A remarkable story about the Northern Cheyenne

 

LAME DEER, Mont. – Gerry Robinson, an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana was recently informed that he will be awarded the Western Heritage Award for Outstanding American Western Novel in recognition of his recently published book The Cheyenne Story: An Interpretation of Courage. The novel is the first historical writing of its kind to be authored by a member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe.

It relates the story and history of the Northern Cheyenne, beginning shortly after the Battle of the Little Big Horn and future installments will tell about those dark early Reservation days, but more importantly will also tell about the strength and resiliency of the Northern Cheyenne people.

The award, initially scheduled for presentation in mid-April 2020, has been postponed until October where it will be presented at the annual Western Heritage Awards ceremony, often called “The Oscars of the West,” at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, in Oklahoma City.

Robinson, who was born and raised on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, joins the ranks of such notable literary honorees as A.B. Guthrie, Ivan Doig, James Michener, Dorothy Johnson and Barbara Kingsolver.  He, ever modest said “This totally floored me.  To be recognized in this way and to have my name listed among such great writers is an overwhelming honor.”

The Museum also recognizes movie and music achievers including in the past such notables as John Wayne, Johnny Cash and Kevin Costner.  “And somehow, they found me,” Robinson jokes.

Sixteen years in the making, Robinson’s book was printed in late 2019, in what is to be the first of a three-book trilogy.  It is available from farcountrypress.com.

“I am trying to tell the remarkable story of the Northern Cheyenne,” Robinson says; “It’s such an important part of American history that is now completely unknown by the general population, and even to some extent, by our own people.”

One of the things that makes Robinson’s book is remarkable is his incredible devotion to historical accuracy and detail, including the oral tradition, passed directly to him by tribal elders. He brings those old stories alive in his writing.

During his research, the author consulted frequently with Dr. Richard Littlebear, President of the Northern Cheyenne tribal Chief Dull Knife College, in order to accurately include Cheyenne words and terminology, in correct context.  Little Bear, a nationally acknowledged native language linguistic professional commented: “It was very good of him to do this, devoting much time and accuracy.”

Robinson, is one of ten children, direct descendants of the of the two main characters in the book: William Rowland, a non-Cheyenne married into the Tribe, who served as a major interpreter and Chief Little Wolf, the legendary Northern Cheyenne Chief, who was instrumental in saving the Northern Cheyenne from literal genocide and extinction.

In searching family genealogy, Robinson relied greatly upon a sister, Sandy Spang, who is devoted to that task.  “He is so bound to detail and accuracy,” she commented. “He walked every mile of that Cheyenne journey from Oklahoma back to Montana, learning every ridge, coulee and hilltop by heart, feeling what it must have been like.  I love the fact that he tells the story from two points of view in a very compassionate way.”

The original awards ceremony was to be held in mid-April, but due to COVID-19 fallout has been rescheduled to October.  Robinson can be reached at thecheyennestory@gmail.com.

(Contact Clara Caufield can be reached at acheyennevoice@gmail.com)

 

Visit Original Source