Product Description
This unique reader presents a broad approach to the study of American Indians through the voices and viewpoints of the Native Peoples themselves. Multi-disciplinary and hemispheric in approach, it draws on ethnography, biography, journalism, art, and poetry to familiarize students with the historical and present day experiences of native peoples and nations throughout North and South America–all with a focus on themes and issues that are crucial within Indian Country today. ... Read more

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Bruchac, coauthor of Keepers of the Animals, presents a collection of 24 Native American myths, taken from the stories of the Mohawk, Hopi, Yaqui, Haida, and others cultures, which demonstrate the power of animals in Native American tradition. Illustrations throughout. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Native animal stories
This could have been a much longer book, since there is an almost endless number of Native American stories dealing with animals. Bruchac made a good selection, though, and the stories of a wide variety of North American native peoples are represented here. All of them show the importance of animals to the Native Americans in that they are central to creation myths, as well as tales of friendship and those providing numerous survival instructions. Bruchac kept the prose simple, making this book ideal for children. Also useful is the glossary at the end, and the descriptions of tribal nations which provide a great deal of useful information on the major North American peoples. ... Read more

Product Description
The authors in this new collection reveal the vitality of the intellectual and creative work of Native women today. They examine the avenues that Native American women have chosen for creative, cultural and political expressions, and discuss points of convergence between Native American feminisms and other feminisms. This book will be of great value to researchers of Native American studies, womens studies, anthropology, cultural studies, and writing and composition. ... Read more

Product Description
The mysteries of North American archaeology are at their most provocative in the rock paintings, pictographs, and petroglyphs created by Native Americans. In a brilliant examination of early cultures and their artworks, archaeologist Conway escorts readers on a guided tour of "rock art" in North America. 120 color photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Text with Image; Image with Text
Much more than a glossy book with pretty pictures! This book combines excellent photographs with archeological perspectives and an abiding respect for the spirituality that infuses these art-making practices. I'm going to quote from the dustcover flap: "...the culmination of author Thor Conway's more-than-20-year study of Native America rock art, legends, and spirituality. In exploring and interpreting these traditions, Conway travelled from the American southwest to the rocky shores of Maine; from the Pacific...." "...presents the carved and painted images created by native artisans and shamans through the ages. It explores all aspects of rock art from the pragmatic to the mystical. How old is rock art? Why are the pictographs so amazingly durable? Why do you find a carving in some locations and a painting in others? Most importantly, what are the almost-forgotten meanings of these figures and symbols found in natural settings throughout North America?" ... Read more

Product Description
For many people, Native American architecture calls to mind the wigwam, tipi, iglu, and pueblo. Yet the richly diverse building traditions of Native Americans encompass much more, including specific structures for sleeping, working, worshipping, meditating, playing, dancing, lounging, giving birth, decision-making, cleansing, storing and preparing food, caring for animals, and honoring the dead.In effect, the architecture covers all facets of Indian life.

The collaboration between an architect and an anthropologist, Native American Architecture presents the first book-length, fully illustrated exploration of North American Indian architecture to appear in over a century. Peter Nabokov and Robert Easton together examine the building traditions of the major tribes in nine regional areas of the continent from the huge plank-house villages of the Northwest Coast to the moundbuilder towns and temples of the Southeast, to the Navajo hogans and adobe pueblos of the Southwest.Going beyond a traditional survey of buildings, the book offers a broad, clear view into the Native American world, revealing a new perspective on the interaction between their buildings and culture.Looking at Native American architecture as more than buildings, villages, and camps, Nabokov and Easton also focus on their use of space, their environment, their social mores, and their religious beliefs.

Each chapter concludes with an account of traditional Indian building practices undergoing a revival or in danger today. The volume also includes a wealth of historical photographs and drawings (including sixteen pages of color illustrations), architectural renderings, and specially prepared interpretive diagrams which decode the sacred cosmology of the principal house types. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The Pagan Pope and 'Native American Architecture'
I recently found this book, a gem, in a used book store.
The extensive research by the authors is an affirmation of an archetypal architecture or divine blueprint, that all cultures tap into.

The authors without realizing their real accomplishment, have now given us a well researched document, a blueprint with which to compare the architectural archetypes.
[...]

