I'll be giving a Brown Bag Lunch talk at the Butte-Silver Bow Archives in June, partly concerning the Chippewa-Cree camp at Timber Butte (area just south of the city) in the 1890s and 1900s. I've consciously been trying to avoid using the phrase Landless Indians. Something about it has always felt not-quite-right, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it until now. Also avoiding references to the city dump. That's the only narrative we ever hear here. Landless Indians. City Dump. The End. Hoping to challenge that a bit.
"We are all always being looked over by spirits who love us, even when it doesn’t seem like we are." I believe that too. So happy to know that you are out there doing this sacred work. ❣️🌱
I pitched in, least I could do. That whole "we'll do it on our own lol" attitude ticked me off. And just for that bullshit Bozeman pulled, I won't be visiting that town. I'm sure it won't make a difference, but fuck that shit. I might stop at that bar in Highwood for lunch, though.
So happy to catch up on your latest news. (I just finished chemo and am heading out into the rest of my life, so thank you for your prayers.) Writing a new novel now and getting ready to promote the fall release of the one in production. I'll send you one when it hits the press. <3
Lovely to see that photo of you looking so happy with that fantastic painting! And the stunning tattoo design, and I'm really glad you got to look around Highwood a little bit, and sympathize with the cover and subtitle struggles, and and and . . .
But -- your lair! 😟 I hope the relocation is to somewhere where you can feel equally at home.
I ate at that Highwood Bar once and enjoyed it as I recall. I then got severely lost trying to find the Shonkin Sag and Lost Lake - and wrote my first short story about it called A Wolf Licks My Face.
I wonder following the recent switch from “homeless” to “unhoused” if “unlanded” would be more appropriate. Unlanded puts the onus on those who have separated people from their lands. It suggests an action against rather than an agencyless state.
You're so right, Chris: "Friggin' Bozeman!" Thanks for coming and we really appreciated your talk here, but I was so disappointing in the lack of advertising on the part of the Library. You drove all the way here and MANY, MANY more people would have turned out had they know. And then the book-selling thing - geez (eye roll). I'm so sorry that it may not be worth your time to come to back here - you are hitting many much more important places in Montana and that is so appreciated. P.S. Love your tat! What is the creature on the far left side - a prairie dog?
Chris, I just followed the link you offered about "each footstep being a prayer". It led to Antonia Malchik's beautiful essay where she talks about there being "too many places I yearn to walk …that … are inaccessible not due to terrain or danger, but to the simple fiction of ownership."
Having just returned from a trip to Texas, I’m hyper-aware of what it’s like to be in a place where hardly any land is set aside for the common good and no land was reserved for Indigenous people because they were all "removed." If any Indigenous folks want to return to that homeland, they have to, literally, buy into the "fiction of ownership."
Even though the subtitle of BLS is not what you wanted, it seems like the "Landless Indians" part could provide an opportunity to talk about how that's actually an oxymoronic statement. Since Indians and Land coexist as a unit, they/we don’t need to own it. That's a made-up concept that we’re all laboring under — until such time as we collectively understand it’s doing more harm than good. I'm so excited to read BLS and go on the journey with you as you birth it into the world. Miigwech for being such a road warrior!
I'll be giving a Brown Bag Lunch talk at the Butte-Silver Bow Archives in June, partly concerning the Chippewa-Cree camp at Timber Butte (area just south of the city) in the 1890s and 1900s. I've consciously been trying to avoid using the phrase Landless Indians. Something about it has always felt not-quite-right, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it until now. Also avoiding references to the city dump. That's the only narrative we ever hear here. Landless Indians. City Dump. The End. Hoping to challenge that a bit.
"We are all always being looked over by spirits who love us, even when it doesn’t seem like we are." I believe that too. So happy to know that you are out there doing this sacred work. ❣️🌱
I pitched in, least I could do. That whole "we'll do it on our own lol" attitude ticked me off. And just for that bullshit Bozeman pulled, I won't be visiting that town. I'm sure it won't make a difference, but fuck that shit. I might stop at that bar in Highwood for lunch, though.
So happy to catch up on your latest news. (I just finished chemo and am heading out into the rest of my life, so thank you for your prayers.) Writing a new novel now and getting ready to promote the fall release of the one in production. I'll send you one when it hits the press. <3
Lovely to see that photo of you looking so happy with that fantastic painting! And the stunning tattoo design, and I'm really glad you got to look around Highwood a little bit, and sympathize with the cover and subtitle struggles, and and and . . .
But -- your lair! 😟 I hope the relocation is to somewhere where you can feel equally at home.
Sending much gratitude your way for writing such a heartfelt entry. Travel well!
So good to travel along with you, especially when you enjoy tasty meals.
And, "North Star" IS quite magnificent!!
Happy trails, Chris.
Thank you Chris. What a life on the roads you have! Be safe, my friend.
I ate at that Highwood Bar once and enjoyed it as I recall. I then got severely lost trying to find the Shonkin Sag and Lost Lake - and wrote my first short story about it called A Wolf Licks My Face.
As always... Your blog is moving .. almostalways to tears... despite the grousing...
Thank you for sharing and never doubt that your words "burrow deep in our souls".
I wonder following the recent switch from “homeless” to “unhoused” if “unlanded” would be more appropriate. Unlanded puts the onus on those who have separated people from their lands. It suggests an action against rather than an agencyless state.
You're so right, Chris: "Friggin' Bozeman!" Thanks for coming and we really appreciated your talk here, but I was so disappointing in the lack of advertising on the part of the Library. You drove all the way here and MANY, MANY more people would have turned out had they know. And then the book-selling thing - geez (eye roll). I'm so sorry that it may not be worth your time to come to back here - you are hitting many much more important places in Montana and that is so appreciated. P.S. Love your tat! What is the creature on the far left side - a prairie dog?
I love the subtle indication looping back to Nia’s essay. You guys make the world worth living in. 💜
That tattoo tho. Wow. Wow wow wow. Love it.
Chris, I just followed the link you offered about "each footstep being a prayer". It led to Antonia Malchik's beautiful essay where she talks about there being "too many places I yearn to walk …that … are inaccessible not due to terrain or danger, but to the simple fiction of ownership."
Having just returned from a trip to Texas, I’m hyper-aware of what it’s like to be in a place where hardly any land is set aside for the common good and no land was reserved for Indigenous people because they were all "removed." If any Indigenous folks want to return to that homeland, they have to, literally, buy into the "fiction of ownership."
Even though the subtitle of BLS is not what you wanted, it seems like the "Landless Indians" part could provide an opportunity to talk about how that's actually an oxymoronic statement. Since Indians and Land coexist as a unit, they/we don’t need to own it. That's a made-up concept that we’re all laboring under — until such time as we collectively understand it’s doing more harm than good. I'm so excited to read BLS and go on the journey with you as you birth it into the world. Miigwech for being such a road warrior!
I can’t stop thinking about the painting of “North Star” … Thank you for sharing it with us. 🦬