The life of an American Indian living on a reservation is only known to those who experience it. Through his collection of poems, Niizh Makwa, allows his readers to experience the struggles he's had to overcome.

"These poems focus on everything my people live with, every hard corner we have to go around," Makwa said.

Makwa began his collection of poems after the death of his grandfather when he was just a sixth-grader. He has continued to write sporadically, and is finally a published author at the age of 29.

"This is my first book, but there will be more," Makwa said.

The "Red Man's Diaries" is heavily influenced by Makwa's background and heritage. His goal with the book is to help people understand the lives that Native Americans live in today's society and how much racism and stereotypes affect them.

"It just makes me feel that the truths are there for everyone to see," Makwa said.

Most of the poems in the book were written while he was living on Turtle Mountain Reservation. Even though he no longer lives on the reservation, the Bismarck resident plans to continue to devote more and more time to his writing.

"Iam starting to dedicate more of my life to writing," Makwa said. "I focus a heavy amount of time on it."

The book was officially published on Dec. 17. Makwa will be signing books at Barnes and Noble beginning at noon Feb. 2.

For more information, go to Makwa's Web site at http://www.freewebs.com/redmansdiaries/authorbio.htm.

(Kay Kemmet is a student at Bismarck High School.)