The first word of Anishinaabemowin my father ever taught me was “miigwech”—“thank you”—because it is the most important. I have had many opportunities to use the word over the course of writ ing this book, but I would be remiss if I didn’t take the time to say it once again in recognition of all of those who have helped to make this work possible.

This book has benefited immeasurably from the insightful comments of a huge number of people, including those affectionately known to me as “the cohort.” Alastair Morrison, John Hay, Tim Donahue, Gania Barlow, Nijah Cunningham, Emily Cersonsky, Jessica Teague, Lindsay Van Tine, Deborah Aschkenes, and Oliver Batham are all amazing friends and accomplished scholars who have patiently listened to me talk about this project for more than a decade. During my time at Yale, I was lucky to workshop a section of this book with the Yale Group for the Study of Native America—an remarkable group of students and faculty led by the brilliant and tireless Ned Blackhawk. While at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), I received incredible support and encouragement from my colleagues Eric Berlatsky, Sika Dagbovie-Mullins, Taylor Hagood, Warren Kelly, Elena Machado, Mark Scroggins, and most especially Adam Bradford. Many students, both graduate and undergraduate, helped me to refine the ideas in this work. Special thanks to the graduate students in my “Transnational Native American Literature” seminar at FAU for stimulating conversation and brilliant insight into the work of early Anishinaabe writers.