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9781571313980

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Praise for One-Sentence Journal  “La Tray is a perimeter man, seeing the reality in wildness yet dealing the best he can at reconciling truth in nature.”—Barry Babcock author of Teachers in the Forest “[This] book truly represents excellence in Montana literature and is an important contribution to the genre. The committee of readers was unanimous in our selection.”—Elizabeth Jonkel, Chair of the Montana Book Award Committee “This book is proof of the power of language, even at its most spare.”—Russell Rowland, author of Fifty-Six Counties “With a humble and grave generosity to all things and people who cross his path, La Tray reminds us all to slow down and take stock of our surroundings. Attention is the true work of a writer and poet, a tribe La Tray can proudly call himself to be.”—Charles Finn, editor of High Desert Journal “This is a sunrise book, a book of revelations, of creekwalks and roadfood and ordinary sadnesses, ordinary joys—which are, in the end, the only kind.”—Joe Wilkins, author of Fall Back Down When I Die

"Praise for One-Sentence Journal ""La Tray is a perimeter man, seeing the reality in wildness yet dealing the best he can at reconciling truth in nature.""--Barry Babcock author of Teachers in the Forest""[This] book truly represents excellence in Montana literature and is an important contribution to the genre. The committee of readers was unanimous in our selection.""--Elizabeth Jonkel, Chair of the Montana Book Award Committee""This book is proof of the power of language, even at its most spare.""--Russell Rowland, author of Fifty-Six Counties""With a humble and grave generosity to all things and people who cross his path, La Tray reminds us all to slow down and take stock of our surroundings. Attention is the true work of a writer and poet, a tribe La Tray can proudly call himself to be.""--Charles Finn, editor of High Desert Journal""This is a sunrise book, a book of revelations, of creekwalks and roadfood and ordinary sadnesses, ordinary joys--which are, in the end, the only kind.""--Joe Wilkins, author of Fall Back Down When I Die"

Praise for Becoming Little Shell “Indigenous identity can be complicated, and Becoming Little Shell compels us into the thick of it—Native people dispossessed of not just land but recognition; blood quantum laws originally crafted to complete a genocide and still wreaking havoc in identity debates today; racism that drove many Native people to disassociate from their families; and descendants, like La Tray, who have found their way back, fighting for the reconnection of their communities and for the observance of their very existence. La Tray is a loving, discerning, curious, funny, and generous guide. This is a beautiful, big-hearted book.”—Sierra Crane Murdoch, author of Yellow Bird “Becoming Little Shell is a moving, deeply felt, and incredibly detailed account of Chris La Tray’s search for his origins among the Métis, Pembina, and Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Combining memoir, history, interviews, and travel, La Tray gives us nothing less than the history of a people in the form of an absorbing and emotionally searing memoir. This book will, without a doubt, become a classic in Native American literature. Must read.”—David Treuer, author of The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee Praise for One-Sentence Journal  “La Tray is a perimeter man, seeing the reality in wildness yet dealing the best he can at reconciling truth in nature.”—Barry Babcock author of Teachers in the Forest “[This] book truly represents excellence in Montana literature and is an important contribution to the genre. The committee of readers was unanimous in our selection.”—Elizabeth Jonkel, Chair of the Montana Book Award Committee “This book is proof of the power of language, even at its most spare.”—Russell Rowland, author of Fifty-Six Counties “With a humble and grave generosity to all things and people who cross his path, La Tray reminds us all to slow down and take stock of our surroundings. Attention is the true work of a writer and poet, a tribe La Tray can proudly call himself to be.”—Charles Finn, editor of High Desert Journal “This is a sunrise book, a book of revelations, of creekwalks and roadfood and ordinary sadnesses, ordinary joys—which are, in the end, the only kind.”—Joe Wilkins, author of Fall Back Down When I Die

