The Indians of the Midwest & The Fight For Their Homeland...Presentation by Robert Downes

Author Robert Downes will have something to celebrate when he offers a slide talk  at the Northeast Michigan Arts Center in Standish on Wednesday, September 10 at 7 p.m. He has just earned a book-of-the-year award from the Historical Society of Michigan for his nonfiction history, “Raw Deal: The Indians of the Midwest and the Theft of Native Lands.”

  The State History Award will be presented at the society’s annual awards ceremony in Alpena on September 26. Published by Downes’ own company, The Wandering Press, “Raw Deal” won the award in the society’s private printing category, meaning a non-university press.

  “This is a huge honor and will hopefully generate more interest in the Native peoples on this side of the Mississippi and their valiant struggle to retain their homeland,” Downes said in a news release.

  At his Standish presentation, Downes will offer a slide talk on “The Indians of the Midwest and the Fight for their Homeland” based on stories from his book.  

  Downes spent three years writing “Raw Deal,” which has been praised by professors of history for its readability and favorably reviewed in the Ojibwe tribal press of the Upper Midwest. 

  The book ranges from the Ice Age 13,000 years ago to the present day, including the six major treaties which deprived the Native peoples of Michigan of their homeland. There are chapters on the Mound Builders civilization, the impact of diseases spread by European explorers, the great battles fought by Native warriors, tragic events such as the Chippewa Trail of Tears and Potawatomi Death March, and the landmark Supreme Court decision which legalized Native gaming, among other topics.

  In addition to his presentation in Standish, Downes is staging a one-man, multi-media show, “Stories and Songs - An Evening with Author Robert Downes” at the Traverse City Opera House on November 20, featuring stories from his nine books and selections from the many songs he has composed.t.