Native American Books

IntroductionCall from the Old OnesTHE WEST--Invocation--From the Old Ones--Crossroads: Movement into Change--West Exercises I. Born of Water II. Tears of Water--West Visualization: The Sea Journey--The Silver Thread I: The Story of Sea--The West Ritual: Hecate--West Invocation ChantTHE NORTH--Invocation--From the Old Ones--Crossroads: Movement into Power--North Exercises: I. Into the Silence II. Holding a Mountain III. Into the Dark--North Visualization: The Heart of the Mountain--THe Silver Thead II. The Story of Night--the NOrth Ritual: The Ancients--North Invocation and ChantsTHE EAST--Invocation--From the OLd Ones--Crossroads: Movement into Vision--East Exercises: I. Beginnings II. Faces of the Altar--East Visualization--The Silver THread III: The Story of Little Bird--East Ritual: Taking Flight--East Invocation and ChantsTHE SOUTH--Invocation--From the Old Ones--Crossroads: Movement into Voice--South Exercises: I. Mirrors II. Rage III. Palms Upward IV. Cirle Energy--South Visualization: Between the Flames--Siraling OUtward into Power: From the Old Ones--THe Silver Thread IV. The Story of Rabbit--South RItual: Boices in the Fire--South Invocation and ChantsAPPENDIX--Ritual--Suggested RItual Structure--CLearing--Grounding and Centering--Smudging--Casting a Circle with Stones--Casting a Circle without Stones--Invocation--THe Story--Chants--Dramatization--Empowerment--Returning Stones--Grounding at the End of a Ritual--Opening the Circle--CelebrationTHE OFFERINGNOTES

Eclipse had written a wonderful book here. She takes us on a "Mystical Passage" around the sacred circle.There are four sections, one for each cardinal direction and an index explaining the basics of ritual.each sections starts with a beautiful poetic invocation to the direction. it follows with a page on the tradional wisdom of that direction. a short section describing the authors personal journey in that direction follows in "crossroads" then the author gives some really wonderful excercises to attune with the direction and its corresponding element. (tradional western european magical correspondances are used). then there is a visualization (guided meditation) on the direction/element.Each section also contains a marvelous portion of a "children's story" called "The Silver THread" although this story is good for children it will also speak to your own inner child.Then comes a full ritual, to be performed alone or with others, that incorporates the knowledge gained earlier in the section. the chapter is ended with An Invocation to an appropriate Goddess and chants for that direction. The Goddesses used are west-Hekate, North-Persepone, East-Athena, and South-Brighid.I think this is a wonderful book for alighning with the directions and is full of wisdom that you won't find in any other book. i highly reccomend it!!ps. the book has four beautiful color illustrations by the author that are worth the price of the book. black and white illustrations by the author are throughout

Moon in Hand is a guide through the mysteries of life, death and rebirth. Weaving a web of rituals, story and meditation that invoke the sacred in our own journey. I have referred to this book many times in the 4 years I have owned it. It has helped me to bring the energies of the directions and the wisdom of the ancestors into my own life and the lives of those I meet with in circle. The Moon in Hand is a valuable resource for anyone looking to make a stronger connection to spirit and work more closely with the earth. Eclipe's personal stories of her own journey combined with poetry, illustrations, invocations and practical step by step exercises and ritual make this a book I would and HAVE recommend to those who are looking to grow, transform and stand in their power.

Every once in a while a book is written that changes everything. THE MORNING THE SUN WENT DOWN is one of those books. This autobiography written by Darryl Babe Wilson about his Achomawi/Atsugewi (Pit River) childhood in northeastern California is filled with wonder and lyrical beauty, and at the same time with painful tragedy and brutality. This is the masterful recounting of a personal journey that enfolds us warmly in a child eye's view of Wilson's family and tribal relations, as well as the intrinsic and permanent relationship with the land in its ancient and essential dimensions. This book is simultaneously literature, an autobiography and the history of a People. It is highly recommended.//This is a portion of the review by Susan Lobo that will appear in the journal NATIVE AMERICAS (Cornell)

