Short reviews of new books by, and about, Native Americans (long)
Steve Brock
Americans:
INDIAN AMERICA: A TRAVELER'S COMPANION by Eagle/Walking Turtle.
John Muir Publications, P.O. Box 613, Santa Fe, NM 87504, (800)
888-7504, (505) 988-1680 FAX. Illustrated, maps, index, glossary,
bibliography, three appendices. 460 pp., $18.95 paper. 1-56261-
110-0.
REVIEW
Eagle/Walking Turtle has assembled a guide that outlines a
multitude of places to visit Indian tribes, but allows the traveler
little cultural comprehension. There's a bit of history in each of
the sections of the book (west, southwest, northwest, great plains,
etc.), but not nearly enough to help the visitor understand what
they are observing. A typical description provides information on
the location, ceremony\powwow dates, arts and crafts, and a short
characterization. Much information hasn't been updated. For
example, the entry for the Ute Mountain Ute tribe doesn't include
the opening of the Sky Ute casino. Appendices provide data on the
locations of Alaska tribes and the dates of powwows and ceremonies.
Recommended only if the buyer also purchases additional background
information.
INDIAN LIVES: ESSAYS ON NINETEENTH- AND TWENTIETH-CENTURY NATIVE
AMERICAN LEADERS, edited by L. G. Moses and Raymond Wilson.
University of New Mexico Press, 1720 Lomas Blvd. N.E., Albuquerque,
NM 87131-1591, (505) 277-2346, (505) 277-9270 FAX. Illustrated,
index, notes, essay on sources. 237 pp., $13.95 paper. 0-8263-
0815-5.
REVIEW
Originally published in 1985, this new printing contains biogra-
phies of eight Indian leaders (Maris Bryant Pierce, Nampeyo, Dr.
Susan LaFlesche Picotte, Henry Chee Dodge, Charles Curtis, Luther
Standing Bear, Minnie Kellogg, and Peterson Zah) who attracted
notice for their outstanding efforts on behalf of their tribes.
Many of those portrayed here were not born into tribes, but used,
as did Charles Curtis, the Indianness they possessed to improve the
lives of those they represented. New to this edition is additional
information on the life of Peterson Zah. Highly recommended.
THE NATIVE AMERICAN SWEAT LODGE: HISTORY AND LEGENDS by Joseph
Bruchac. The Crossing Press, P.O. Box 1048, Freedom, CA 95019,
(800) 777-1048, (408) 722-2749. Illustrated, index, bibliography.
145 pp., $12.95 paper. 0-89594-636-X
REVIEW
The prolific Bruchac has written a respective and respectable
treatise on the sweat lodge - describing its history (sweat lodge
ceremonies were banned by the U.S. government in the late 1800s),
different designs, and its place in the myths (creation, testing,
trickster, and healing) of several different tribes. I wonder,
though, about Bruchac's intended audience. If this is meant to be
an anthropological treatment of the subject, he goes over old, yet
welcome, terrain. If it is a guide for non-Indians to understand
the traditions and religious aspects of sweat ceremonies, this may
be a constructive summation. To his merit, Bruchac, while
cautiously encouraging non-Indian sweats, states his opposition to
the commercialization of Native American religious practices, such
as the paying of "purportedly Indian teachers" to lead sweats. The
book, for either audience, is recommended.
NARRATIVE CHANCE: POSTMODERN DISCOURSE ON NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN
LITERATURES, edited by Gerald Vizenor. University of Oklahoma
Press, 1005 Asp Ave., Norman, OK 73019, (800) 627-7377, (405) 325-
5000 FAX. Index, notes. 234 pp., $14.95 paper. 0-8061-2561-6
REVIEW
Vizenor, professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of Califor-
nia at Berkeley, has gathered an impressive and lively collection
of essays that investigate several postmodern themes in Native
American literature. Among the subjects analyzed are representa-
tion and translation, the interrelatedness of comic and tragic
worldviews, and of course, the image of the trickster. Examined,
among others, are the works of Leslie Marmon Silko ("Ceremony,"
"Storyteller"), Louise Erdrich ("Love Medicine"), N. Scott Momaday
("The Way to Rainy Mountain"), D'Arcy McNickle ("The Surrounded"),
and Gerald Vizenor ("Darkness in Saint Louis Bearheart").
