Chi-Miigwech to Robert DesJarlait of Red Lake Ojibwe for walking beside me on this book’s journey and helping me with all the Anishinaabemowin. You are a great mentor, artist, and niiji. If you never stop teaching, I will never stop learning.
Miigwech to all of the members of Grand Portage Ojibwe for supporting me and encouraging me to continue my path as a storyteller. I will forever strive to make you proud.
Miigwech to my agent and friend Rosemary Stimola, who loves books more than anyone I have ever known. Thank you for always having my back. Miigwech to my editor and friend Liz Szabla, who makes me a stronger writer, chapter by chapter, book by book. Miigwech to Jean Feiwel and everyone at Feiwel & Friends for continuing to believe in me. Miigwech to everyone at Macmillan for making me a part of your family.
Miigwech to Native artist, Steph Littlebird, for illustrating such a beautiful book cover. Thank you to creative director, Rich Deas, for designing the cover. Thank you to my production editors, Starr Baer and Helen Seachrist, and the production manager, Kim Waymer. And thank you once again, to the associate publicist, Madison Furr.
Miigwech to the wonderful authors in my life who endlessly inspire me and are always rooting for me; Adriana Mather, Nic Stone, Jennifer Niven, Nikita Remi, A.S. King, and Emily Henry.
Miigwech to my dear friends and family for pulling me back down to earth when my head was too busy exploring new unwritten worlds. Miigwech to Sasa, the Hexum family, Tantoo Cardinal, Graham Greene, Michael Greyeyes, Susan James, James Vukelich, all the teachers and librarians, and everyone at FAMB for all your support.
Miigwech to all my fellow Native American authors and artists for continuing to tell our stories so the next generation of readers can learn from our words and create new worlds of their own.
Thank you to my animals, Von, Princess, Tu, and Banana for reminding me every day what happiness is. And to my best friend, Smeagle: travel well, have fun. I love you.
And most importantly, Chi-Miigwech to my beautiful son, Wolf. I wrote this for you. Everything I do is for you. You teach me how to live life every day. I am the man I am because of the man you are. I will never stop dancing with you. I love you.