• Age: 15
• Grade: 10

Eloquent, poignant and witty, Garry Gottfriedson's new collection of poetry, Whiskey Bullets, approaches an old genre with a new flare that will challenge your expectations of cowboy poetry. This edgy collection explores themes of duality that exist in the parallel worlds of cowboys and Indians.

Often satirical, Whiskey Bullets is a testament to adaptability, turning tragedy into humour and pain into passion. It speaks to the unique experience of growing up aboriginal, on the Tk'emlups Reserve (Secwepemc) near Kamloops, with strong First Nation values and traditions, while at the same time immersed in the cowboy and ranching culture of the interior of BC. Gottfriedson skillfully balances his indigenous vision and contemporary concerns, creating a blend of imagery that stimulates the mind's eye like never before.

Shattering the cowboy's code of ethics, Gottfriedson unveils hidden truths, unspoken and often ignored, bringing to the fore inescapable issues of gender, sexuality, race and politics, infused with aboriginal attitude. Form and content are carefully conceived to celebrate the distinctive aboriginal individuality, the "shape-shifting" attitudes that are required when one lives simultaneously in two cultures - Secwepemc and white - and their two languages. Candid and challenging, Whiskey Bullets is thought-provoking and engaging.

Garry Gottfriedson, from the Secwepemc nation (Shuswap), was born, raised and lives in Kamloops, B.C. Growing up on a ranch in a ranching and rodeo family, he has been fully immersed in his people’s traditions and spirituality. He comes from four generations of horse people. His passion for horses, raising and training them, still continues to this day. He holds a Master of Education from Simon Fraser University and has studied Creative Writing at the Naropa Institute in Boulder, Colorado. His published works include 100 Years of Contact (SCES, 1990); In Honour of Our Grandmothers (Theytus, 1994); Glass Tepee (Thistledown, 2002, and nominated for First People’s Publishing Award 2004); Painted Pony (Partners in Publishing, 2005); Whiskey Bullets (Ronsdale, 2006, and Anskohk Aboriginal Award finalist); Skin Like Mine (Ronsdale, 2010, and shortlisted for Canadian Authors Association Award for Poetry); Jimmy Tames Horses (Kegedonce, 2012); Chaos Inside Thunderstorms (Ronsdale, 2014); Deaf Heaven (Ronsdale, 2016). His works have been anthologized both nationally and internationally. He has read from his work across Canada and in the USA, Europe and Asia.

Garry Gottfriedson's profile page

Whiskey Bullets: Cowboy and Indian Heritage Poems

Whiskey Bullets offers articulate, moving and witty observations of the duality of Aboriginal and cowboy culture. The poems promote the notion that Indians can be real cowboys. Sensitive, often satirical, this collection is an expression of adaptability, turning tragedy into humour and pain into passion. It addresses the exceptional experience of growing up on a reserve with strong Aboriginal values and traditions, while at the same time being absorbed in the world of cowboys and ranching. Balancing Aboriginal vision and contemporary issues, an invigorating blend of imagery is created. Issues of gender, sexuality, race and politics, infused with Aboriginal attitude, are laid out and examined.

Gottfriedson began writing at the En'owkin Centre. He studied under Allen Ginsberg, Anne Waldman and Marianne Faithful.

Whiskey Bullets: Cowboy and Indian Heritage Poems

Whiskey Bullets is an articulate, moving and witty observation of Aboriginal and cowboy culture. The poetry promotes the notion that Indians can be real cowboys. Sensitive, often satirical, this collection is an expression of adaptability. It addresses the exceptional experience of growing up on a reserve with strong Aboriginal values and traditions, while at the same time being absorbed in the world of cowboys and ranching. A balance between Aboriginal vision and contemporary issues creates an invigorating blend of imagery. Examinations of issues of gender, sexuality, race and politics are infused with Aboriginal attitude. Form and content honour Aboriginal “shape-shifting” attitudes that permit living simultaneously in two cultures and two languages.

Gottfriedson began writing at the En’owkin Centre. He studied under Allen Ginsberg, Anne Waldman and Marianne Faithful.