert to the author upon publication. If your work is reprinted elsewhere—digitally or in print—we ask that Chapter House Journal be credited as the original publisher.