First, to those writers who have offered so much care and support in the years of Dark. Sweet.: Deborah Miranda, Margo Solod, Peggy Schumaker, and the kindness of Joe, Chip Livingston, Pam Uschuk, William Pitt Root, Joy Harjo, and all my other poet friends. Then to those who opened their Oklahoma doors to me, LeAnne, Jim, and Novice.
Then for my woman cousins: Doris, Becky, Margaret, and Tracy. And to Jerod—your kindness is not forgotten. Special gratitude goes to my brother Larry and the deer dances and turtle dances, and my sister Donna, for which my first book was dedicated.
To those I’ve loved and cared for for many years: Marilyn, Kathleen, Barb, Tracy, and Janet. A special thanks to John for your moving help, and to my neighbor Julie Jordan, who sent Lukas with coffee when I most needed it.
Then I must acknowledge those of you with which I have exchanged so much about indigenous knowledge and Native science. All of you have changed my life: my sisters Amethyst First Rider, Rose van Thater Braun, Melissa Nelson, Robin Kimmerer, Priscilla Settee, Marie Battiste, Angelita, Lee, and my other brother, Leroy Little Bear, my cousin, Sakej Henderson, Dennis Martinez, and too many others to list. Forgive me if I leave you out. You are not forgotten.
Thanks always to Oren Lyons and Alex White Plume for the returns, and Winona La Duke for the work.
I especially acknowledge Allan Kornblum for the previous Coffee House Press books, and Chris, Anitra, Amelia, Linda, and so many others whose work went into this book. I also thank publisher Bryce Milligan, and my dear friend, John Crawford.
Thank you Hsingya, and my other sister, Joni, Rose, Greta, Ted, Robin, Simon and Peter, in our Taiwan lives together. I will see you all soon, along with Scot Slovik and our other family and friends.
I am grateful for those closest to me in this life: Tesla, Misty, Raindancer, Molly, Sunshine, and Lyle Lovett, my long, tall Texan. Special gratitude goes to David Curtis, who has helped so much, so often.
I must acknowledge the younger writers of the future, who mean so much to me and who have kept me in touch, including Luis, May Lee, Chip, Sherwin, Allison, and so many more of you.
But I most especially thank my own Chickasaw elders and teachers, as well as the trees, animals, waters, stones, all the earth lives that have carried me through these times and works. And to Pablo, who always had the last, best word.