Boozhoo, indinawemaaganidog! Aaniin! That is to say hello, all of my relatives! Welcome to another edition of An Irritable Métis. In this case, I am happy to present the THIRTIETH EDITION! of the monthly sentences. For those of you new here this monthly edition, where I post the daily, single sentences that I’ve accumulated for the month-just-ended, is based on the practice that ultimately led to my first book, One-Sentence Journal, back in 2018. It can be said that it is the practice that led to my being selected as Montana Poet Laureate on 8/14/2023 as well, exactly five years to the day of the release of OSJ. As my tenure as poet laureate is waning I’m a little sad yet, despite the future of the program foggy given all the violence1 from clueless feds, I’m grateful to know that because of the generosity of people in this community the work I’ve done because of my good fortune in holding this position will no doubt continue.

Finally, I never know where to put new announcements; whether here in the intro or after the main point of the newsletter. There are a couple such things this edition and I’ve decided to put them after the sentences, so please stick around to get up to speed!

As always, I deeply appreciate your time and attention. If you feel compelled to offer up a few of your own observations in the comments, I would love to see them. If you enjoy these monthly sentences, or you enjoy anything about this newsletter at all, please consider a paid subscription. Your support is more important than ever….

2025_0401: At the subtle urging of an irritable reader I make time for a long saunter around Council Grove and the spirit is improved; both mine and, I hope, this beautiful forest’s.

2025_0402: A relished opportunity to be the barbarian at the gate.

2025_0403: Grounded by abundant snow geese over the three forks of the Missouri in the midst of a long drive home following an evening most bizarre.

2025_0404: Another stagger around the sun and another one begun, far more years behind than those yet looming.

2025_0405: Several glorious sun-drenched moments spent in observation of a chatty raven in the Albertson’s parking lot.

2025_0406: Porch coffee this beautiful morning with an abundance of singing and trilling birds and, perhaps most thrillingly, a half-dozen noisy and rambunctious sandhill cranes.

2025_0407: A hat, a medallion, and messages from the other side delivered in two voices.

2025_0408: Heart and spirit stripped bare and refocused in the unlikely company of a motley crew of digitally animated animals on a screen.

2025_0409: The cat poking around in the field turns out to be a curious fox.

2025_0410: Not even the young man attempting to unload The Book of Mormon on me in the signing line can sour a glorious day with new friends in Wyoming.

2025_0411: River sounds and river rocks and river-polished old snags.

2025_0412: Never underestimate the psychic challenges of the 8am keynote, no matter the virtue of the occasion.

2025_0413: Afternoon spiritual regeneration at the Church of Volume.

2025_0414: Exhausted both physically and spiritually after a full day in front of teenagers and I don’t know how real teachers manage.

2025_0415: Trying to find the balance between the presumed importance of science and the absolute imperative of stories.

2025_0416: Waking so early before the alarm means I almost slip away without disturbing the tiny gods.

2025_0417: A gorgeous day of sunlight and re-connection with a couple friends in Central Oregon ends beautifully in the making of a couple hundred more.

2025_0418: For all the dismay I have over the devastation wrought in the relentless pursuit of technological “progress”, I have to admit the world, viewed from a seat beside a tiny porthole window, at 30,000 feet, at sunrise, is breathtaking.

2025_0419: Back with coffee on the porch means back to company with the morning birds.

2025_0420: Inspired-by-a-faded-billboard breakfast in Three Forks.

2025_0421: Every opportunity I get to park in the space reserved for tribal elders just outside the American Indian Center on the MSU campus, I’m taking.

2025_0422: That’s not memorization, that’s winging it.

2025_0423: An event I didn’t really want to do; an evening I won’t forget.

2025_0424: Strangely energized despite a pitiful amount of sleep, at dawn I launch myself five hours north to butt skulls with high schoolers on the Hi-Line.

2025_0425: Murdoch’s comes through with the dawning realization of the need for road crocs.

2025_0426: Catching me in mid-response to a different question, the resident venue cat saunters into the discussion.

2025_0427: With the teenage labor force sleeping off all of prom’s bad decisions, the greasy spoon calls in parental reinforcements to assist in the slinging of bacon and eggs.