"Narrative Chance" is essential to understanding how each author
has contributed to the changing landscape of postmodern Native
American fiction, and is highly recommended as a textbook for
classes in Native American literature.
THE SOUL OF AN INDIAN, AND OTHER WRITINGS FROM OHIYESA (CHARLES
ALEXANDER EASTMAN), edited by Kent Nerburn, Ph.D. New World
Library, 58 Paul Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903, (800) 227-3900, (800)
632-2122 in California, (415) 472-6131 FAX. 128 pp., $12.95 cloth.
1-880032-23-6
REVIEW
"...the God of the civilized and the God of the primitive,
is after all the same God; and that this God does not measure
our differences, but embraces all who live rightly and humbly
on the earth." -- Ohiyesa
Ohiyesa, a Santee Dakota, lived a frustrated life in both the
Native and white worlds. As a child, Ohiyesa was educated in the
traditional teachings. His father, however, saw the Native way of
live being extinguished and sent him to Dartmouth and Boston
University to learn medicine. The student changed his name to
Charles Alexander Eastman. After experiencing the corruption of
Indian agents upon his return to Pine Ridge, South Dakota, Eastman
spent the rest of his life trying to bring Natives and whites to a
greater understanding of each other. This small gift book contains
short inspirational passages from Ohiyesa's writings, from the love
of nature to the moral strength of women to the Indian sense of
rightness and justice. This is an appropriate gift for an occasion
where encouragement and strength are required.
SINGING FOR POWER: THE SONG OF THE PAPAGO INDIANS OF SOUTHERN
ARIZONA by Ruth Murray Underhill. University of Arizona Press,
1230 N. Park, #102, Tucson, AZ 85719, (800) 426-3797, (602) 882-
3065 in Arizona, (602) 621-8899 FAX. The University of Arizona
Press online catalogue and order form may be accessed from the
Internet by telneting to INFO.CCIT.ARIZONA.EDU. Login as INFO.
From the Main Menu choose 5 (On-line Information Services), 3
(University of Arizona Information), 1 (Campus Services), and 4
(University of Arizona Press). Illustrated. 174 pp., $9.95 paper.
0-8165-1401-1
REVIEW
In this new edition of the 1938 original, Underhill relates the
songs that the Papago (the Spanish name for the Tohono O'odham)
sing as magic and therapy to cope with the harsh desert environment
in which they reside. In their songs, Underhill says, the Papago
"called upon the powers of Nature and constrained them to man's
will." In the early 1900s, the song was their most precious
possession. The most reverent songs are sung to the bring the most
sacred substance - rain. Over 50 songs are reproduced, along with
commentary on their context. As the Tohono O'odham are becoming
less dependent on the natural world for their existence, their
songs become increasingly important as a source of wisdom. Highly
recommended.
WOUNDED KNEE 1973: A PERSONAL ACCOUNT by Stanley David Lyman.
University of Nebraska Press (Bison Imprint), 901 N. 17th St.,
Lincoln, NE 68588-0520, (800) 755-1105, (402) 472-6214 FAX. The
University of Nebraska Press online catalog is available on the
Internet by telneting to CRCVMS.UNL.EDU, username INFO, choosing
UNIVERSITY PRESS, and ONLINE CATALOG. Illustrated, index, map,
list of additional readings. 320 pp., $9.95 paper. 0-8032-7933-7
REVIEW
Lyman was the Bureau of Indian Affairs superintendent at Pine Ridge
when members of the American Indian Movement began a seventy-one-
day occupation of the small town of Wounded Knee, a symbolic
gesture that harkened back to the 1890 massacre of 150 tribal
members by the U.S. Cavalry. Lyman's personal account is in the
form of a diary, which details his frustration with those on both
sides of the conflict. This is a well-written, if not entirely
unbiased, narrative of the events that began with impeachment
proceedings against Tribal Chairman Dick Wilson, grew into an armed
standoff, and ended with the deaths of two Indians and the serious
wounding of a U.S. marshal. Recommended.
TOUCHING THE FIRE: BUFFALO DANCING, THE SKY BUNDLE, AND OTHER TALES
by Roger Welsch. Fawcett Columbine, 201 E. 50th St., N.Y., NY
10022, (800) 638-6460, (212) 572-6030 FAX. 295 pp., $10.00 paper.
