Quote by Tommy Orange: “Being Indian, you're always a part of something, and apart from something.”

This quote perfectly captures the complex feeling of Indigenous identity. It means feeling deeply connected to your heritage and community, yet simultaneously feeling separated or alienated from mainstream society due to historical context and ongoing challenges. It's a constant duality.

From his debut novel, 'There There,' which explores urban Indigenous experiences. This statement reflects the diasporic and often conflicted sense of belonging felt by many Native Americans, particularly those living away from traditional lands, during a time of increased visibility for Indigenous issues.

American author and member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma whose debut novel There There was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2019. His work brings Indigenous urban experience in America to the centre of contemporary literary fiction.