Becoming Little Shell

Nothing less than the history of a people in the form of an absorbing and emotionally searing memoir.David Treuer, author ofThe Heartbeat of Wounded KneeIm committed to uncovering the culture of my people. Im committed to learning as much of the language as I can. Ive always loved this land, and Ive always loved Indian people. The more I dig into it, the more I interact with my Indian relatives, the more it blooms in my heart. The more it blooms in my spirit.Growing up in Montana, Chris La Tray always identified as Indian. Despite the fact that his father fiercely denied any connection, he found Indigenous people alluring, often recalling his grandmothers consistent mention of their Chippewa heritage.When La Tray attended his grandfathers funeral as a young man, he finally found himself surrounded by relatives who obviously were Indigenous. Who were they? he wondered, and Why was I never allowed to know them? Combining diligent research and compelling conversations with authors, activists, elders, and historians, La Tray embarks on a journey into his familys past, discovering along the way a larger story of the complicated history of Indigenous communitiesas well as the devastating effects of colonialism that continue to ripple through surviving generations. And as he comes to embrace his full identity, he eventually seeks enrollment with the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians, joining their 158-year-long struggle for federal recognition.Both personal and historical, Becoming Little Shell is a testament to the power of storytelling, to family and legacy, and to finding home. Infused with candor, heart, wisdom, and an abiding love for a place and a people, Chris La Trays remarkable journey is both revelatory and redemptive.