Deep Connection to the Land
And enduring power of family bonds
Boozhoo, indinawemaaganidog! Aaniin! That is to say hello, all of my relatives! This is another kind of a “quick check in” edition of An Irritable Métis, mostly to share some personal/professional news and alert Montana locals to some upcoming mayhem. But first, I want to express my sorrow and solidarity with everyone in the Los Angeles area. What a tragedy, and one I don’t have proper words for. For those who want to help, I am sharing what AHP shared earlier today on her Culture Study newsletter. We are all in this together, my friends. Let’s do what we can to take care of one another.
HOW YOU CAN HELP WITH THE CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES: This is About Humanity is matching funds up to $50,000 to support front/second line farmworkers, day laborers, essential workers and families impacted by fires in Los Angeles. Donate here.
Also: Consider donating to this GoFundMe for Mimi and Greg Rogers, who lost everything in the Altona Fire — including vital medical equipment to move and care for Greg, who has severe ALS. As if this writing, they’ve raised around $43,000 of their $100,000 goal; I think we can significantly reduce the gap.
And if you somehow haven’t seen it — Los Angeles Mutual Aid has a massive spreadsheet of resources for those in need. You can support their work here.
Becoming Little Shell Wins a Pacific Northwest Book Award
I’ve known for a month or so now and the official announcement was made last week. Of the hundreds of eligible books published in the PNW last year, Becoming Little Shell is one of six to win a 2025 Pacific Northwest Book Award. You may learn some details HERE and I will say I am extremely grateful to all the indie booksellers involved in this selection. One doesn’t write books to win awards but they are nice when they happen. Mostly I’m just stoked that the more attention the book gets, the more people hear about who we are as Little Shell people. It’s a little overwhelming. Milkweed sent a note of gratitude to all the regional booksellers and I included some words of thanks as well; if you’re interested, you may read that HERE.
Chi-miigwech to everyone involved, and to everyone who has read the book and shared it with other people!
American Falcon Live, Saturday, January 18
My blistering rock band1 doesn’t play all that many shows so it’s exciting when I get to announce one. We are playing at the ZACC in Missoula this coming Saturday, January 18th. It’s all ages, and doors are at 7PM. All the relevant details may be found HERE. If you’re around, come rock out with us!
Before I End This, Since I’m Pretty Much Just Talking About Myself This Time….
Another honor worth mentioning: BLS was the bestseller of 2024 at my home away from home, Fact & Fiction. This makes me very happy because I love the store and everyone who works there. Not only that, but One-Sentence Journal came in at #42 and Descended From a Travel-worn Satchel was #6. Those sales are largely the result of attention from you, you magnificent and lovely Irritable Readers, so once again I express my eternal gratitude. It’s a thrill to be in a lineup there with my friend Jim Burke and of course superstars like Robin Wall Kimmerer and Hanif Abdurraqib. What great books! What a great year for them!
This is probably more than enough for now. 2024 unfolded in ways that still haven’t entirely caught up to me. All I know is I wouldn’t have been able to have such a good one without you. Miigwech!
This marks the sixth year in a row, in fact every year since it came out, that OSJ has been a top five seller for the year. I never could have imagined that.
"We are all in this together, my friends. Let’s do what we can to take care of one another."
Congratulations on the book award, Chris! The Irritable Community brought together around your poetry and Becoming Little Shell continues to grow and gives me hope against all odds. We do what we can do.
Congrats on the awards and recognition. I am halfway through Becoming Little Shell and loving it and I love your ongoing One Sentence Journal posts. We share a strong connection to land and landscape. I came to love the US/Canadian Cordillera through geology rather than family, but I feel very much at home in those ranges and valleys, even though I live in Pennsylvania.