Wow, 'Native American Architecture' is without a doubt long overdue, it is in fact a document now on record, that helps us remove the veils and see how EAST and WEST are profoundly similar, and without realizing it, this book can be used to build bridges too.

namaste

Rafa

Complete guide to North American shelters
This book is well written, and finely illustrated. Historical photos and accurate descriptions of the structures illustrate not only how Native Americans lived, but how they built their homes, shelters and camps. This book is valuable for the historian, survivalist and primitive technologist among others. Well worth the cost!

Elegant Survival Solutions
More than a testament to Native American artistic vision and ingenuity, this book is a delightful resource for survivalists as well as historians - and for those who would just like to find ideas for less technological ways of building simple dwellings. Well illustrated with diagrams, photos and how-to drawings for constructing shelters in many different climates and with various resource limitations. Excellent, fun to read and full of eye openning ideas.

Native Homes as Sacred Spaces
This book is an excellent bioregional overview of Native American structures. What I appreciate most is the way the authors have actually shown HOW the structures were made, sometimes in actual step-by-step procedures, which would allow someone to actually build in that style and using many of the same natural materials today. Another thing I love about the book is that the authors have sincerely tried to understand my Native American relationships to all the materials and the sacredness of the spaces we created. The authors treat that understanding with respect and honor. In this day when material resources are dwindling at alarming rates and the Earth is being devastated by the mindless rape of resources, it is a reminder to us all that we can choose alternatives to conventional wood-frame homes and return to more sustainable and natural housing for our respective bioregions. This book, though maybe not necessarily intended as such, is a hands-on, how-to book for us all. It reminds us that Native Americans lived in harmony and balance with our lands and our local plant and animal family for tens of thousands of years without destroying the places in which we lived. The photographs are instructive and beautiful and the architectural-type drawings are a delight. They make the actual building of these structures possible. I use parts of this book as required reading for all my students, especially my graduate students, and have taught actual classes using this book as the text, though it is not written in a "textbook" style. It is a very readable book and most useful for these times. I recommend it highly to all. ... Read more

Product Description
Ethnographic study of Indian culture from the prehistoric to present day times, covering an area that today includes California and Nevada. A fascinating history of Indian-white relations with a section on the multicultural approach to Indian education. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good place to start in understanding our difficult past
Forbes has written a well-documented and lucid account of the local tribes in California and Nevada dealing with a succession of non-native invaders:the Spanish, the Mexican-Indian, and the Anglo-Americans.Unfortunately,these invaders used increasingly hostile forms of removal, forced laborcamps, and extermination to achieve their desires for land and resouces. Can the US criticize any nation for ethnic cleansing or genocide with sucha history? Certainly not without acknowledging our own past:this is thefresh perspective one gets from reading Forbes' book. Forbes also makesclear there has been a long process of renewal in local tribes, whichcontinues with vigor and hopefulness today. ... Read more

Product Description

Arnold Krupat, one of the most original and respected critics working in Native American studies today, offers a clear and compelling set of reasons why red—Native American culture, history, and literature—should matter to Americans more than it has to date. Although there exists a growing body of criticism demonstrating the importance of Native American literature in its own right and in relation to other ethnic and minority literatures, Native materials still have not been accorded the full attention they require. Krupat argues that it is simply not possible to understand the ethical and intellectual heritage of the West without engaging America's treatment of its indigenous peoples and their extraordinary and resilient responses.

Criticism of Native literature in its current development, Krupat suggests, operates from one of three critical perspectives against colonialism that he calls nationalism, indigenism, and cosmopolitanism. Nationalist critics are foremost concerned with tribal sovereignty, indigenist critics focus on non-Western modes of knowledge, and cosmopolitan critics wish to look elsewhere for comparative possibilities. Krupat persuasively contends that all three critical perspectives can work in a complementary rather than an oppositional fashion.

A work marked by theoretical sophistication, wide learning, and social passion, Red Matters is a major contribution to the imperative effort of understanding the indigenous presence on the American continents.

Customer Reviews (3)

Native
I have had this book for over 20 years now. Caught my interest back then. Going through my books , I came across itand brought it out to have a look-see. Now I know why it is I have it.With anIndian Heritage, I must have wanted to connect. I came arcoss an ingredient for "Culinary Wood Ash". They tell you how to make it or substitute it for baking soda. Has something to do with the mineral content. I will be reconnecting and trying a many a recipe.Has some great pictures.

