Michael Dorris

Michael Dorris (January 30, 1945 - April 11, 1997) was a prominent Native American novelist and scholar. His most famous works include the non-fiction The Broken Cord and the novel A Yellow Raft in Blue Water. He was married to author Louise Erdrich. He committed suicide in 1997.

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Dorris, born in Concord, NH to Jim and Mary Besy (Burkhardt) Dorris in Louisville, Kentucky, was of mixed Modoc Indian, Irish, and French blood. In 1971, he was one of the first unmarried men in the United States to adopt a child. His adopted son, a three-year-old Lakota boy named Reynold Abel, was eventually diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Dorris' struggles to understand and care for his son became the subject of his famous work The Broken Cord (in which he uses the pseudonym "Adam" for his son). Dorris went on to adopt two more Native American children, Jeffrey Sava in 1974 and Madeline Hannah in 1976, who probably both suffered from fetal alcohol effect.

January 30: January 30 is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 335 days remaining, (336 in leap years)....

1945: 1945 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar)....

1997: 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar....

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