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By Josh Weil
This newly released novel explores the Sierra Nevada at the cusp of the gold rush – a time often mythologized in the American colonial psyche, but rarely told with attention to the Indigenous presence and the profound environmental and Cultural destruction that followed.
Over the course of over five years, Shelly Covert, Tribal Spokesperson for the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe, consulted closely on this work to ensure that Nisenan representation was accurate, respectful, and Culturally grounded. This collaboration helps correct long-standing narratives of an “empty” or “untouched” West, restoring visibility to the People who have always called this place home.
Through the art of storytelling, What Came West plays an important role in challenging dominant narratives of the American West. By bringing forward a more complete and grounded account of this place, it helps restore visibility to Nisenan presence and contributes to a broader effort to confront historical erasure and invite a more honest reckoning with the past.
You can watch the book launch of What Came West, where Josh and Shelly discuss research, relationships, and responsibilities behind telling stories rooted in place here. Their discussion explores the importance of Tribal consultation, historical accuracy, and restoring visibility to Nisenan People and perspectives in narratives of California history.
Hard Cover
By Josh Weil
This newly released novel explores the Sierra Nevada at the cusp of the gold rush – a time often mythologized in the American colonial psyche, but rarely told with attention to the Indigenous presence and the profound environmental and Cultural destruction that followed.
Over the course of over five years, Shelly Covert, Tribal Spokesperson for the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe, consulted closely on this work to ensure that Nisenan representation was accurate, respectful, and Culturally grounded. This collaboration helps correct long-standing narratives of an “empty” or “untouched” West, restoring visibility to the People who have always called this place home.
Through the art of storytelling, What Came West plays an important role in challenging dominant narratives of the American West. By bringing forward a more complete and grounded account of this place, it helps restore visibility to Nisenan presence and contributes to a broader effort to confront historical erasure and invite a more honest reckoning with the past.
You can watch the book launch of What Came West, where Josh and Shelly discuss research, relationships, and responsibilities behind telling stories rooted in place here. Their discussion explores the importance of Tribal consultation, historical accuracy, and restoring visibility to Nisenan People and perspectives in narratives of California history.
Hard Cover