The In the Footsteps of Norman Maclean Literary Festival is presenting a gathering of native and non-native western writers in a collaborative event entitled: Public Lands & Sacred Ground: Western Writers Bear Witness. Most events will be held at the new Missoula Public Library and will be free of charge to the public. Additionally, a Friday night cocktail reception will be held in the Dana Art Gallery and a gala Saturday night dinner will be held at The Wilma. The gala dinner event at The Wilma will feature a prominent speaker, an auction of an original Kevin Red Star painting created for the Festival and remarks from Red Star.

The Maclean Festival is bringing together many of the nation’s prominent native and non-native writers who will share their unique perspectives on the importance of our public lands and the sacred ancestral grounds of America’s first people. These writers will challenge public policy on wilderness, address the history of indigenous people and their land, and brainstorm with us to insure a positive future for our endangered landscape.

The Festival is highlighting keynote speakers Timothy Egan (The Big Burn) and Terry Tempest Williams (Erosion) along with Sterling Holy White Mountain, Debra Magpie Earling, Rick Bass, Doug Peacock and many more prominent authors. Invited speakers include Senator Jon Tester and BLM Director Tracey Stone-Manning.