During this program, Chérie Newman talks with Jennifer Finley Greene, Julie Cajune, and Antoine Sandoval Huckleberries, Buttercups, and Celebrations.

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Jennifer Greene lives on the Flathead Reservation in Montana where she was born and raised. Her book of poetry entitled What I Keep was the winner of the 1998 North American Native Authors Poetry Award. She won first-place awards from the Native American Journalists Association for feature writing Her writing appeared on a CD entitled Heart of the Bitterroot: Voices of Salish and Pend d'Orielle Women, which was nominated for a Native American Music Award in 2008.

In 2010, Jennifer won a Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Educational Publishers in the Adult Fiction category for an article that appeared in Teaching Tolerance magazine. Her latest collection of poetry, published by Foothills Publishing, is entitled What Lasts. Jennifer Finley Greene is Salish and Chappewa-Cree and a member of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes.

Antoine Sandoval was born and raised on the Flathead Indian Reservation. He graduated from Two Eagle River School and Salish Kootenai College. He's been a contract artist, working on projects from pamphlets to road signs. Much of the work he has done has been for Nkwusm, the Salish language revitalization school. In 2008, Npustin Press published The Gift of the Bitterroot, which features illustrations by Antoine Sandoval.

Antoine has worked collaboratively with his brother, Sam, and father, Tony Sandoval, on a book about the Salish people's first meeting with Lewis and Clark. Antoine's native roots are Salish/Pend d'Oreille and Diné (Navajo). He currently resides in Arlee, Montana.

Julie Cajune has been working in education for over 20 years. A former classroom teacher, Julie went on to obtain a Master’s Degree in Education and worked as a curriculum specialist for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. She returned to public education and worked as a school administrator for six years. During her tenure with the Ronan School district, Julie was awarded the Milken National Educator Award.

Ms. Cajune has worked on culturally responsive educational materials for the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Montana Historical Society and numerous other entities. She recently completed a three-year project developing tribal history materials funded by the Montana State Legislature. In 2009 Julie was named as one of “50 visionaries changing your world.” That same year, she was awarded a 1.4 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The Kellogg grant established the Center for American Indian Policy and Applied Research at Salish Kootenai College. Initial center activities are focused on documenting community histories of tribes in Montana and across the country. Julie is a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and a recipient of the 2011Montana Governor’s Humanities Award.

Look for Huckleberries, Buttercups, and Celebrations at Fact & Fiction in Missoula, or at your local independent bookseller.

The Write Question is produced by Chérie Newman. Executive producer, Michael Marsolek; studio engineer, Beth Anne Austein.

Special thanks to Lisa Simon, David Moore, Barbara Theroux, and Kim Anderson.

This program is supported by the Steele-Reese Foundation, Humanities Montana, connecting kids to community, supporting vital cultural institutions, and encouraging community conversations. And by Montana's Cultural Trust, Fact & Fiction book stores, and Public Radio Listeners.

The Write Question: a program that explores the world of writing and publishing in the western United States.

The music in this program was written and performed by John Floridis.

Send comments to Chérie Newman.

Guests on the The Write Question are writers, publishers, and illustrators living, or working for an extended period of time, in the western United States. The Write Question is a production of Montana Public Radio.