Acknowledgements
Twenty years ago, the seed for this book was planted during a ten-page classroom exercise at the University of Central Florida. The professor, whose name I’ve forgotten, said, “You owe it to Sher and Kris to finish their story.” Since then, it has gone through hundreds of iterations until it settled into the story on these pages. I’m grateful to the professor at UCF, as his words stirred a sense of responsibility in me to this story and its characters.
Many have supported and guided me along the way as I have worked for healing, identity, and belonging. Many years ago, Sam Emory brought me back to White Earth Reservation during a snowstorm to get my Indian name, which was the beginning of my return to Anishinaabeg. Earl Hoaglund gave me my Anishinaabe name along with a l
