Help a writer out?

[lagilman]

With apologies for anything I accidentally phrase wrongly, I'm looking for someone who is/knows of someone who is Hinonoeino/Arapaho, to double-check some historical facts and public legends against not-a-reference-book.

Ditto, anyone from the Ho-Chunk/Winnebago tribes.

I can only offer my sincere gratitude, a mention in the acknowledgments, and a copy of the finished book, if so desired, in payment....


and yes, since someone asked, I HAVE tried contacting the official websites and several museums. And gotten dead silence back. And the two academics I tried to reach out to basically told me "nobody will talk to you because you're white." Which may be true [as I elaborate on in comments], but since I'm looking to NOT fuck things up, I need to TRY.

Comments

[rosefox]

Debbie Reese at AICL might be able to connect you with someone. http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/p/contact-aicl.html

[lagilman]

Thanks! Okay to use your name, or just treat it as a blind contact?

[rosefox]

You can if you like, but she doesn't know me.

[angela-n-hunt.livejournal.com]

That's...wow. Won't talk to you because you're white. Ooookay.

[lagilman]

No, I can understand the reluctance... there are too many groups that have been harmed by people coming in and taking their narratives, and using them badly. And when that narrative is also part of a culture that's been damaged overall... their being gunshy doesn't bother me. it was being told that I shouldn't even approach because they might be gunshy that bothered me.

But there are people who aren't hesitant, and will set me right properly, if I fuck up.

[girasole.livejournal.com]

although Debbie and I have never met, I know her through the child_lit list and she is a great resource. She is very busy, but she might be just the right person to ask. And you can use my name, she might remember me from the list. She is also on Facebook.