Corporate Free

Boozhoo, indinawemaaganidog! Aaniin! That is to say hello, all of my relatives! Welcome to another edition of An Irritable Métis. I know things aren’t like this all over Turtle Island right now but we just had a stretch of weather here in Western Montana that was absolutely spring-like and I’m not going to mince words: I loved it. Yes, we need more proper winter and yes we are desperate for snow pack but the break was wonderful and I absorbed as much solar energy as I could. Additionally, if we get some snow and cold between now and April, and I really, really hope we do, you may expect similar celebratory exultations from these parts, trust me on that.

I also want to take a moment to mention that week one of the Native American Resistance for Everyone class is behind us1 and we have launched into week two. I participated in two “live” zoom discussions as part of week one2 – with two looming here in week two as well, and on and on through the rest of the course – and I found both interesting and, perhaps most importantly, fun. I’m going to pursue this theme a little more in the rest of this newsletter but I find the entire process we’ve engaged in together over the last couple years – your support for Becoming Little Shell, for IndigiPalooza MT, and for the classes – all deeply entwined and spectacularly moving. Engaging in this work as a budding, inter-tribal community is special, and I am incredibly grateful for everyone who has chosen to participate, donate, or subscribe. Some of you – many of you! – have engaged in all three. It makes me borderline giddy.

The other morning I stepped out onto my front porch for my early morning constitutional, arranged my saddle blanket onto the deck chair and placed my coffee mug beside it in preparation for my return, then descended the short flight of stairs leading to the walkway leading to the street. The neighbor from down the way was approaching out of the darkness; we exchanged good mornings. His dog3 came over to greet me and I paused to give her some pets.

What transpired next was unprecedented: we proceeded to fall into stride beside one