Reader’s review of Becoming Little Shell: A Landless Indian’s Journey Home > Likes and Comments

It's bad form for an author to comment on a review but I am doing it anyway to respond to this:

"One major flaw is the lack of critical engagement with the current leadership of the Little Shell Tribe, particularly the role of Gerald Gray Jr., who has been widely recognized as a fraud and not truly affiliated with the Little Shell people."

This is an utter lie to the extent that I reported this review to Goodreads who ignored it. There is a tiny contingent of people, of which this person is clearly a member, making these accusations with zero proof. I've even been called on the telephone by people from this faction and the utter ignorance of their position is astounding. Until they can bring more than hearsay and borderline slanderous accusations against Chairman Gray to any discussions, they are nothing more than perfect examples of the baseless and crass lateral violence all too prevalent in the Native community, particularly, and ESPECIALLY, on social media, which is where this ilk tends to express their ignorance.

Totally cool for an author to write a reply to a review as we can learn from that too!

I want to thank you for replaying also. Pinamaya, for your book, your writings and for following up on this comment.

“The memoirs subjective nature limits its ability to provide a comprehensive historical context… The narrative feels like an introspective reflection rather than an informative critical examination.” Yes. Memoirs are personal reflections, not history class textbooks. This is a memoir about LaTrays personal experience. It’s not written to be a critical examination of all things Little Shell or Métis. And for what it’s worth, a significant amount of this personal memoir digs into the “social, political, and cultural challenges faced by the Métis people.

Good on LaTray for responding this is super out of line review.