 Harjo taught at the Institute of American Indian Arts from 1978 to 1979 and 1983 to 1984.She taught at Arizona State University from 1980 to 1981, the University of Colorado from 1985 to 1988, the University of Arizona from 1988 to 1990, and the University of New Mexico from 1991 to 1995.Harjo has played alto saxophone with the band Poetic Justice, edited literary journals, and written screenplays.