TRAVERSE CITY — Local author Robert (Bob) Downes has received a statewide honor for his book chronicling the history of Native peoples in the Midwest.

Downes’ nonfiction title, Raw Deal: The Indians of the Midwest and the Theft of Native Lands, earned a book-of-the-year award from the Historical Society of Michigan. The State History Award will be presented Sept. 26 at the society’s annual awards ceremony in Alpena.

Published by Downes’ company, The Wandering Press, Raw Deal won in the private printing category, which recognizes works from non-university presses. Downes said he hopes the award will spark wider awareness.

“This is a huge honor and will hopefully generate more interest in the Native peoples on this side of the Mississippi and their valiant struggle to retain their homelan

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