Imminent Upcoming Events – The PNW Edition!
Imminent Upcoming Events – The PNW Edition!
Superior, Spokane, Bellingham, Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Olympia, Portland, and Sisters
Boozhoo, indinawemaaganidog! Aaniin! That is to say hello, all of my relatives! Welcome to another edition of An Irritable Métis. Here I am in your inbox doing little more this time around than talking about upcoming events, with a couple nods to ones that have already happened. Here I’m focusing on the next leg of my tour for Becoming Little Shell, which encompasses a few dates in the Pacific Northwest.1 Most importantly, the Events page of my website is largely up to date, at least through September, and also with some confirmed things in October. There are many more events for Dagwaagin2 floating around that are just shy of confirmed; once they are, they will be added. Meanwhile, you may dig everything I’ve added by clicking HERE.
There are many new followers lately – welcome! I have an Instagram account that largely serves the same promotional purpose. You may follow me HERE if you’re into that kind of thing. I usually post event flyers and links to new reviews/articles/etc. there first. I’m undecided if I will share every review etc. because sometimes that seems like a lot, so if you as readers have anything to say for or against the practice feel free to let me know via the comments.
Finally, if you dig what you see here, or if you want to assist in keeping the Irritable roadshow on the road, please consider a paid subscription. It is very, very helpful.
My friends, it’s been two weeks since Becoming Little Shell was officially released. You can get it anywhere books are sold now3. I have to say I’ve been overwhelmed at the reception. The book is making more lists and getting more mentions and people are sending me pictures of its appearance out in the world and also held in their hands while reading it in cool places.4 I really love every bit of it. I had high hopes and low expectations and everything has exceeded anything imaginable.
Since the book’s release I have done a big book launch in Missoula, played a rock show, attended part of another one, and then ploughed headlong into another big book launch in Great Falls. The next day the annual Little Shell Powwow was joyous and emotional and transcendent. After a couple days at home, I took to the road for events in Bozeman, Billings, Helena, and two in Lewistown. The second of those was an impromptu/unplanned round table discussion between me, an audience, and official Métis representatives from Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, and Winnipeg.5 It was glorious and exemplified that kinship ties don’t care one bit about the bureaucracy initiated by the ludicrous Medicine Line. We are one people! I think our ties grow a little more snug every time we cross the border to spend time together.
By my estimation the crowds for these events have averaged over 100 people which is almost unimaginable to me, bolstered by incredible gatherings in Missoula, Billings, and Helena in particular. Nothing I’ve ever done before has generated so many interested people and I am incredibly grateful. I certainly don’t expect that kind of response once I leave my home state but I don’t even care6. Every person I get to share the story of the Little Shell with is possibly one who wouldn’t ever know it otherwise. I relish the opportunity.
That is one of the best parts of all this. I often worried that all the marketing and hype I’ve been sharing surrounding this book focused too much on me and not the story of where I come from. But people are getting it. The questions and discussions I’ve been able to have with folks have been uplifting and I look forward to more.
Even if I’m already getting tired, heh.
Some highlights of the Week:
I know the newsletter content is a tinge thin this time around, but with a couple clicks you might find a few nuggets of interest after all….
I have never been more moved by a drum and honor song than I was by the song played by the Red Sand drum group to begin the release celebration in Missoula. These relatives from the Flathead Reservation opened something in my heart that unleashed a flood of emotion I could no longer contain, and I don’t think it has closed since. It was mighty and it was beautiful and I don’t expect I am the only one who left changed in the wake of it. Drums are our relatives; in Anishinaabemowen, we call them Dewe’igan, the “instrument that makes the sound of the heart.” My heart resounds with the words from that particular drum two weeks ago.
I was awed by the explosion of followers and subscribers and everything that comes when Anne Helen Petersen is involved, which she unleashed via THIS INTERVIEW she invited me to do. Few people have done more for shining the spotlight on my efforts and I could not be more grateful.
Little Shell Powwow on Mount Royal under our own arbor on our own land for the first time in 150+ years was everything you can imagine.
Pacing the stage in Helena and getting a buzz at my wrist from my watch indicating I was getting a call from the magnificent Métis elder, Al Wiseman, who you may read all about in THIS EXCERPT that the Montana Free Press published last week.
So many hugs and handshakes with people I haven’t seen in far too long.
I had a lot of fun answering THESE QUESTIONS for Orion magazine. I think you might have fun reading the answers.
The wide open roads of Montana never disappoint.
The flood of emails and notes I’ve received from people closer to the events I write about in BLS, particularly friends and colleagues of the late Nicholas Vrooman.
BLS made the list of Esquire magazine’s “Best Memoirs of 2024 (So Far)” which you may see for yourself by clicking HERE.
BLS PNW TOUR
Here’s the lowdown on everywhere I’ll be in the coming week, all times local, and I sure hope to see some of you. Your attendance of such events not only makes writers happy but keeps indie bookstores in the mix! We need them now more than ever….
Tues, Sept. 3 – Mineral County Library, Superior, MT – 1:30pm – Details
Tues, Sept. 3 – Liberty Park Library via Auntie’s Bookstore, Spokane, WA – 5:30pm – Details
Weds, Sept. 4 – Village Books, Bellingham, WA – 6:00pm – Details
Thurs, Sept. 5 – Elliott Bay Books, Seattle, WA – 7:00pm – Details
Fri, Sept. 6 – Eagle Harbor Books, Bainbridge Island, WA – 6:30pm – Details
Sat, Sept. 7 – Browsers Bookshop, Olympia, WA – 4:00pm – Details
Mon, Sept. 9 – Powell’s City of Books, Portland, OR – 7:00pm – Details
Tues, Sept. 10 – Paulina Springs Books, Sisters, OR – 5:00pm – Details
And Finally….
Friends, I usually fill this space with a poem. And this is one! A visual poem to gauge interest in an Official BLS Tour Shirt! This is a mock-up of what the front would look like, and the back would have tour dates and bookstores and etc. on it. What do you think? Would you go for one if we put a preorder up for it? If we do it, it will be soon. In time for all your Festivus shopping needs, certainly!
Miigwech as ever, especially, for all of your support. You’re making my life pretty excellent right now and I don’t take it lightly….
I’m not going to lie, this is arguably my favorite part of our gorgeous Turtle Island.
“It is Fall.”
Except for, at least as of just a couple days ago, B&N stores local to me….
This is where I should mention the (alleged) benefit of leaving reviews on places like Amazon and Goodreads. I’m not sure that isn’t just another bullshit perception that lives on without any justification for it beyond putting people’s eyeballs on those odious websites. I don’t know. If you feel compelled, feel free and I’ll be grateful if you do but I won’t be all chagrined if no one does. I’m dubious of the value of it anyway. I’m just glad you’re reading the book (if you are) and I hope you find it worth your time. I don’t intend to mention this again.
Those are all places in Canada for those of you geographically challenged.
It’s entirely possible I won’t draw 100 people combined over the next handful of events!
A tour shirt would be so rad!! 💙 🦬🤘
I would buy that t shirt in a heartbeat 🔥