Every once in a while a book is written that changes everything. This is one of those books. This autobiography written by Darryl Babe Wilson about his Achomawi/Atsugewi (Pit River) Indian childhood in northern California is filled with wonder and lyrical beauty, and at the same time with painful tragedy and brutality. This is the masterful recounting of a personal journey that enfolds us warmly in a child eye's view ofWilson'sfamily and tribal relations, as well as the intrinsic and permanent relationship with theland in its ancient and essential dimensions. This book is simultaneously literature, an autobiography and the history of a People. Thebook begins with a dream in which Wilson is tested and reminded by the Elders of his responsibility to his People. It combines observations both minute and practical with those that sweepinglyencompass infinate place and time, understood both by the heart and mind. We are deftly drawn into a world that is simultaneously rugged and sweet. The family tragedy, the death of his mother and baby brother, and the subsequent family separation are described in wrenching detail, mirroring and paralleling the descriptions of historic events resulting from the lethal coming of whites into his homeland following the discovery of gold in California. Wilson places us, as readers, in a spot that is at the same time ancient, historical and contemporary. This is a story of growingself-assurance and human understanding as Wilson matures and comes to see the world from a broader vision, as well as his place and potential role within that world. He says, "...we must seek a power or a series of powers outside of ourselves which we identify as 'helpers.' Helpers can be a tree or animals, rocks or mountains, stars or flowers, frogs or rainbows. Helpers come to us in our time of need, and they guide our dreams." This book is utlimately the story of strength and power. Near the end of the book, he says, "For it was a song, according to our narratives, that caused all of the universe to have a beginning. We must seek within ourselves the spiritual terrain from our watu/ah'lo (spiritual umbilical cord) to the Great Power, cultivating our personal power and creating wholesomeness with our thoughts and intentions...It is taught in our lessons and legends, and by our Elders, that The People are responsible for life upon earth. Honoring the lessons then becomes a mandate from Great Power/GReat Wonder/Great Spirit that we are bound to obey. All people must obey the Great Law, so the sweetness of life can continue."

from "Kirkus Reviews" (starred review): A slim, modest, and altogether extraordinary memoir of rural Native American life. Wilson, a poet and scholar from the Achumawe and Atsugewi tribes of northeastern California, came into adolescence in the mid-1950s, when his people had all but disappeared through assimilation or extermination. Blame for part of that disappearance he lays squarely at the door of whites; but, he adds, "the neglect of our Elders to teach us our traditions was equally damaging." His own parents did their best to teach Wilson and his siblings something of the old ways: how to hunt deer, how to tame rattlesnakes, how to listen for mountain lions, lessons that he imparts to his readers with precision and grace- and not a little humor. But when his mother and younger brother were killed in a collision with a logging truck, Wilson was sent off to live with white foster parents among unfriendly neighbors (he remembers, touchingly, one young girl "who did not accuse me with her eyes or attitude," principally "because we were not enemies"). Whe it appeared that his foster parents wanted to strip away his Indian identity, Wilson rebelled, for which he was sent off to a boarding school where the young California Indian charges were locked in their rooms at nights and punished by day for minor infractions. Wilson recounts these horros matter-of-factly but doesn't dwell on them; instead, he celebrates a teacher who sagely corrected his compositions, encouraged him to improve himself, and urged him to become a writer. Readers have reason to be grateful to that teacher as well. Wilson is a careful and compassionate obeserver of his life and those of other young Indians, and his book is a fine addition to the growing library of Native American autobiography.

"Muskrat Will Be Swimming" is the inspiring story of a native American girl who, with the gentle guidance of her grandfather, learns to find strength in her identity as a native American living in the broader American society. Elegantly illustrated by Robert Hynes, "Muskrat Will Be Swimming" also includes the Seneca creation story and demonstrates how such ancient tales of native American cultures can be utilized to help children find their way in the world. Author Cheryl Savageau has written a superb story that will entertain and inspire young readers in grades 3 through 6. Enhanced with a 'Teachers Take Note' section devoted to suggestions for activities and thematically appropriate resources, "Muskrat Will Be Swimming" is an award winning and very strongly recommended addition to elementary school and community library picturebook collections.

I am the author of Muskrat Will Be Swimming. Thank you to everyone who's contacted me about getting a copy. MUSKRAT will be republished by Tilbury Books in Spring, 2006, in paperback. Look for it!

I love this book and so does my six year old son. Very sensitively deals with namecalling. The young girl's grandfather sees that she is upset and by telling her a native amercian tale helps her find pride in her heritage and herself. Weaves together the present day story of the girl with the folktale very well.

"Muskrat Will Be Swimming" is the inspiring story of a native American girl who, with the gentle guidance of her grandfather, learns to find strength in her identity as a native American living in the broader American society. Elegantly illustrated by Robert Hynes, "Muskrat Will Be Swimming" also includes the Seneca creation story and demonstrates how such ancient tales of native American cultures can be utilized to help children find their way in the world. Author Cheryl Savageau has written a superb story that will entertain and inspire young readers in grades 3 through 6. Enhanced with a 'Teachers Take Note' section devoted to suggestions for activities and thematically appropriate resources, "Muskrat Will Be Swimming" is an award winning and very strongly recommended addition to elementary school and community library picturebook collections.

I am the author of Muskrat Will Be Swimming. Thank you to everyone who's contacted me about getting a copy. MUSKRAT will be republished by Tilbury Books in Spring, 2006, in paperback. Look for it!