2025_0428: A small gathering of book clubbers online blossoms into one of the loveliest invitations thus far.

2025_0429: Descending the steps of Rankin Hall after the final session of what could be my last gasp at university level teaching, in the slow amble back to my car I’m feeling a little sad over my emancipation from these students, as well as relief at surviving a situation where I was definitely in over my head.

2025_0430: Is that six, seven, or eight fox kits rolling around on the side hill climbing up to the irrigation ditch?

35th Annual book awards Shortlists

Becoming Little Shell has been selected as one of five books shortlisted for the 2025 Reading the West Awards in the Memoir/Biography category. If you’re wondering what this is, here’s the lowdown:

More than 180 books were submitted for consideration in the 35th Annual Reading the West Book Awards. Independent booksellers across fourteen states read and reviewed all the books to choose their favorites. Now we’re asking you to help select the best of the best! Scroll through or click on the categories to see the shortlist titles. Cast your ballot by May 31, 2025. Winners will be announced June 12, 2025.

Here is some info on who is behind all of this in the first place:

Reading the West was conceived to celebrate the diversity, courage, tenacity, expertise, and indie spirit of the bookstores in the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association. Our goal is to bring bookstores, books, and readers together, to promote the best of our regional authors and stories, and to feature the passionate recommendations of our booksellers.

I have mixed feelings about awards and, especially, ones that demand writers wave their hands and holler, “Vote for me!” Which is exactly what I am doing here. Awards help sales, and sales are still what makes more books possible.2 Not just for me, but for other writers too. So please consider voting; I voted for myself to see how much of a hassle it is and it really wasn’t. So I sure would appreciate if you took a few moments to cast a ballot in Becoming Little Shell’s direction! HERE IS THE LINK. I’ll probably mention it a time or two between now and the deadline at the end of the month but I’ll try not to be obnoxious about it.

Jon Axline, Chris La Tray win Heritage Awards

This is pretty cool, and I am grateful for the selection by the good people at the Montana Historical Society. The full article may be viewed HERE, while here is a little excerpt:

The Montana Heritage Awards are conferred on people or organizations that demonstrate an exemplary commitment to a significant Montana history project or have identified and preserved objects or property of significance to Montana’s history and culture. The 2025 awards received a record number of nominations of highly qualified candidates.

If you’ve ever stopped and read a roadside historical marker in Montana, then you know Jon Axline’s work. They’re everywhere and wonderful. His recognition is long overdue and I’m a big fan. I’m quite pleased to be honored beside him. Check it out.

Another Round of NASfE Beginning in June!

Friends, this isn’t my project but I’m involved in it as a presenter and dedicated to the mission. I’ve been intending to take it myself! Another class is being offered beginning in June; all details HERE. These are some testimonials from folks who participated in the version that just wrapped up a couple weeks ago:

• I take online courses from a variety of schools and institutions. This was the most enticing programming I have experienced- I looked forward to each new release.

• This class has profoundly changed my life and how I plan to raise my daughter. I will seek to find more ways to learn, grow, listen, and engage in these topics because the course helped me break through some sort of barrier. Thank you!!!!

• Every state should do this and I wish there would be a way for "all the people" to know how important what they don't know (to quote two of our speakers) is and the value of learning more for oneself as well as for the communities at large.   Probably the majority of us, are  living on a foundation that we know little about, that we misunderstand, and that history aside, has value in so many areas.

• The amount and quality of information was stunning.

• Truly incredible course. I've had the opportunity to learn native american studies throughout my education, growing up as a Montana resident and as a MSU Bozeman student, but nothing has compared to the depth of knowledge presented in this course. The information being broken up by topic was very helpful. THANK YOU for offering this course and giving me the chance to learn more about this topic. I will not only be recommending to my educator friends, but to everyone who cares about learning.

• I found this full curriculum expertly organized and really enjoyed and learned from all of the different mediums (videos, webinars, articles, etc) that were put together.

Please consider signing up! Deadline for doing so is May 26th. Payment (it’s flexible!) is due by May 31st. Every penny goes in support of various projects focused on Indigenous education, with more on the way.

Finally, don’t forget, IndigiPalooza MT is just three months away! A big update is coming soon….