0-449-90869-0
REVIEW
This are the stories and myths of a fictional tribe called the
Turtle Creek Nehawkas, loosely based on those of several Nebraska
tribes (notably the Omaha, Pawnee, and Lakota). Welsch, adopted
into the Omaha tribe in 1967 as Tenuga Gahi - Bull Buffalo Chief,
relates the unwritten Nehawka history, the tribe's religious
beliefs, and its sacred bundle: the artifacts, songs, and dances,
which give the tribe its identity, the sanctity of which Anglos
continue to violate. Some of the stories are tragic, some are
uplifting, some are bursting with satiric wit, and all have been
going on forever. Highly recommended.
TWO OLD WOMEN: AN ALASKA LEGEND OF BETRAYAL, COURAGE, AND SURVIVAL
by Velma Wallis. Epicenter Press, 18821 64th Ave. N.E., Seattle,
WA 98155, (800) 452-3032. Illustrated, map. 159 pp., $16.95
cloth. 0-945397-18-6
REVIEW
The winner of the 1993 Western States Book Award in the creative
nonfiction category, Wallis recounts the Athabaskan Indian legend
of two elderly women who are abandoned when their tribe experiences
an unusually harsh winter and run low on food. The tribe barely
survives until spring, and the next winter is just as bad. When
the tribe finds itself back in the place where they had abandoned
the women, they send out scouts to find traces of them. When found
in good health, the women must now decide whether to save those who
had betrayed them. A penetrating story, perfect for reading aloud.
A CIRCLE OF NATIONS: VOICES AND VISIONS OF AMERICAN INDIANS, edited
by John Gattuso. Beyond Words Publishing, 13950 NW Pumpkin Ridge
Road, Hillsboro, OR 97123, (800) 284-9673, (503) 647-5114 FAX.
Illustrated, notes. 128 pp., $39.95 cloth. 0-941831-90-6
REVIEW
This striking combination of essays, poems, and photographs by a
who's who of Native American writers and artists is a celebration
of life from a unique and creative viewpoint. These are the words
and faces of pain, oppression, survival, and endurance. The
authors include Leslie Marmon Silko (who provides the forward to
the book), Simon Ortiz, Joy Harjo, Paula Gunn Allen, Michael
Dorris, Linda Hogan, Gabriel Horn (White Deer of Autumn), Debra
Calling Thunder, and the photographers include Joe Martin Cantrell,
David Neel, Nancy Ackerman, Larry Gus, Greg Staats, and Kenny
Blackbird. This warm and spirited volume is an exquisite work,
sure to be an award-winner and perfect as a gift. Highly recom-
mended.
SELU: SEEKING THE CORN-MOTHER'S WISDOM by Marilou Awiakta. Fulcrum
Publishing, 350 Indiana St., Suite 350, Golden, CO 80401, (800)
992-2908, (303) 279-7111. Illustrated, index, notes. 352 pp.,
$19.95 cloth. 1-55591-144-7
REVIEW
There is no higher compliment than having a Cherokee Indian offer
to share corn with you. To them and many other tribes, corn isn't
just the grain that is eaten, but a spiritual entity that gives the
people strength to survive. In order to grow it, people must
cooperate. In order for the harvest to be abundant, they must
maintain a balance and harmony of water, soil, and sun. Cherokee
poet Marilou Awiakta blends stories, poems, and essays to apply
Selu's wisdom to contemporary issues such as the Tellico Dam
controversy ("Arrow of Warning and Hope"), nuclear power ("Baring
the Atom's Mother Heart"), gender and sex ("Selu and the Sex
Expert"), and politics ("Cooperation and Government"). Awiakta
gives readers a sometimes not-so-gentle poke in the Adam's rib,
reminding us that only in balance is life sustained. Eye-opening
and splendidly written.
THE CROW AND THE EAGLE: A TRIBAL HISTORY FROM LEWIS AND CLARK TO
CUSTER by Keith Algier. Caxton Printers, 312 Main Street,
Caldwell, Idaho, 83605-3299, (800) 657-6405, (208) 459-7450 FAX.
Illustrated, index, notes, bibliography, maps. 415 pp., $14.95
paper. 0-87004-357-9
REVIEW
Algier, a retired professor from Eastern Kentucky University,
chronicles the history of the Crow Indian Nation, who had to
contend with other tribes, as well as whites, to retain their
picturesque homeland. The Eagle, in this case, is the U.S.
government, who used subtle, then increasingly obvious means, to
make the Crow dependent on them for their livelihood. A satisfac-
tory representation, written for general readers as well as history
buffs.