I love this book and so does my six year old son. Very sensitively deals with namecalling. The young girl's grandfather sees that she is upset and by telling her a native amercian tale helps her find pride in her heritage and herself. Weaves together the present day story of the girl with the folktale very well.

I've had the pleasure of being taught by John Boatman at the University level... he is very knowledgeable and passionate about his subject. If you only read one book on this topic, this should be it.

The book is a quick read. It is written in plain language, but filled with forceful words. If all could read it- it would help make sense of alternative philosophies other than those of our European ancestors.

In this book, Boatman tells us the stories, myths and legends of Western Great Lakes Native Americans. It is an insightful book of stories rendered directly from tribal elders. Boatman explains the reverance of all life held dear by Native Americans. He also explains the inconsistancies normally beheld in books on the subject written by outsiders and Europeans. This book is thought provoking and enlightening. We can all learn from these teachings, weather we are Native American or not. This is a universal book, filled with timeless lessons

Yoram Binur, an Israeli journalist fluent in Arabic from covering stories in the Arab areas of his country, decided to take on a fake identity as an Arab to get first-hand experience of the treatment Arabs receive from the Israeli police and society. He was convincing enough to be singled out for harassment and violence from the police, and he experienced subtle discrimination from everyday Israelis. He learned to really feel the terror Arabs in Israel feel every time an army vehicle approaches them, or even passes by their house at night, knowing they could legally be brutalized at any time for no reason. It was an eye-opening account from inside one of the most complex political situations on earth, and Binur always kept it personal and involving.

It's funny how some books, no matter how well written or well balanced, still get attacked for what they present us.

Yoram Binur is a Jew who speaks Arabic and can pass for a Palestinian. As a journalist he decides to enter into that world to see how the other half lives. What he sees and feels cannot be debated, negated, ignored or even criticized. It just is.

What Yoram experienced was an everyday existance of discrimination from the Jewish Isrealies he encountered. He wasn't brutally attacked or beaten or spit upon at every corner. No, his story is far more subtle. What he describes is a life of an outcast, of what it feels like to be someone who's viewed as "less than," as the "other."

The routine details of this life are in fact some of the most important in the current debate about the situation in Israel. What Binur experiences is essentially the seed that has helped bring about the larger forms of violence with each side upping the ante. It doesn't start with a bulldozer destroying a Palestinian home. And it doesn't start with a Palestinian bombing a sidewalk cafe and killing a dozen innocent civilians. It starts with everyday hatred - and that's what Binur so clearly gives us.

We already know that some (not all) Palestinians refuse Israel's right to exist. What we need, as Americans who have blindly supported Israel no matter what it does, is to see how some Israelis (not all) haves refused the Palestinians a right to their homeland - and their dignity. Binur's book is a step in the right direction in learning that lesson.

This is an incredible book. Yoram Binur provides an entirely new perspective to an old issue. The depth of maltreatment of Arab Palestinians in Israel has not been put into such a consise, unobstructed manner in the history of literature. Anyone who is interested in educating themselves about the Civil and Moral Rights violations which are taking place in Israel should definately read this book. Any advocate of justice, any person concerned with the fact that there are people being horribly mistreated anywhere in the world, and anyone looking for a cause to support or solidarity to offer those who are oppressed should start with this book.

This was shipped to my grandson Tim as a gift. He is studying Aztec history & language. He was very pleased. K. Russell

This book provides a fantastic introduction to Nahuatl. The book provides excellent explanations of Nahuatl grammar and uses, from the very start, (as promised) a large number of examples of sentences or phrases to illustrate the grammatical points covered in each lesson.

The book is intended to be an introduction covering the major points of Nahuatl grammar. A few actual texts are provided in the back for work upon completion of the lessons, and there are a few complex and esoteric topics in grammar that Lockhart leaves the reader to investigate with the help of Horacio Carochi's Grammar (available in the dual-language edition translated and annotated by Lockhart).

Together with Carochi's grammar, this book should prepare the student for reading Nahuatl texts.

This book would be more readable for an accomplished student of Linguistics. It has many details that are barriers for the beginner in study of Nahuatl but is a very complete exposition of subtle grammatical processes that are not even approached in other grammars.

I am happy that it is part of my library and expect that it will assist me as I continue to learn the language.

This book is for the child in all of us who used to canter, rather than walk, to school. The illustrations show Oliver's love for both horses and the Native American craft designs. The loving care and detail of the beautiful trappings indicate how truly the Native Americans loved and valued their horse companions. Each illustration is identified on the back and most all are recreations of historical artifacts from major museums. Children can enjoy this book and will want to cut out all the items to dress the horses up. But adults will enjoy it also as a great source of information on the different tribes and styles, which has been carefully researched. A great gift for the horse-crazy little girl (and boy) in all of us.

