“What we are potentially facing is nothing new, it just happens to be poised to affect people who long thought of themselves as immune.”
Fair and important point. When I puff up full of righteous indignation about the most recent “unprecedented” chicanery even before the new administration takes office, I’m mindful that many, many people have endured worse and longer. Which outlines a kind of duty - a responsibility to do what I can to help a collective effort to not only endure but also to help change the structures that withhold resources from folks long denied.
I’m honestly not sure what that is today, but I’ll be looking up, not down. Thanks for your words of encouragement and reminder that we can endure and overcome.
Hooray for the 5th anniversary of the re enfranchisement of the Little Shell! I recall the literal shouts of hurrah in the hallways of the Dept of Education at MSU when we heard. Everyone knew this was a Big Deal.
Miigwech for pointing out that we are the result of the hopeful dreams of thousands of ancestors. Too often, I lose that perspective and feel like a failure. And miigwech for all the work you're doing to be a good ancestor, Chris!
It occurs to me that seven generations ago, this settler nation state didn't exist. And seven generations from now, it (probably) won't exist. So in the long game, whether or not the United States grants Indigenous people federal recognition will become meaningless. If we really decolonize our thinking, who will we be when the United States has passed into history and we're still here? This could be next year …
This 82-year-old white man from Alabama never had any close dealings with the real Americans, and although it took me a while, I came to be ashamed to be an American because of how white European immigrants treated the real Americans in America, and the real Americans above and below America down to the tip of South America. I have similar sentiments regarding how African people were treated in America, by white people. When I look at America today, I wonder how it would have gone if the real Americans had killed every white person who stepped off a sailing ship claiming, or not claiming, they were followers of Jesus doing God's work. I hope the real Americans will never give up, but the way America is going, it looks to me like the future is bleak at best. I say this as a man, a father, a grandfather, a lawyer, a writer, and someone who since early 1987 has been under the yoke and discipline of angels known in the Bible, angels I can't imagine church people would like to get to know up close and personal, angels who have very different views of what Christendom has become in America, and elsewhere.
Echoing comments already here. I get excited everytime your email comes through. I immediately clear my time to sit and read and absorb. The imagery your words paint is amazing. Thank you.
We will never give up. For the sake of the children and their children and their children. Grateful to have found this community that began as you were writing Becoming Little Shell.
Heartening to hear all that has been accomplished for the Little Shell Chippewa since December 20, 2019.
"I am wary of the coming months and years. But I am not in despair. Not for a moment. I have reasons to have a mighty faith. Thousands of them and counting."
Hi Chris. I just wanted to thank you for your writing. My grandma was Gertrude Larance. Her parents were Catherine St Germaine and Albert Larance. She was born in 1895, raised in a canyon near Choteau with 13 brothers and sisters and went to school at the Fort Shaw boarding school. My dad was Bill Parker, and he was involved in some capacity with federal recognition efforts somewhere along the way. He died 22 years ago, and of course my grandma is long gone. Your writing means a great deal to me because it brings them back to my mind. They would be overjoyed by federal restoration, and my dad would be glued to your every word.
Paige, I appreciate the info. If you are a Larance then I believe that makes you kin to my friend Al Wiseman, eh? I've been up to that area where the Métis community was in the Teton Canyon several times.
Had to check with my mom before replying. She says that we’re related to Al through my grandma, but she isn’t sure how. I’ve got a brother named Greg who lives in Great Falls. It’d be cool if your paths were to cross. Happy New Year!
Paige, I just took a call from Al. He remembers your Grandma, who he called Gertie, well. He told me several wonderful stories about her. He also said that your dad used to drive the family up to Choteau every summer and park a trailer at his Granddad's place for two weeks and that for those two weeks the music never stopped. ❤️
Your work and words are guiding me as reader as someone trying to figure out how to live and act and write. But also how you inspire comments from which depth of community and reflection are nurtured. Thank you for allowing me to follow as a descendent of European colonizers. An identity that I have never written out anywhere but here I think maybe this is important to say - so I can understand my belonging when I don’t want to stand for what that means.
I read in search of language that will kneecap the White agenda, which is amoral exploitation in the service of power and greed. You have provided a phrase which I will apply to the six conservative, corrupt members of the U.S. Supreme Court... "black robes." The Left is weak. "Trump feeds on weakness." Many on the Left are disillusioned, but some are finally condemning and abandoning the Democratic Party's "staid, rules-based resistance to Trumpism" and we are calling for "a response that is extrajudicial, anti-institutional and... impolite."
Thank you, Chris. I tend to think the kitchen table work and the work each of us are given to do on our insides is the most important and effective work, and it is by nature, the long game. Thank you again for your presence.
“What we are potentially facing is nothing new, it just happens to be poised to affect people who long thought of themselves as immune.”
Fair and important point. When I puff up full of righteous indignation about the most recent “unprecedented” chicanery even before the new administration takes office, I’m mindful that many, many people have endured worse and longer. Which outlines a kind of duty - a responsibility to do what I can to help a collective effort to not only endure but also to help change the structures that withhold resources from folks long denied.
I’m honestly not sure what that is today, but I’ll be looking up, not down. Thanks for your words of encouragement and reminder that we can endure and overcome.
Hooray for the 5th anniversary of the re enfranchisement of the Little Shell! I recall the literal shouts of hurrah in the hallways of the Dept of Education at MSU when we heard. Everyone knew this was a Big Deal.
