Maurice Kenny was born on in Watertown, New York. His father is a Mohawk from Canada, and his mother was born in Upstate New York. The family spent time living both on and off the nearby reservation.

Kenny's father was a stern man, given to rough treatment of his son, and at 16 Maurice ran away from home, living in New York City for a brief period before returning home.

Maurice Kenny lives between Saranac Lake, and Potsdam. He occasionally teaches at North Country Community College, but currently is assigned courses at SUNY Potsdam.

Kenny was educated at Butler University, St. Lawrence University and New York University, where he studied with American poet Louise Bogan.

• In 2002, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas.
• In 2000, the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers awarded Kenny the Elder Recognition Award.
• In 1996, "On Second Thought" was a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award in fiction.
• In 1995, he received an honorary doctorate by St. Lawrence University.
• In 1983, "Wounds Beneath the Flesh" was awarded Bloomsbury review's best anthology
• In 1984, "The Mama Poems" received the American Book Award

Kenny's 1982 book of poems, "Blackrobe: Isaac Jogues, B. March 11, 1607, D. October 18, 1646" was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, as was "Between Two Rivers." He is the recipient of a National Public Radio Award for Broadcasting.

Kenny has held residencies at a number of colleges and universities.