Great book!
Fantastic book which includes beautiful photos of what the dishes should look like -- a must for cooks new to this genre of ethnic cooking.A lot of the recipes were similar to South American and Hispanic dishes, so it wasn't as "different"or difficult as I might have thought.All of the recipes were easy to follow -- and my guests just loved them.I highly recommend getting this book!

Native American Cooking with respect, history & flavor!
I was hunting for a recipe of Indian Frybread because we'd eaten it up at the Makah Nation's summer celebration & wanted some at home. I found Native American Cooking: Foods of the Southwest Indian Nations & gave my Southwest-raised Webmaster a palatable surprise.

I also tried Pozole because hominy has such a primal aroma & flavor - incredible & so simple! We do not, of course, eat anywhere near as elegantly as the photos which present Cornsicles, Arrowheads of Blue Cornmeal Gnocchi or Lamb Stuffed Chiles or Cactus Pad Salad with Fiery Jalapeno Dressing. However, Hohoise Ice or Prickly Pear Ice refresh us up here in our plain bowls just as well!

The Adobe Bread was heavenly, the Dandelion Salad with Mustard Greens Vinaigrette was energizing & the Picuris Indian Bread Pudding with Apricot Sauce - dreamy! What I liked the most was bringing home the sights, smells, tastes & textures of a sunburned country & its people - both in the ingredients I hunted up & Lois Ellen Frank's book.

For a taste of the American Southwest & a glimpse into what has sustained healthy & contented generations, I heartily recommend this one - the recipes work & can easily be adapted to wherever you happen to have settled. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Educational and Relaxing
This Mandala book includes information about each separate mandala including tribe specific data.The mandala's are nature oriented, detailed but not ridiculously so, and calming to color.Of the twenty or so mandala books I have purchased, this was the most interesting.

Native American Mandalas
Very nice book. I could hardly wait to get started. I illustations are great. ... Read more

Product Description
"I can think of no recent book about traditional crafts which has delighted me more than Joel Monture's Complete Guide to Traditional Native American Beadwork. All too often, books of this nature are either as boring as a repair manual, or obscure and inaccurate. Monture's triumph is that his book is not only the best and most complete book about virtually every aspect of Native American beadwork tools, materials, styles and methods, it is also clear, interesting reading. "Written from the point of view of a Native master craftsman who is also a gifted teacher, and accompanied by striking full-color photos, it can serve as either a beginning point or a lifelong reference tool. I am confident that Monture's book will bring him wide praise, not only from beadworkers, but also from any person who delights in knowing more about the meaning and the history of an indigenous artform which is finally attracting the sort of critical attention and informed appreciation it deserves." —Joseph Bruchac, author of Keepers of the Earth Includes all the basic stitches and designs Contains a special section on natural tanning methods Extensive glossary Full-color photos of authentic Native American beadwork ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Native American Beadwork & more!
This is a great book for those looking for authentic beadwork styles. The author covers a broad range of styles. He also discusses different backgrounds and even provides instruction for hide tanning.

Preserving tribal styles and techniques
The author, Joel Monture, is a professor of traditional arts at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe.His thorough textbook documents not only native American beadwork techniques, but the tedious methods of leather preparation that are necessary prior to beading.

A San Antonio local artisan, Ken Yanez, is familiar with this process of scraping, lacing and brain-tanning leather.Ken befriended a native American while in the Marines and accompanied him home to the reservation during military leaves.There, an elder showed Ken some magnificent, old beadwork.Ken was surprised to learn that the tribal youth showed little interest, including his friend.Although Ken doesn't have sufficient native American ancestry to qualify for tribal membership, he made a personal commitment to learn these techniques.Ken's projects are authentically produced but cannot be labeled as "Indian made."

Why don't tribal youth show more interest in native American craft?Preparation for beading in the native American tradition, such as brain-tanning of hides, is labor intensive, although the results are buttery-soft, making the leather pliable for decorative beading and quilling.Because of the work and time involved, few of today's tribal youth want to perpetuate the craft."Time" has become "money," so if there is interest in doing crafts in the classical tradition, it's to make some money.Ken will attest to the amount of time it took to make a cradle board for his son.He certainly couldn't sell it for a price to equal the months that he put into the project.

