It's a great intro! I look forward to purchasing your book when it comes out. I love how casually we can say "But pandemics come and we fight off insurrectionists and etc. and here we are." What a fucked up time of life. Keep writing. I need it.
This was so beautiful. I began thinking about my father and all the things I do not know about how he came to be who he is and whether I want to try to know him deeper. We have a strained relationship.
Thank you, and I didn't take it as being about you anyway. If there's one thing I've learned in this project is that the experience of my family is not at all unique. Lots of generational trauma informs most of our lives.
You have a way of creating distance, the dawn owl undisturbed, blood boiling over. I love those sharp turns. It's hard not to imagine the story in Dad's hands.
Chris your story telling that flow through your writing is satisfying to my brain. In just a few lines I forget I'm reading and it seems like you are just talking to me - even though I've only ever heard you speak once. (in GF last year at the celebration) I'm looking forward to your book. Encouraging you anyway I can. My Little Shell journey is only now unfolding and it is hard sometimes for me to go this alone. There are no family left for me to talk to, ask questions of, that knew the events that lead to my situation as a child. My connection to all of us is hard to rectify because what I was told and separated from growing up and it is sometimes hard for me to forgive the people that were in their efforts trying to protect me.
I have no rage or feeling of being owed, I have always felt warm love in my heart from my grandmothers and aunties and uncles. I am searching for my way to help our people like you have found your way.
Your comment means more to me than you can know. I am still struggling, still searching, myself. My story, your story ... so many of us share that same story, the trying to return to something that we had no choice in being removed from. Nor is it our ancestors we should look to lay the responsibility on, it is the people who have tried to eradicate all of us Indigenous people from coast to coast for the last 400 years. That we are still here at all is testament to how mighty the people we come from were. Now it's our turn to be mighty, our turn to be seen for who we are. We all have a part to play, and I am very pleased to know you are part of it too.
I hope you can feel deep in your bones the importance of your work. How I have longed and ached for this book you are writing. Your story is so similar to mine, and to so many others who have felt so alone and confused about ourselves, our families and our histories. As a fellow writer, a fellow Métis, and fellow member of the Little Shell, I honestly cannot thank you enough. Your words are a light - and an encouragement to keep telling my story too.
Thank you, West, for sharing, and for your message. I do understand the importance, and feel the pressure. I'm grateful I have people with a history of putting out great books to make sure it does what it needs to do.
I’m super excited to read the book and support your work as much as I can. Thanks for pushing into that pressure and putting the work out into the world. It very obviously means so much to so many!
"To tell the story of the Little Shell Tribe, Montana’s long-time landless Indians." That right there is a helluva hook. Here's toasting to the movie option. It'll come.
I keep thinking about this. "Landless Indians" just doesn't compute for this old white boy, and in MONTANA, of all places. And then the way you describe what was below the surface in your dad. It's all there.
Your intro connects me to elements of my own history. The angriest I ever saw my grandmother was when I started asking about our native ancestry. I've wondered for years what brutality she faced linked to our ancestry that elicited such a strong response. I expect your story will shine some light into that darkness. Thus, I think this is an incredibly important story to be told.
Hi Chris I too am very excited to read this book. I think my family is related to the La trays/Doneys but not sure. Even if not it will still be cool to read. Can't wait
It's a great intro! I look forward to purchasing your book when it comes out. I love how casually we can say "But pandemics come and we fight off insurrectionists and etc. and here we are." What a fucked up time of life. Keep writing. I need it.
What a fucked up time indeed. But we're managing.
I loved this. Our parents are so familiar and so strange. Looking forward to reading it
Thank you.
This was so beautiful. I began thinking about my father and all the things I do not know about how he came to be who he is and whether I want to try to know him deeper. We have a strained relationship.
I'm sorry, Jennifer. It isn't easy.
Thank you. I didn’t mean to make it about me. I meant it as a testament to your writing that it really drew things out of me. Beautiful writing
Thank you, and I didn't take it as being about you anyway. If there's one thing I've learned in this project is that the experience of my family is not at all unique. Lots of generational trauma informs most of our lives.
Yes, yes. Generational trauma is such a .... thing
You have a way of creating distance, the dawn owl undisturbed, blood boiling over. I love those sharp turns. It's hard not to imagine the story in Dad's hands.
Thank you, Susan.
Chris your story telling that flow through your writing is satisfying to my brain. In just a few lines I forget I'm reading and it seems like you are just talking to me - even though I've only ever heard you speak once. (in GF last year at the celebration) I'm looking forward to your book. Encouraging you anyway I can. My Little Shell journey is only now unfolding and it is hard sometimes for me to go this alone. There are no family left for me to talk to, ask questions of, that knew the events that lead to my situation as a child. My connection to all of us is hard to rectify because what I was told and separated from growing up and it is sometimes hard for me to forgive the people that were in their efforts trying to protect me.
I have no rage or feeling of being owed, I have always felt warm love in my heart from my grandmothers and aunties and uncles. I am searching for my way to help our people like you have found your way.
Your comment means more to me than you can know. I am still struggling, still searching, myself. My story, your story ... so many of us share that same story, the trying to return to something that we had no choice in being removed from. Nor is it our ancestors we should look to lay the responsibility on, it is the people who have tried to eradicate all of us Indigenous people from coast to coast for the last 400 years. That we are still here at all is testament to how mighty the people we come from were. Now it's our turn to be mighty, our turn to be seen for who we are. We all have a part to play, and I am very pleased to know you are part of it too.
I hope you can feel deep in your bones the importance of your work. How I have longed and ached for this book you are writing. Your story is so similar to mine, and to so many others who have felt so alone and confused about ourselves, our families and our histories. As a fellow writer, a fellow Métis, and fellow member of the Little Shell, I honestly cannot thank you enough. Your words are a light - and an encouragement to keep telling my story too.
Thank you, West, for sharing, and for your message. I do understand the importance, and feel the pressure. I'm grateful I have people with a history of putting out great books to make sure it does what it needs to do.
I’m super excited to read the book and support your work as much as I can. Thanks for pushing into that pressure and putting the work out into the world. It very obviously means so much to so many!
Thank you. Keep in mind, the Little Shell book is still a year from seeing the light of day, but it's coming....
"To tell the story of the Little Shell Tribe, Montana’s long-time landless Indians." That right there is a helluva hook. Here's toasting to the movie option. It'll come.
I keep thinking about this. "Landless Indians" just doesn't compute for this old white boy, and in MONTANA, of all places. And then the way you describe what was below the surface in your dad. It's all there.
This is just going to be incredible, Chris. I didn't want it to stop! So excited for this book.
I'm excited for you to read it!
😀
Well, shit. Here's to the storyteller.
Thanks, Chris.
A very compelling intro. I look forward to holding this book in my hands. When will we get a peek at the cover?
Oof, cover is probably still months out. But I'm already toying with a couple ideas to suggest....
I can not wait for this book!!! Perfect opening to a knotty and intriguing story. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Thanks, Betsy!
Your intro connects me to elements of my own history. The angriest I ever saw my grandmother was when I started asking about our native ancestry. I've wondered for years what brutality she faced linked to our ancestry that elicited such a strong response. I expect your story will shine some light into that darkness. Thus, I think this is an incredibly important story to be told.
Thank you, Carl.
Will look forward to reading your story so many have origin story’s we have to dig for and not always easy with what is found
Hi Chris I too am very excited to read this book. I think my family is related to the La trays/Doneys but not sure. Even if not it will still be cool to read. Can't wait
Great start!
Thank you.
I'm hooked.