The Long View
A Pulitzer Prize finalist, New York Times bestselling author, and tribal college graduate, Tommy Orange presents his top picks from the 2020 creative writing contest.
Guest Editorials
Student 2020
On the Mysterious Power of Language
“In languages, we encapsulate the individual and communal mental and spiritual contemplative efforts of a people—each unique.”
The Game
“The Warriors versus the Cowgirls, too fantastic to be made up, and the mascots couldn’t be more fitting.”
Where There Is Chaos, There Will Also Be Peace
“It wasn’t just the coma. I couldn’t feel her spirit in the room with us. I knew she was gone, and she wasn’t coming back.”
Little Peculiarities
“A low rumble sounds gradually then all at once the train rounds the corner toward the road. Wind rushes across my face as it tears past. In its wake, the penny spins from the rail, flattened smooth.”
Long Road Home
“A man walked into an El Paso Wal-Mart, training his aim on families gearing up for back-to-school. Mothers were armed with carts with new backpacks, markers, glue, and notebooks.”
Fyre
“It started off as little specks of smoke and eventually turned into a single fire all in one. As I reached the ground, I went as fast as I could in the opposite direction of the flames.”
You, Wynter Adalyne Lulamae Shepherd
Wilhemena of the Summit by Deborah Teller-Tsosie of Diné College
You were the biggest surprise. You survived a full term plus two weeks without me knowing. I found out about You on Your birthday, February 7, 2017. I was scared and confused and not sure what to do. But when …
Open Field Playground
Depth of Field by Alisha Valdez of the Institute of American Indian Arts
Thirty-six years ago, one of the challenges I had to overcome was moving from Farmington, New Mexico, to a remote area called Whitehorse Lake community. At first, it was hard to adapt with no electricity or running water. I grew …
Finding Cheryl
Green by Miranda Lauren Sanders of College of the Muscogee Nation
I was once told that if you don’t know your clan, you aren’t really Mvskoke. The first time I heard this, I felt pretty hurt and confused, as if they were accusing me of pretending to be Mvskoke. It made …