BLACK ELK: HOLY MAN OF THE OGLALA by Michael F. Steltenkamp.
University of Oklahoma Press, 1005 Asp Ave., Norman, OK 73019,
(800) 627-7377, (405) 325-5000 FAX. Illustrated, index, notes,
bibliography, maps. 235 pp., $19.95 cloth. 0-8061-2541-1
REVIEW
This book departs from those that primarily investigate Black Elk's
early life. Instead, Steltenkamp, using information obtained from
Black Elk's daughter Lucy Looks Twice, analyzes Black Elk's later
years, his conversion to the Catholic religion, his attempts to
minister to members of his tribe, and the use of the "Two Roads
Map" as a catechist (good behavior is the "red road," evil acts are
the "black road"). He concludes that Black Elk retained the "power
to live" well into his later years, challenging his peers to act
responsibly. Combined with "Black Elk Speaks," and "The Sacred
Pipe," the entire life of Black Elk is now illuminated. Though
this book will not be highly regarded by Lakota traditionals, it is
recommended.
THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE DANGEROUS: DIALOGUES WITH THE ZUNI INDIANS by
Barbara Tedlock. Books, 375 Hudson St., N.Y., NY 10014, (800)
253-2304, (212) 366-2666 FAX. Illustrated, index, bibliography,
discography, notes. 349 pp., $12.00 paper. 0-14-017812-0
REVIEW
Anthropologist Tedlock (SUNY Buffalo) lived with the Zuni for
extended periods over the last 20 years. In this "narrative
ethnology," her dialogues are personal, and the reader comes to
feel that they are also present, listening to Zuni discourses on
myth and religion, art, medicine, and the natural world, as well as
alcoholism and domestic violence. This is a valuable work, a rare
glimpse into the contemporary lives of the Zuni. Highly recommend-
ed.
THE LANCE AND THE SHIELD: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF SITTING BULL by
Robert M. Utley. Henry Holt and Company, Inc., 115 W. 18th St.,
N.Y., NY 10011, (800) 488-5233, (212) 633-0748. Illustrated,
index, notes, list of sources, maps. 429 pp., $25.00 cloth.
0-8050-1274-5
REVIEW
Medicine man, warrior, Lakota Chief, victor (with Crazy Horse) at
Little Bighorn, and eventually a member of Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild
West Show, Sitting Bull (Tatanka Iyotanka), is a lasting reminder
of bravery, wisdom, and kindness. Utley's portrayal of Sitting
Bull is packed with memorable events: receiving a white eagle
feather for his first coup, his differences of opinion with Crazy
Horse and Red Cloud about how to react to white encroachment, his
escape to Canada, and his return to live on a reservation and tour
with Cody. Sitting Bull foretold his death (he dreamed that one of
his own would kill him), and he was shot (some say accidently) by
an Indian policeman in 1890. A note to readers of this review on
Nativenet: there is a chapter titled "Wasichu." This is a
revealing and inspirational story, and "The Lance and the Shield"
is highly recommended.
AMERICAN INDIAN LAW DESKBOOK, by the Conference of Western
Attorney's General, Nicholas J. Spaeth, chair of the editing
committee. University Press of Colorado, P.O. Box 849, Niwot, CO
80544, (303) 530-5337, (303) 530-5306 FAX. Index, bibliography,
table of statutes and codes, table of cases. 484 pp., $49.95
cloth. 0-87081-269-6
REVIEW
While not meant to replace the voluminous "Federal Indian Law" by
Getches and Wilkinson, this guide is a welcome aid for those who
need a quick secondary reference to laws, cases, and essays on the
background of our changing relations with the tribes of Indian
Country. A collaborative effort of the Attorney General's offices
of ten western states, the deskbook outlines historical and current
developments in the areas of land use and rights, criminal law,
civil rights, water rights, hunting and fishing regulations,
environmental regulation, taxation, gaming, child welfare, and
other cooperative agreements. While not the definitive treatise on
the subject, this will be, nonetheless, a tremendously helpful
document for students and policymakers. A highly recommended text
for classes on Native American policy.