Submitted Photo Hunter Andes stands with his books in front of an airplane at the Dakota Territory Air Museum, Minot, in June 2021. This CallAir transported a farm wife in labor from rural Stark County to Dickinson in the bad winter of 1948-49. Andes’ book features a chapter about that rough winter.

Hunter Andes’ book, “The Elders: Stories from Fort Berthold,” was recently awarded with a silver medal. Andes, a Makoti native, had his book published in 2019.

The book is comprised of short stories about the towns, farmland, and way of life flooded by the Garrison Dam in 1954. It features four tribal elders who share their adult experiences in the now inundated bottomlands of the Missouri River in western North Dakota.

“Back in July I submitted my book to the Nonfiction Authors Association on the off chance it would receive an award,” Andes said. “At the time I told myself I’d be lucky if it received bronze. So, when I got word in early December that the book took silver, I was beside myself with excitement.”

He said he wishes the tribal elders he interviewed were still alive so he could share this accomplishment with them.

“It’s bittersweet,” Andes said. “Over time, we became extremely close. Not having them all here anymore has been hard. I came to look at each of them as grandparent in a way.”

Andes is an English teacher on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, and he said he’s in the beginning stages of his next book.

“I’m in the gathering information phase,” he said. “My first book focused mainly on Elbowoods, Nishu, Fort Berthold, Fort Stevenson, and Garrison. The second is going to focus heavily on Sanish and Van Hook as well as anecdotes and histories from other towns and townships on and around the reservation.”

“The Elders” can be purchased at Hensen’s Fur and Leather and Main Street Books, both in Minot, BHG, Inc. in Garrison, and online through the State Historical Society of North Dakota. They can also be purchased through Andes personally by sending to Anecdotes by Andes, P.O. Box 151 Makoti, N.D. 58756.

Andes said he is currently working with Barnes and Noble to try and make the book available there, as well. He said he’s hoping the second edition of “The Elders,” will be ready for the shelves by year’s end. The second edition contains minimal changes and will have the silver award seal.