By The Circle

It is with sadness that The Circle remembers our longtime columnist Kristine “Kris” Shotley, who wrote under the byline “Ricey Wild” for more than 25 years, and whose sharp wit, honesty and heart earned her loyal readers across Indian Country.

Shotley, 63, of Cloquet, Minn., died Oct. 8 after a brief illness, according to her obituary. Services were held Oct. 13 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Cloquet.

Shotley was Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe. She grew up in Cloquet and attended Metro State College in Minneapolis. She lived in the Twin Cities and in Denver over the years, and she raised one son, Steve, who she often wrote about in her columns, sometimes with humor, always with affection.

She wrote “It Ain’t Easy Being Indian” — under the pen name “Ricey Wild” — with a voice that was unmistakably her own: often raw, often irreverent, sharply funny, culturally rooted and honest about Indigenous life in America. Her work explored everything from environmental concerns, to politics, to family stories, to the quiet heartbreaks and daily resiliencies of Native people, and life on a modern day reservation.

Shotley was an activist for journalism, a member of the American Journalists Association, and was featured on Native news podcasts, including News From Indian Country.

Her obituary described her as a woman who made friends “with anyone from all walks of life.” She loved history — especially English history — and once acted as tour guide on a family trip to London, Hampton Court, Bath and the British Museum. Her favorite place however, her family wrote, remained the shores of Lake Superior.

Shotley is survived by her son, Steve Shotley of Duluth; her mother, Naomi Shotley Barnard of Shakopee; granddaughter, Daenerys Shotley of Shakopee; and siblings Stefanie Lyons, Rebecca Goebhal and Michael Wynd, among many other family members, friends, cousins and readers. She was preceded in death by her father, Jerome Charette, and her grandparents.

Kris Shotley leaves behind thousands of words — and a generation of Native people who felt seen in them.

Her readers will miss her voice.

Her obituary is at: https://www.nelsonfuneralcare.net /obituaries/Kristine-Krissy-E-Shotley?obId=45847782