To offset the lack of interest in fine craft, author Joel Monture has captured the steps needed to recreate the obvious beauty inherent in native American beadwork.The book features 43 color plates of beadwork, including the styles of many North American tribes.

In one respect, Joel is preserving an anthropological record of the personal ornamentation used by various tribes by showing us the differences and similarities of style. To lose these tribal identifiers results in cultural homogeny and a disconnect with our human history.Joel's sense of history has led him to capture these artistic techniques before they are lost.

It's worth looking at.
I just got this book along with two others the other night. Haven't had the chance yet to read it completely yet. Having scanned it a bit though, I would say the section with color photos is good, particularly if you're a crafter looking for patterns. The text I've read up to this point is good and worth reading. I've had a little bit of a hard time with some of the diagarms though, particularly some of the ones dealing with hides and hide tanning. Not that I'm looking to tan hides right now, but I thought it would still be interesting to understand the process. Several of the stitch diagrams are easier to follow though. There are black and white photos as well in this book. Most came out fine, but I think a there are a few that must have had poor lighting.

beautiful book
i love indian art, traditional and contemporary. i have a small collection of northwest and inuit art.i have studied the histories of several nations.but i am not an indian.no matter how much study i may devote to indian arts and history, i will never be an indian, i will never have the intimate knowledge that comes from growing up in a culture. i would never presume to tell any member of any indian nation that his or her work was not 'traditional.'

and what, exactly, is tradtional?louise keyser, a washoe who died in 1925, created a new form of basket in the 1890s that was based on her tradition and her knowledge of other nations' traditions.this is what artists do--take what they know, build on it, and create new forms.after all, indians happily absorbed european beads into their 'traditions.'

i design my own knits, embroideries and beadwork.this book offers stunning photos and a good section on traditional color use which together give me a good starting point for my own creations and which is why i rate this book at five stars.

note on nomenclature:the indians i have known were not concerned about indian/native american.i object to native american since the indians migrated (IMmigrated) here just as everyone else has, albeit a few thousand years earlier.if i have offended any indian/native american by this use, i apologize. if a european doesn't like it, well....

Native Beadwork from a Native perspective
How interesting that the beadwork book chosen as more "authentic" by some here was written by a European from Germany! Mr. Monture is Six Nations (Mohawk, I believe) from New York State, & has taught Native Arts at the American Indian Arts Institute (a college *for* Native artists) for some years.

Again, its more about where you're from.Some could say it is 'romantized', as it doesn't go into how much work it actually is to produce hides, that its smelly, you need a lot of guidance & practice, etc.

Different tribes use different techniques, & this book is definitely written from a more northeastern tradition, perhaps difficult to appreciate as it is less known outside these communities. (Plains beadwork is usually what the mainstream usually recognizes as 'authentic'.)

That said, one probably needs a little background to get the most from this book. I do wish there was more discussion on color use and Great Lakes pattern development, but these are also skills which are best honed by doing. I enjoyed this book, which does pack a lot of information into relatively little space. The construction techniques are excellent! ... Read more

Product Description
Clearing a Path offers new models and ideas for exploring Native American history, drawing from disciplines like history, anthropology, and creative writing making this a must-read for anyone interested in the history of indigenous peoples. ... Read more

Product Description
Daniel Garrison Brinton (1837-1899), was an American archaeologist and ethnologist. During the American Civil War, he was a surgeon in the Union army, acting during 1864-1865 as surgeonin- charge of the U. S. Army general hospital at Quincy, Illinois. After the war, Brinton practiced medicine in West Chester, Pennsylvania for several years; was the editor of a weekly periodical - the Medical and Surgical Reporter, in Philadelphia from 1874 to 1887; became professor of ethnology and archaeology in the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia in 1884; and was professor of American linguistics and archaeology in the University of Pennsylvania from 1886 until his death. His works include: The Myths of the New World (1868), The Religious Sentiment (1876), American Hero-Myths (1882), Aboriginal American Authors (1883), The Lenape and Their Legends (1885), The Annals of the Cakchiquels (1885), Ancient Nahuatl Poetry (1887), The Pursuit of Happiness (1893), A Primer of Mayan Hieroglyphics (1895) and Religions of Primitive People (1897). In addition, he edited and published a Library of American Aboriginal Literature (8 vols. 1882-1890), a valuable contribution to the science of anthropology in America. ... Read more

Product Description
Representing the work of thirty-one poets since the turn of the century, this is the definitive anthology of Native American poetry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Pretty good
I guess I was expecting old Native American poetry.This is all contemporary poets.Good, just not what I was expecting.

