A Project Failed or a Lesson Learned: My Author Journey Continued
Note to Readers – This blog post is about a potential campaign to raise funds to create an Indigenous Writers Grant. I am still in the process of determining how or if to move forward with this. I will share more updates with you as things proceed. Thank you!
When I first started reading, researching, and writing about the U.S. – Dakota War back in 2007, I did not understand the very complicated nature of that history and what it means for us today. I just wanted to know what happened and why. My curiosity, along with a multitude of life’s random developments and circumstances, led me to share my research through essays, blogs, videos, presentations, an online course, and novels. Over time I’ve discovered that there is a lot more at stake than just the history itself. My two major observations are these: It matters how and why the history is being conveyed; and many of the people currently pursuing, consuming, and living the legacy of that history have deeply-rooted thoughts and feelings about what it means.
People often want to know why I’m interested in this particular history and whether or not my pursuit and portrayal of it is authentic and accurate. I can’t easily answer those questions, nor do I think it’s worthwhile to try. All that I can do is tell you what I’ve done and what I haven’t done. It is in that spirit that I share this blog post about my initial attempts to start an Indigenous Writers Grant. I’m not writing this post as any kind of indictment or judgment. It is merely done to share my story—my whole story so that you can learn, along with me, everything that’s involved in the process of being an author who writes about Minnesota’s complicated and tragic history. I don’t have any answers, and I have been wrong about many things. But I am always striving to learn and grow in my understanding to the degree that I am able.
Thy Eternal Summer was published by Tate Publishing in 2013. After learning more about publishing and the content I write about, I republished Thy Eternal Summer as Fate of the Dakota in 2016. Louise Erdrich once pointed to the word “Conflict” in the title of my novel, Thy Eternal Summer: The U.S. – Dakota Conflict of 1862 and said, “There’s your first problem. The Dakota don’t view it as a conflict, they view it as a war.” That was eye-opening for me. It was, I’m sorry to say, the first time I stepped back to consider the history from a viewpoint other than my own. Since then I have learned dozens of invaluable lessons about how history has generally been portrayed and how it ought to be portrayed—that is, from a broader, more respectful, and more objective point of view. I have tried my best to incorporate those lessons in my own portrayal of The U.S. – Dakota War, the Sandy Lake Tragedy, and other related history. But having done that, and understood that, there is one thing I haven’t done. I haven’t taken any actionable steps toward reversing the long-lasting inequities created by historical wrongs, institutionalized by generations since, and accepted by generations present. Should I? I’m honestly not sure, but I’m willing to listen and find out.
That brings me to today and an idea I had to take those actionable steps. My idea was to create and fundraise for a $10,000 Indigenous Writers Grant. My thought was to raise funds for the grant through the sale of my upcoming novel, Reclaiming Mni Sota: An Alternative History of the U.S. – Dakota War of 1862. This, I thought, would be an action I could take to use my writing to contribute to breaking down the systems in place that prevent and have prevented Indigenous storytellers from gaining access to the resources they need to share their side of the story—resources I have been privileged to utilize because of the legacies our history has created. You might expect that Indigenous and literary organizations would be eager to support and promote this cause. But that is not exactly the case. Before officially creating and launching the grant, I sought feedback from Indigenous community members. Then, after receiving little feedback, I sought advocates and donors from both Indigenous and literary organizations. The response has been underwhelming. I don’t wish to classify that as a negative thing, but it was disheartening.
Read the current draft of the grant’s GoFundMe Page.
Speaking at a public library in June 2015, my first-ever book tour. As I continue down this path, I discover that there is a lot I don’t know and cannot anticipate. And that’s okay. I just don’t want to let it force me to change course until I’m ready. With all these things in mind, I’m going to share with you a list of all the people and organizations I have reached out to over the past six months seeking either feedback, partnership, advocacy, or donations for the creation and funding of an Indigenous Writers Grant. I’ve also reached out to a small number of organizations asking if they would accept donations that come from the sale of the forthcoming book. Below is that list and their response or lack of response. I will repeat that this is not an indictment. It is merely a way for me to share my story and the lessons I’m learning while also being completely transparent for those who truly are interested in the work that I do.
