Bozeman Library

Join us on Zoom for a presentation from Chris La Tray, a Métis storyteller. La Tray is a poet, essayist and winner of the 2018 Montana Book Award and the 2019 High Plains Book Award. He lives near Missoula, Montana.

The Montana-based Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians became the 574th Indian tribe to be recognized by the United States government in December, 2019, after over 150 years of trying. Headquartered in Great Falls with more than 6,000 enrolled members, the Little Shell Tribe is connected to all area Anishinaabe tribes, including the Chippewa, Cree, and Assiniboine people, and, particularly, the Métis, or mixed-race. La Tray relates stories to reveal the larger reality behind the “Little Shell” name, including how conflict with the US government led to the fracture and spreading out of what were once tight, family-based bands, their members often finding refuge on other reservations and marrying into other Montana tribes, like the Blackfeet and Salish people. The program helps people better understand who the Little Shell are, and their part in the history of North America.

This program will be on zoom on Tuesday, October 25, 6:30-8:00PM. Register to attend the free event here: www.tinyurl.com/ChrisLaTray. It is sponsored by Humanities Montana and the Montana State Library.