Harpers Anthology of 20th Century Native American Poetry
More than 100 poems being written today, Native American poetry is the poetry of historic witness. It comes out the past, which is the present. This book tells stories about people, animals and how they live. These poems are mostly about Navajos in different states like Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico

If you're a person that loves to read poetry than this is a book that will sweep you off your feet and into another world. The poems I liked the best was "If I love you", and "Bear: a totem dance as seen by raven." "If I love you" is about a person trying to tell someone if they really care and what they see inside. "Bear: A totem dance as seen by raven" is about a bear who dances like a man but slowly and in the night he could hear the raven cry. The bear dances with elders and children's. They were both awesome. It felt like I was in the poem when I was reading it.

These poems are the real thing . . .
Whether you are Native American or not, I would highly recommend this book. These poems reverberate through the blood and the bone. This is my favorite anthology (and I have a pretty hefty personal poetry library). Igo nowhere without it! These poems are real . . . ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Nothing "Native American" About this Book Whatsoever
The title of this book is an outright insult to the Native American People.There is nothing Native American about any of it.Not only that, a child is capable of creating better quality beadwork than what is included here.I can't believe this woman would want people to see the poor quality of her workmanship and the obvious lack of quality of the beads she chooses.Stay far away from this book.Glad I got it from the library because if I'd bought it, I'd have taken it back.

THE ONLY THING "NATIVE AMERICAN" IN THIS BOOK IS A PICTURE
NOTHING Native about this book! Beaded Napkin Holders? Greeting Cards? Picture Frames? Clutch Bags? Cords for Glasses? Book Mark? I was looking for Native American designs in bead weaving. My Elders would of had a laugh and been insulted by the Author's use of the word "Native." Check it out of the library if you can find it. DO not waste your money! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (9)

Book is beautiful but not that great
I saw this book and thought it looked great until I started looking more closely.After reviewing the page on Indian War's era I was very put off.The map was inaccurate and the information was biased.I felt that if there were so many mistakes on those two pages the rest of the book was probably flawed as well.

good stuff
good book. Alot of information. Not a tonof reading to it, but there are plenty of pictures

The Native American Experience
For several years I have been trying to find a good book on the history of native americans.I first saw this book in a book store for fifty dollars and I didn't have the money then.I was so disappointed because I had finally found that book that I have been looking for for so long.I came home that night and found it at Amazon for much less then at the book store so I bought it, by far the best book I have ever purchased.I absolutely love it and if you are interested in native american history you will not be disappointed, you have got to own this book.

Love this book!
"The Native American Experience" which is designed in the DK eyewitness genre consists of historical images that are silhouetted or vignetted with large photos ghosted in the backgrounds. Removable facsimile documents in the form of parchment papers and maps are inserted or glued into the book. It has a total scrap book feel and slides into a slip-case. Aside from being informative and a bit busy, it is well designed. The Navaho rug pattern cover and the slip case say it all! I originally checked it out of the library and it became "a must have" for my collection.

Definitely an "Experience"
This book, with all it's inserts, maps, and documents, is an incredible buy even at the list price of $45.indispensable for anyone interested in Native American history. ... Read more

Product Description
A captivating collection of photographs of tribal leadersat a critical and poignant moment in Native American historyThese hauntingly beautiful Native American portraits reflect thetragic history of the Cheyenne, Sioux, Pawnee, Cherokee, and othertribes whose leaders traveled to Washington in the mid-nineteenthcentury to negotiate treaties with the U.S. government. As compellingas the famous photographs of Edward S. Curtis, these unique imagesprovide a close-up, unromanticized record of Native American life atthe beginning of the great westward expansion of U.S. territory. Thephotographs form the core not only of the Smithsonian’s extensivecollection of Native American photographs but of many collections inmuseums around the world.

