Jon Hickey is a member of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Chippewa Indians (Anishinaabe) and author behind the 2025 literary breakout Big Chief. Set on the fictional Passage Rouge Reservation in northern Wisconsin, Big Chief follows Mitch Caddo, a young law school graduate and aspiring political fixer, as he attempts to clinch reelection for Tribal President Mack Beck. Political control of the Nation, and with it the lucrative Golden Eagle Casino and Hotel, is contested by a group of intrepid activists that include campaign manager Layla – Mitch’s estranged sister and Mack’s former love interest. Hickey’s themes and tone have earned favorable comparisons to modern classics like The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich and There, There by Tommy Orange. Among a host of glowing early reviews, fellow novelist David Heska Wanbli Weiden opines: “We’ve been waiting for the great Native American political novel, and here it is.” Rare for a debut release, Big Chief charted high on Most Anticipated Books of 2025 lists for publications as varied as The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times to LitHub.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Pandora | iHeartRadio | RSS