“Chris La Tray was a true pleasure to work with. He is a one-of-a-kind public speaker and a compelling storyteller! The audience was rapt from his first words to his last. His next visit to Bend and the High Desert Museum can’t come soon enough!” — High Desert Museum, 2025
“I am immensely grateful for the time and energy that Chris La Tray dedicated to spending time with us at the American Prairie Field School. Sharing time out on the prairie was truly a magical experience. His Haiku story was a powerful reminder of the importance of storytelling as a form of self-expression and that our own poetry does not have to follow any rules. The way that Chris creatively braided cultural narratives with the beauty of the prairie, nurtured a deeper connection for the students to their heritage and the land. The world is a better place with Chris’ voice riding the wind. I look forward to welcoming Chris back to the prairie in the future, as it was a privilege to learn from such a big-hearted and genuine person.” — Dusty Rixford, Education Coordinator, American Prairie Field School 2024
“One sentence a day. It sounds simple. But that is only because Chris La Tray has a way of making you believe that everything is poetry as long as you are paying attention. And the students at our school were doing just that- paying attention and engaging with all the challenging subjects Mr. La Tray presented. In one of the best school assemblies of my nearly 30 year career, he educated and inspired our students to believe that not only are we all connected but that each of their voices was just as important as the beautiful words of Montana’s Poet Laureate. Migwech for this Métis Storyteller.” — Chani Craig, Librarian, Whitefish Middle School
“Chris La Tray is a compelling presenter and teacher on Indigenous topics. His expertise in storytelling, coupled with his deep cultural insights, makes him an exceptional speaker for diverse audiences. Chris recently delivered the keynote at the 17th Annual Indian Education for All Best Practices Conference in Billings, MT, where his presentation resonated deeply with attendees.” — Annual Indian Education for All Best Practices Conference
“Chris La Tray’s authenticity, humor, and profound insights make him a must-have speaker for any event focused on education, storytelling, or cultural understanding.” — Jennifer Stadum, Indian Education for All Implementation Specialist, Montana Office of Public Instruction
“Chris La Tray has built a life around storytelling, teaching, and connecting. His art is a mechanism, a mode of doing in the world, and also of discovering, dismantling, deconstructing, and demystifying. As an instructor with Freeflow Institute, Chris shares truths and myths alike, always with an eye toward illuminating injustice, mending fractured relationships, and witnessing the quotidian magic of our shared world with heart and eyes wide open. It is a joy to adventure alongside Chris on rivers and trails through the physical world, and also through the wilds of our collective imaginations.” — Chandra Brown, Founder and Director, Freeflow Institute
“Chris visited our community a month ago and we are still talking about how his presence affected us. He was impassioned, assertive, approachable, and dynamic. His stories unified and inspired. Moreover, he is a pleasure to work with and eager to collaborate, which makes the entire process enjoyable for facilitators. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to host him and grateful that he contributes to the potential of small communities.” — Caroline Joan Peixoto, Director, River Arts & Books
“Chris is a captivating speaker and has such a way with words. I have seen him connect with a variety of audiences. He is flexible to the occasion without sacrificing his own values and style. When speaking at Montana Conservation Voters’ Annual Celebration, Chris delivered a powerful message that invited people to explore their place in history and how that knowledge can be used to better protect our natural world. Chris also agreed to record a Public Service Announcement targeting Indigenous audiences about the importance of voting. His message was passionate and eloquent. Throughout all of this, Chris was easy and enjoyable to work with. I am excited to see Chris on one of our Get Out the Vote billboards and to hear his words on the radio!” — Jocelyn Leroux, Deputy Director, Montana Conservations Voters
“Chris La Tray is a compelling storyteller who draws in reflection as a listener, integrating humor and wisdom. He is generous when speaking to a group of settlers, acknowledging historical atrocities, while inviting a shared experience of being human.” — Erin Butts, Assistant Professor, Carroll College, Helena, MT
“Chris recently led a week-long retreat at Ring Lake Ranch on ‘Poetry as Spiritual Practice.’ His leadership of the sessions with our guests was focused and structured but also open to conversation with the group throughout the week. His personal manner was genuine, relaxed, and inviting. Our guests appreciated both his ability to share his personal story and writing as well as to allow them to share their own experiences. His was one of the most compelling retreats we have offered in my twelve-year history of leading Ring Lake Ranch and we hope to invite him back in the future.” — Andy Blackmun, Director, Ring Lake Ranch, Dubois, WY
“When Chris La Tray appeared as a guest in a live webinar in an online Native American Studies for Teachers course that I taught, he wowed the participants through his deep and personal knowledge of the topic, and his articulate presentation of facts and correction of misconceptions. They also appreciated Chris’ graceful directness and humor, and many of the 115 students named him as their favorite speaker out of 15 featured. It is also important to note that Chris volunteered for a second round when another of the speakers was late, and then Chris stayed on and naturally worked into a conversation with that speaker. Chris is always able to change plans, adjust seamlessly, and pull together a professional and heartfelt appearance.” — Anna East, Ed.D., Founder, Chickadee Community Services, 2014 Montana Teacher of the Year
“I have seen Chris La Tray in classrooms, prisons, campus gatherings, onstage, and beside rivers, and have signed reimbursement checks for the thousands of miles he has driven across Montana as our Poet Laureate. Whether with felons or fourth-graders, he lifts up the wonder of our shared human story, and the dignity of our common search to find our true home.” — Krys Holmes, Executive Director, Montana Arts Council
“It is with great enthusiasm that I recommend Chris La Tray as a guest speaker. Chris recently joined us for our 26th Annual August Institute, for educators across the state of Montana. The audience of teachers were enthralled with Chris’s presence as soon as he began speaking. It was clear that he possessed an extraordinary depth of knowledge and a genuine passion for the subject matter. Chris’s presentation on being an indigenous student within the public education system was not only informative but also engaging, filled with insightful anecdotes and practical takeaways that resonated deeply with our audience. Chris’s ability to connect with listeners and communicate complex and often controversial topics in a relatable and approachable manner is truly a rarity in today’s world. He skillfully adapted his message to suit the diverse interests and backgrounds of our attendees, ensuring that everyone walked away with valuable insights. I wholeheartedly recommend Chris La Tray to any organization seeking a dynamic and knowledgeable speaker. He will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression and deliver a presentation that is both inspiring and impactful.” — Jessica N. Johnson, M.Ed., Executive Director, MTPLC (Montana Professional Learning Collaborative)