CheyenneMadonna

Onestormynightin1826,OldBull,aCheyenneIndianwhohadjustseentheoceanforthefirsttime,foundhimselftryingtooutraceahurricane.OldBullwastheonlyoneofhispartytoreturn,arrivinghomenearlynaked,nearlyhallucinating,ridingahorse.SuchisthebeginningtothelifeofJordanCoolwater,adistantrelationtoOldBull,whomwemeetasaboyinthe1970s,shootingturtlesonasummerday,andbeingraisedbyhisgrandparentsinthehouseofhisgreat-great-grandfather,asurvivorofthe"TrailofTears."Bearingtheburdenofhisancestry,JordanCoolwater-fromboredyoungboy,tothoughtfulteenager,strugglingartist,escapedconvict,andfinally,father-isthesubjectofEddieChuculate'scollectionoflinkedshortstories.ThisisnotonlyaportraitofayoungNativeAmericanartiststrugglingwiththetwoconstantsinhislife,alcoholandart,butalsoaportraitofAmerica,ofitsdispossessed,itsoutlaws,anditsvisionaries.