Joy Harjo, the first Native American to be named U.S. poet laureate, has been ready for such a responsibility for a long time. “I’ve been an unofficial poetry ambassador, on the road for poetry for years,” Harjo wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press. “I’ve often been the only poet or Native poet-person that many have seen, met, heard.” The Library of Congress announced Harjo’s appointment to the position on Wednesday. Librarian Carla Hayden said in a statement that Harjo helped tell an “American story” of traditions both lost and kept. Harjo’s term is for one year. She follows Tracy K. Smith, who served as the nation's poet laureate for two terms. The laureate receives $35,000 to carry out special projects meant to spread appreciation of the reading and writing of poetry. Harjo said she does not yet have defined plans for her year as the country’s official poet. But she said she wants to “bring the contribution of poetry of the tribal nations to the forefront and include it in the discussion of poetry.”