Native Sun News Today: Northern Cheyenne author traces story of tribal courage

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Gerry Robinson. Courtesy photo

Gerry Robinson, Northern Cheyenne Author

Wins more awards for The Cheyenne Story, An Interpretation of Courage

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

By Clara Caufield

Native Sun News Today Correspondent

nativesunnews.today

Sometimes a good read speaks for itself and is quickly regarded as outstanding literature.

Such is the book of historical fiction The Cheyenne Story: An Interpretation of Courage by Gerry Robinson, enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, Montana. The book traces the movements and experiences of the Northern Cheyenne beginning after the Battle of the Little Big Horn until they were forcibly removed to Oklahoma by the US Government.

First, last fall the book was awarded the highly esteemed Western Heritage Award, “The Wrangler” for best western novel of 2020. The Western Heritage Center, National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Awards honor individuals who have made s significant contribution to the western heritage through creative works, literature, television, music and film that share the great stories of the American West.

The Cheyenne Story: An Interpretation of Courage by Gerry Robinson

When and if the awards ceremony is held in Oklahoma (uncertain due to COVID), notables such as Robert Duvall and Kurt Russell will also be in attendance. Highly prestigious, the Western Heritage award as been given to nationally known figures such as Johnny Cash and James A. Michener.

Recently, the tome was selected as Best Fiction Book of the Year, 2020 by the Wyoming State Historical Society. WSHS recognizes works dealing with Wyoming history.

“So much of the Cheyenne story took place there” Robinson commented.

Finally, he was recently a finalist receiving recognition for the High Plains Book Awards. That organization recognizes excellent writing from seven Plains States and three Canadian provinces about life on the High Plains.

“Not too bad, for a first book” Robinson modestly admitted.

During his 16 years of researching the book, Robinson spent considerable time with tribal elders, incorporating oral tribal history, including the language. For that, he consulted primarily with Dr. Richard Littlebear who is a fluent speaker and writer of the language and more important, familiar with the appropriate context and language usage.