Paula Fleming recounts the intriguing history of this collection,which was the Smithsonian’s—and perhaps the country’s—firstphotographic exhibit. A succinct biography of A. Zeno Shindler, thephotographer, is followed by a thoughtful examination of the keyevents surrounding the Indian delegations in Washington. The 325halftones are accompanied by the correct identifications of theimages, providing for the first time a comprehensive picture of apoignant moment in history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Smithsonian Native American Photography
I got the book for my husband per his request and as usually after so many days or weeks he decides he does not want it anymore but wants something different and back and forth we go.He drives me up a wall.I did see a few pictures and I thought they were nice pictures.

Native American Photography
I bought this book as a gift for some friends.They have really enjoyed reading the book and viewing the pictures.This book is great if you are interested in Native American photography and history. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Incredible reading material
This book is full of wonderful stories, legends, myths for anyone interested in Native Americans.

Another Beautiful Anthology
Subtitled `A Spiritual Traditional at One with Nature', this is yet another beautiful collection of poems from the mystical anthologist, Alan Jacobs, whose `Poetry for the Spirit' is already a modern-day classic.

This beautiful and inspiring collection of prose and poetry, songs and speeches draws from the words of the great Native American Indians - chiefs, medicine men and members of native tribes.

The book is also greatly enhanced by a scholarly introduction by Dr Mick Gidley, Emeritus Professor of American Studies at the University of Leeds.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in poetry: what sets this exquisite volume apart is its return to the ancient traditions of the Americas, a genre that is often overlooked. And yet, many of the poems are surprisingly modern:

`Song of an Initiate'

climbed the blue staircase up to the sky
climbed where the roses were opening
where roses were speaking

heard nothingnothing to hear
heard silence

I climbed the roses were singing
where the gods were waiting
blue staircase up in the sky

but heard nothingnothing to hear
heard silencesilence
[Anon]

Highly recommended. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

WOW!Whata wonderful Book!
I had never found any book that guided me on a spiritual experience. I have heard a lot about Shamanic journey but I had no idea that it was, as wonderful, as this. I can see and visit spirit all the time. I think anyonewho is loooking for a spiritual experience should read this book. The artis wonderful. Thank you Wolf Moondance for your words. You are in myprayers-always. Ralph Grin

Rainbow Journeys
This is a beauty. The art is wonderful. The journeys are grand. You can't miss this one, you'll love it!

Journey towards your happiness!
I received a signed copy of Rainbow Spirit Journeys as a gift from the author, and I would like to rave about how wonderful this work is.Having read all of the author's works, I was looking forward to this book.Wolf Moondance's creativity abounds as she instructs and guides readers on howto journey about Spirit, Money, Death, Marriage, Spirtual Path, Bad Habits,Sleep, Empowerment, and Children.Along with excellent written instructionon meditations (journeys) and dreams, the book includes magical watercolorwork by Connie Seabourn.With the combination of Wolf's talented writingand the full page color watercolor magic by Ms. Seabourn, this is sure towin over any reader's heart. Please do yourself a favor and buy a copy foryourself, and one for someone you love.Wolf Moondance also has acreative, spiritual web site, the home of Rainbow Medicine, SpiritMedicine, Star Medicine, and Bone Medicine. ... Read more

Product Description
The only book about the landmark trial of the first Native American to be recognized legally as a person-"an eloquent reminder of a fight well fought."-Kirkus