Praise for Becoming Little Shell “Indigenous identity can be complicated, and Becoming Little Shell compels us into the thick of it—Native people dispossessed of not just land but recognition; blood quantum laws originally crafted to complete a genocide and still wreaking havoc in identity debates today; racism that drove many Native people to disassociate from their families; and descendants, like La Tray, who have found their way back, fighting for the reconnection of their communities and for the observance of their very existence. La Tray is a loving, discerning, curious, funny, and generous guide. This is a beautiful, big-hearted book.”—Sierra Crane Murdoch, author of Yellow Bird “Becoming Little Shell is a moving, deeply felt, and incredibly detailed account of Chris La Tray’s search for his origins among the Métis, Pembina, and Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Combining memoir, history, interviews, and travel, La Tray gives us nothing less than the history of a people in the form of an absorbing and emotionally searing memoir. This book will, without a doubt, become a classic in Native American literature. Must read.”—David Treuer, author of The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee “What I appreciate so much about Chris La Tray’s writing on Indigenous identity and history is the wit, clarity, and integrity embodied in every word. Becoming Little Shell beautifully encompasses a journey that we can all learn from, a journey toward asking better questions about land, belonging, and connection, and through this book La Tray epitomizes historian, poet, and teacher. Full of Indigenous history, personal stories, and the complex dance between the two, La Tray reminds us that the journey of finding ourselves and making sense of the way colonialism plays out around us is an essential part of being human. Please read this book. You’ll be so glad you did.”—Kaitlin B. Curtice, author of Living Resistance Praise for One-Sentence Journal  “La Tray is a perimeter man, seeing the reality in wildness yet dealing the best he can at reconciling truth in nature.”—Barry Babcock author of Teachers in the Forest “[This] book truly represents excellence in Montana literature and is an important contribution to the genre. The committee of readers was unanimous in our selection.”—Elizabeth Jonkel, Chair of the Montana Book Award Committee “This book is proof of the power of language, even at its most spare.”—Russell Rowland, author of Fifty-Six Counties “With a humble and grave generosity to all things and people who cross his path, La Tray reminds us all to slow down and take stock of our surroundings. Attention is the true work of a writer and poet, a tribe La Tray can proudly call himself to be.”—Charles Finn, editor of High Desert Journal “This is a sunrise book, a book of revelations, of creekwalks and roadfood and ordinary sadnesses, ordinary joys—which are, in the end, the only kind.”—Joe Wilkins, author of Fall Back Down When I Die

"Praise for Becoming Little Shell “La Tray’s pride and conviction will have readers eager not only to learn more, but to take action. A brilliant contribution to the canon of Native American literature.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review “[A] gripping debut memoir. [. . .]  La Tray’s crystalline prose and palpable passion for spreading Indigenous history bolster his account. Readers will be fascinated.”—Publishers Weekly “I’m in awe of Chris La Tray’s storytelling. Becoming Little Shell creates a multilayered narrative from threads of personal, family, community, tribal, and national histories. Together they make a story as strong and beautiful as a Metis sash—a story of identity, kinship, and the journey toward justice.”—Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of Braiding Sweetgrass “Chris La Tray is a powerful voice—a force of nature, really—to guide us through the swirling confluence of Native and white worlds, both past and present. Becoming Little Shell is the American story of our era—tracing the arc of its author brought up in the white world before discovering his roots as an original inhabitant of this continent.”—Peter Stark, author of Gallop Toward the Sun “Indigenous identity can be complicated, and Becoming Little Shell compels us into the thick of it—Native people dispossessed of not just land but recognition; blood quantum laws originally crafted to complete a genocide and still wreaking havoc in identity debates today; racism that drove many Native people to disassociate from their families; and descendants, like La Tray, who have found their way back, fighting for the reconnection of their communities and for the observance of their very existence. La Tray is a loving, discerning, curious, funny, and generous guide. This is a beautiful, big-hearted book.”—Sierra Crane Murdoch, author of Yellow Bird “Becoming Little Shell is a moving, deeply felt, and incredibly detailed account of Chris La Tray’s search for his origins among the Métis, Pembina, and Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Combining memoir, history, interviews, and travel, La Tray gives us nothing less than the history of a people in the form of an absorbing and emotionally searing memoir. This book will, without a doubt, become a classic in Native American literature. Must read.”—David Treuer, author of The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee “What I appreciate so much about Chris La Tray’s writing on Indigenous identity and history is the wit, clarity, and integrity embodied in every word. Becoming Little Shell beautifully encompasses a journey that we can all learn from, a journey toward asking better questions about land, belonging, and connection, and through this book La Tray epitomizes historian, poet, and teacher. Full of Indigenous history, personal stories, and the complex dance between the two, La Tray reminds us that the journey of finding ourselves and making sense of the way colonialism plays out around us is an essential part of being human. Please read this book. You’ll be so glad you did.”—Kaitlin B. Curtice, author of Living Resistance ""Heartbreaking, infuriating, and remarkable, Becoming Little Shell is a memoir that’s packed with historical details, transcending and amplifying a personal quest to understand a family’s past.""—Foreword Reviews, starred review "

Author Information

Chris La Traytis storyteller, a descendent of the Pembina Band of the mighty Red River of the North, and an enrolled member of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians, he is also the author of One-Sentence Journal: Short Poems and Essays from the World at Large, which won the 2018 Montana Book Award and a 2019 High Plains Book Award, as well as Descended from a Travel-Worn Satchel"" and lives near Frenchtown, Montana.

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