Cheers,
-Nigel
Thanks, Nigel.
Miigwech for pointing out that we are the result of the hopeful dreams of thousands of ancestors. Too often, I lose that perspective and feel like a failure. And miigwech for all the work you're doing to be a good ancestor, Chris!
It occurs to me that seven generations ago, this settler nation state didn't exist. And seven generations from now, it (probably) won't exist. So in the long game, whether or not the United States grants Indigenous people federal recognition will become meaningless. If we really decolonize our thinking, who will we be when the United States has passed into history and we're still here? This could be next year …
It really could be next year!
A hopeful post that comes at the right time for me.Thank you.
✊🏽
This 82-year-old white man from Alabama never had any close dealings with the real Americans, and although it took me a while, I came to be ashamed to be an American because of how white European immigrants treated the real Americans in America, and the real Americans above and below America down to the tip of South America. I have similar sentiments regarding how African people were treated in America, by white people. When I look at America today, I wonder how it would have gone if the real Americans had killed every white person who stepped off a sailing ship claiming, or not claiming, they were followers of Jesus doing God's work. I hope the real Americans will never give up, but the way America is going, it looks to me like the future is bleak at best. I say this as a man, a father, a grandfather, a lawyer, a writer, and someone who since early 1987 has been under the yoke and discipline of angels known in the Bible, angels I can't imagine church people would like to get to know up close and personal, angels who have very different views of what Christendom has become in America, and elsewhere.
Miigwech!
Echoing comments already here. I get excited everytime your email comes through. I immediately clear my time to sit and read and absorb. The imagery your words paint is amazing. Thank you.
💚
Becoming Little Shell arrived, getting ready to open the first pages as a solstice gift to myself. Thank you for a little taste of what’s to come ❤️
I hope you like it! ❤️
"... she saw her mother work ..."
(Colleen Hill)
We will never give up. For the sake of the children and their children and their children. Grateful to have found this community that began as you were writing Becoming Little Shell.
Heartening to hear all that has been accomplished for the Little Shell Chippewa since December 20, 2019.
"I am wary of the coming months and years. But I am not in despair. Not for a moment. I have reasons to have a mighty faith. Thousands of them and counting."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0HYOKRpATA
Beautiful song. 💚
Thank you for sharing this Chris. I hope you have a warm and happy solstice. Patty p
Same to you, Patty!
Hi Chris. I just wanted to thank you for your writing. My grandma was Gertrude Larance. Her parents were Catherine St Germaine and Albert Larance. She was born in 1895, raised in a canyon near Choteau with 13 brothers and sisters and went to school at the Fort Shaw boarding school. My dad was Bill Parker, and he was involved in some capacity with federal recognition efforts somewhere along the way. He died 22 years ago, and of course my grandma is long gone. Your writing means a great deal to me because it brings them back to my mind. They would be overjoyed by federal restoration, and my dad would be glued to your every word.
Congratulations on your success.
Paige Parker
Paige, I appreciate the info. If you are a Larance then I believe that makes you kin to my friend Al Wiseman, eh? I've been up to that area where the Métis community was in the Teton Canyon several times.
Had to check with my mom before replying. She says that we’re related to Al through my grandma, but she isn’t sure how. I’ve got a brother named Greg who lives in Great Falls. It’d be cool if your paths were to cross. Happy New Year!
Paige, I just took a call from Al. He remembers your Grandma, who he called Gertie, well. He told me several wonderful stories about her. He also said that your dad used to drive the family up to Choteau every summer and park a trailer at his Granddad's place for two weeks and that for those two weeks the music never stopped. ❤️
I'm pretty sure Al's mother was a Larance but I'll find out for sure. I owe him a phone call anyway!
Your newsletter is the best thing I read. Thank you for being here, however you choose to proceed.
Miigwech, Marion!
Your work and words are guiding me as reader as someone trying to figure out how to live and act and write. But also how you inspire comments from which depth of community and reflection are nurtured. Thank you for allowing me to follow as a descendent of European colonizers. An identity that I have never written out anywhere but here I think maybe this is important to say - so I can understand my belonging when I don’t want to stand for what that means.
Thank you, Lori. You absolutely are welcome here!
Thank you for another great post and a dash of hope! We all need the reminder that America has so much work to do…
✊🏽
Thank you Chris for these positive words.
I am totally appalled at all the shenanigans going on in our government at this point right now.
I am concerned about the new administration.
All that being said, I will never give up.
My stubbornness is my super power, one of them anyway 😂
✊🏽
I was looking forward to reading this after noting today’s anniversary on last night’s news. Never do you disappoint.
I appreciate it, Sandra.
I read in search of language that will kneecap the White agenda, which is amoral exploitation in the service of power and greed. You have provided a phrase which I will apply to the six conservative, corrupt members of the U.S. Supreme Court... "black robes." The Left is weak. "Trump feeds on weakness." Many on the Left are disillusioned, but some are finally condemning and abandoning the Democratic Party's "staid, rules-based resistance to Trumpism" and we are calling for "a response that is extrajudicial, anti-institutional and... impolite."
Thanks, Greg.
Thank you, Chris. I tend to think the kitchen table work and the work each of us are given to do on our insides is the most important and effective work, and it is by nature, the long game. Thank you again for your presence.
❤️