This book is for the child in all of us who used to canter, rather than walk, to school. The illustrations show Oliver's love for both horses and the Native American craft designs. The loving care and detail of the beautiful trappings indicate how truly the Native Americans loved and valued their horse companions. Each illustration is identified on the back and most all are recreations of historical artifacts from major museums. Children can enjoy this book and will want to cut out all the items to dress the horses up. But adults will enjoy it also as a great source of information on the different tribes and styles, which has been carefully researched. A great gift for the horse-crazy little girl (and boy) in all of us.

This book is for the child in all of us who used to canter, rather than walk, to school. The illustrations show Oliver's love for both horses and the Native American craft designs. The loving care and detail of the beautiful trappings indicate how truly the Native Americans loved and valued their horse companions. Each illustration is identified on the back and most all are recreations of historical artifacts from major museums. Children can enjoy this book and will want to cut out all the items to dress the horses up. But adults will enjoy it also as a great source of information on the different tribes and styles, which has been carefully researched. A great gift for the horse-crazy little girl in all of us.

This book was an invaluable source of information for my research on tribal sovereignty. Wildenthal focuses on 5 topics: The Cherokee Cases, Indian Treaty Rights, Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction, Tribal Civil Jurisdiction, and Tribal Gambling. Each topic has an introduction section, a historical background section, and a description of the cases and the many issues.

Each topic is also subdivided into its seminal Supreme Court cases such as Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock, Oliphant v. Sququamish, and Worcester v. Georgia. The second part of the book compiles various documents that deal with the majority of these cases; two treaties, one gaming compact, and 13 opinions.

There is also a chronology, a glossary of people, laws, and concepts, and a table of cases and statutes. Throughout the book are sections on "reccommended reading" and an extensive annotated bibliography that provide new ideas and books for further research.

Wildenthal writes in an engaging manner, asking questions and raising issues. The style of the book encourages learning; he gives background, then describes the case, then tells you to read the opinion or relevant document, and then discusses the issues.

This is an awesome book!

The latest in the "On Trial" series from ABC-CLIO, Native American Sovereignty On Trial examines the history of court litigation and important legal controversies involving Native American treaty rights, especially concerning the historical background and modern-day implications of Native American sovereignty. Painstakingly compiled by Bryan H. Wildenthal (Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Law and Social Justice at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law, San Diego, California), Native American Sovereignty On Trial presents primary source documents such as court decisions and rulings, as well as an A-Z list of crucial individuals, laws, and ideas, a chronology. All this and more fill the pages of this informed and informative casebook which is especially commended for inclusion with Native American Studies reading lists and American Jurisprudence Studies reference collections.

This first book by Brian H. Wildenthal instantly positions him as a law-thinker who has disturbing new perspectives to offer about how law drives American history. The subject of how callously and exploitively U.S. law -- and often the Supreme Court as well -- has treated our native American peoples is a long-neglected one. So is the subject of how vastly different from that of blacks and other racial groups is the legal treatment of our U.S. tribes, because they started off dealing with the U.S. government as sovereign nations. U.S. law has often had the effect of attempted genocide on the tribes, not only in the past but right up to today, whether it's the festering old treaty issues or the continuing policy of removing Indian children from tribal homes and putting them up for adoption with non-Indian families. Technically a textbook, "Native American Sovereignty on Trial" is highly readable and accessible to the layperson. It gives a vivid picture of the long sad history of issues and court decisions -- from the Cherokee removals and the broken treaties of old, to controversies around criminal jurisdiction and tribal gaming today. As an American of mixed-blood descent, with relatives who are enrolled tribal members, I felt my blood boil as I read this book, and hope "Native American Sovereignty" gets the wide visibility that it deserves. Wildenthal has been teaching at the Thomas Jefferson College of Law in San Diego for years, with a major focus on this subject. I look forward to Wildenthal's next book.

As a traditional Native, I rarely read anything like this. I wouldn't have even ordered it, except the author is a modern Native striving towards his own roots. I thought that I would be offended, but was pleasently suprised.

The sweat lodge is a very sacred place and this book does a great job of illustrating that. From the history to the legends it is fascinating and well rounded. Many traditions are represented in the stories and I really enjoyed reading them as seeing both the differences as well as the commonality. Highly recommended reading especially for anyone interested in participating in a sweat lodge. Respect and Reverence.

If you don't even know what a sweat-lodge is you might not get what you are looking for reading this book. However, for those who would like to learn more about Native American spiritual practices, it's a rich supply of knowledge. The book sets forth the history of the Sweat-lodge in many cultures, and also tells some great ancient tales of the lodge--great for telling in the lodge, or around the fire.