In a federal courtroom in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1879, Standing Bear, clan chief of the small and peaceful Ponca tribe, was in court demanding the same basic right that white Americans enjoyed-the right to be recognized legally as a human being. The compelling, behind-the-scenes story of that landmark court case, and the subsequent reverberations of the judge's ruling across nineteenth-century America is told in Stephen Dando-Collin's "brisk and evocative account" (Kirkus). It is a story of memorable Old West characters who joined to fight for Standing Bear and paved his way to the courthouse-the former Indian-fighting Army general who changed sides to stand with Standing Bear, the crusading Midwestern newspaper editor who had once been a gun-toting frontier preacher, and the "most beautiful Indian maiden of her time," Bright Eyes. Full of colorful characters, battles of legal wits, and the twists and turns of a cause in search of an audience, Standing Bear Is a Person is a captivating read."Dando-Collins captures the full drama of Standing Bear's struggle, which culminates in a riveting courtroom scene...fascinating." -Booklist ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A Great Story With Fascinating Historical Characters
Dee Brown wrote a chapter on the case in Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, but it was a story that needed fleshing out.
Gen. Crook, Thomas Tibbles and the Omaha Indian Bright Eyes are all fascinating characters on their own, and their stories converge in one of the most important legal cases in Native American history.
I bought Standing Bear is a Person to see if Dando-Collins did service to this fascinating story.
For those who don't know, Standing Bear was a Ponca Indian who along with his people were forced out of their homeland in northwest Nebraska and resettled under god-awful conditions in Indian Territory (Now Oklahoma). He and a small band of his followers escaped and made their way north in an effort to bury the remains of his son on their ancestral lands.
He was captured, but the crusading journalist Tibbles, took up his cause along with Gen. Crook, Bright Eyes and some powerful Nebraska attorneys. They all came together to help Standing Bear sue for his right to be considered a "person" rather than a ward of the state, in the eyes of the law.
I'm happy to say that Dando-Collins did an outstanding job of telling this story, portraying the characters and keeping the narrative flowing.
It made me proud to be a Nebraskan. Over and over again, sympathetic whites from the state rallied to the Ponca cause. I'm sure there were plenty in the 1870s and 1880s who had animosity for the Nebraska tribes. In fact, most Native Americans were kicked out of the state by the time this account took place. But many Omaha citizens saw the injustice here and did what they could to right a wrong.
A few years ago, the Republicans in the Nebraska legislature had the opportunity to put Standing Bear on the back of the state quarter. They sadly passed up the opportunity.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes a great narrative nonfiction.
Stew Magnuson
Author of "The Death of Raymond Yellow Thunder."

A good review of the Standing Bear controversy
This is a pretty good book on the Standing Bear controversy of 1879.By the end of the book, you will feel that you learned a lot about the events and the people involved.However, the footnotes are a joke as the references are cited without any corresponding page numbers.One large error occurred in the final chapter when Mr. Dando-Collins quickly tells when each of the main characters of the book, and some secondary ones, died.He forgot to include Thomas Henry Tibbles, one of the two main characters.I can't believe that no one picked this up.Doesn't anyone edit books anymore?Also, it is clear during the reading of this book that religion, or more specifically Christianity, played a huge role in the events.I feel this deserved some mention and introspection.On the one hand the Christian's believed God wanted them to have the land (Manifest Destiny) while on the other some, after the fact, wanted to defend the Indians.But why, was it to push their Christian views and make the Indians Christians and would they have helped Standing Bear if he always maintained his traditional beliefs?Most authors don't have the nerve to address this and those who believe in Christianity are probably incapable of seeing the wrong in it.

A "Must Read" for anyone interested in Native American history
It took me about 30 pages to get into this book, but I was hooked from then on.Despite extensive reading about Native American history, I had never known the process or participants involved in granting Native people their rights as citizens.This book is factual, thought-provoking, and alternately sad and uplifting, but most of all it is interesting.The chapter about the trial, which ends with Standing Bear's address to Judge Dundy and the courtroom audience, made me cry.If Native Americans were considered savages, then what were we.The simple eloquence of this "PERSON" , his wisdom and the true humanity he posessed can be found in his words documented in this book.An excellent read and a "Keeper".

First-Rate story
A friend recommended this book, and I am glad that I read it.This is a heart-felt tale of human determination to right a terrible injustice.The story of how American Indians came to be recognized by the courts as humans, and hence worthy of asserting their rights, is particularly timely in this era of indefinite detentions of "enemy combatants."

A compelling story
I prefer novels, but my book group 'makes' me read historical works every so often.And, I'm glad, because otherwise I would not know the incredible story of Standing Bear.

Actually, this is the story of the many people who sought justice for the Native Americans.From an army general, to a newspaper editor, to clergy, to attorneys - many people fought for the rights of the Standing Bear.

As a Presbyterian minister, living in Nebraska, this book makes me proud of the ancestors that have gone before me. ... Read more