Name/OrganizationDate ContactedResponseBois Forte Tribal Government2/16/2022 & 4/6/2022We spoke over the phone. They said they would review the materials. Recommended using Patreon or GoFundMe for recurring donations. Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa2/16/2022 & 4/6/2022No ResponseGrand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa2/16/2022 & 4/7/2022No ResponseLeech Lake Band of Ojibwe2/16/2022 & 4/7/2022No ResponseLower Sioux Indian Community 2/16/2022 & 4/7/2022No ResponseMille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians2/16/2022 & 4/7/2022No ResponsePrairie Island Indian Community2/16/2022 & 4/7/2022No ResponseRed Lake Band of Chippewa Indians2/16/2022 & 4/11/2022No ResponseUpper Sioux Community2/16/2022 & 4/11/2022No ResponseWhite Earth Band of Minnesota Chippewa2/16/2022 & 4/11/2022No ResponseCircle of Indigenous Nations2/16/2022 & 4/11/2022Responded by writing, “Reviewing grant requests isn’t something I work on. My role at the University of Minnesota is to support current Native students.”Minneapolis American Indian Center2/16/2022 & 4/11/2022Spoke over the phone on 4/15/2022. Said they could not support the grant until I had support from Indigenous writers. Native American Community Development Institute2/16/2022 & 4/11/2022No ResponseMinnesota Indian Affairs Council2/16/2022 & 4/11/2022Said they would bring the information to their board of directors. I sent a follow email on 4/11/2022. I have not heard back since. UMD Department of American Indian Studies2/16/2022 & 4/13/2022No ResponseUMM Native American and Indigenous Studies2/16/2022 & 4/13/2022No ResponseAugsburg University American Indian, First Nations, and Indigenous Studies2/16/2022 & 4/11/2022Said they would support me “behind the scenes” but could not support me publicly because of their affiliation to the University. Augsburg University MFA in Creative Writing Program2/16/2022 & various other datesSaid they would be happy to publicize the grant but are not in the habit if championing certain ventures. Bemidji State University Indian Resource Center2/16/2022 & 4/13/2022No ResponseAll Nations Indian UCC4/13/2022No ResponseAmerican Indian OIC4/13/2022No ResponseCenter School2/16/2022No ResponseThe Circle 4/13/2022No ResponseYellow Medicine Review5/11/2022No ResponseIndigenous Literary Studies Association4/13/2022No ResponseWe Need Diverse Books4/13/2022No ResponsePuha Hubiya4/13/2022No ResponseMakoce Ikikcupi4/18/2022 & July 2022No ResponseDakota Author (unnamed here)4/18/2022No ResponseOjibwe Author (Unnamed here)4/18/2022Unable to help at this timeDakota Author (Unnamed here)4/18/2022No ResponseOjibwe Author (Unnamed here)4/18/2022No ResponseOjibwe Author (Unnamed here)4/18/2022DeclinedOjibwe Author (Unnamed here)4/18/2022No ResponseOjibwe Author (Unnamed here)4/18/2022Unable to help at this timeOjibwe Author (Unnamed here)4/18/2022Respectfully declined and recommended reaching out to Dakota people. Ojibwe Author (Unnamed here)4/18/2022No ResponseOjibwe Author (Unnamed here)4/18/2022No ResponseTGI Frybread Native American Writers Group5/10/2022No Response826 MSP5/10/2022No ResponseLakes Area Writers Alliance5/10/2022No ResponseCracked Walnut5/10/2022No ResponseThe Jackpine Writers’ Bloc5/10/2022No ResponseLake Superior Writers5/10/2022No ResponseLeague of Minnesota Poets5/10/2022Said they would discuss it at the next Executive Committee meeting. Have not gotten back to me since. Midwest Fiction Writers5/10/2022No ResponseMN Speculative Fiction Writers5/10/2022No ResponseNational League of American Pen Women, Inc.5/10/2022No ResponsePlaywright’s Center5/10/2022No ResponseScreenwriters’ Workshop5/11/2022No ResponseTwin Cities Sisters in Crime5/11/2022No ResponseAscent5/11/2022No ResponseBlue Earth Review5/11/2022No ResponseConduit5/11/2022No ResponseGreat River Review5/11/2022No ResponseMidwest Review5/11/2022No ResponseMizna5/11/2022No ResponseRunestone5/11/2022No ResponseSt. Paul Almanac5/11/2022No ResponseSleet5/11/2022No ResponseThe Tower5/11/2022No ResponseUnder Review5/11/2022No ResponseWater Stone Review5/11/2022No ResponseWater Stone Review5/11/2022No ResponseWhistling Shade5/11/2022No ResponseLiterary Quicksand5/11/2022No Response11:11 Press5/11/2022No ResponseAfton Press/Calumet Editions5/11/2022Met in Person. Gave Support. Button Poetry5/11/2022Said they would like to connect directly but have not responded to my invitation to schedule a meeting. Cloquet River Press5/11/2022No ResponseCoffee House Press5/11/2022No ResponseGraywolf Press5/11/2022No ResponseHandtype Press/Square & Rebels5/11/2022Does not have available funds. Holy Cow Press5/11/2022No ResponseLiving Justice Press5/11/2022No ResponseMelange Books5/11/2022No ResponseMilkweed Editions5/11/2022Said they would forward my message to others within the press. I have not heard back since. Minnesota Historical Society Press5/11/2022No ResponseNew Rivers Press5/11/2022No ResponseNodin Press5/11/2022Yes, they will offer their support.Queen of Swords Press5/11/2022No ResponseRamsey County Historical Society5/11/2022No ResponseRed Dragonfly Press5/11/2022Does not have available fundsShipwreckt Books5/11/2022No ResponseSic Semper Serpent5/11/2022Said they would like to offer support but that they winding down operations. Sky Candle Press5/11/2022No ResponseUniversity of Minnesota Press5/11/2022No ResponseBeaver’s Pond Press5/11/2022No ResponseThe Loft Literary Center5/24/2022No ResponseMinnesota State Arts Board5/25/2022Member contacted is on leave until further notice. Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Tribal Community 6/20/2022No ResponseNative Writers Circle8/6/2022No ResponseMigiziAugust 2022No ResponseGinew/Golden Eagle9/7/2022No ResponseSimily.coMay 2022Yes, they have offered their support. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width:600px;} /* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. 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About the Author
Colin Mustful is an independent author, historian, and publisher. His work helps readers learn and understand the complicated and tragic history of settler-colonialism and Native displacement in the Upper Midwest. He has a Master or Arts degree in history and a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing. He is also the founder of History Through Fiction, an independent press that publishes high-quality fiction that is rooted in historical research. Mustful is an avid runner and soccer player who lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He believes that learning history is vital to understanding our world today and finding just, long-lasting solutions for the future.
