Native American Books

BETWEEN THE BLOODS is the story of a boy facing poverty and racism as he grows up in the years following WWI. Wayne struggles to understand a world that punishes him for his mixed heritage. Illegitimate and poor, Wayne suffers the abuse of Bill, his one-legged, drunken step-father, who says Wayne is cursed by the Dog Star. And wherever Wayne goes, he finds people determined to prove Bill right. But with the love of his mother, his dog and an assortment of colorful friends, Wayne has good adventures to go with the bad. Follow Wayne through the years as he searches for his identity and finds humor, friendship, tragedy and hate along the way.

ROBERT GREY CLOUD has been many things during his lifetime -- farm hand, door-to-door salesman, store clerk, businessman -- and he can add author to that list. Born in 1912, Robert lived through the times described in this book and his own childhood experiences were the inspiration for Between the Bloods, his first novel. Still seeking new adventures, Robert celebrated his 90th birthday with his first tandem parachute jump. Robert lives in Idaho with his wife of 63 years, Jean.

[Yes, I am related to the author - he is my grandfather]

BETWEEN THE BLOODS is the story of a boy facing poverty and racism as he grows up in the years following WWI. Wayne struggles to understand a world that punishes him for his mixed heritage. Illegitimate and poor, Wayne suffers the abuse of Bill, his one-legged, drunken step-father, who says Wayne is cursed by the Dog Star. And wherever Wayne goes, he finds people determined to prove Bill right. But with the love of his mother, his dog and an assortment of colorful friends, Wayne has good adventures to go with the bad. Follow Wayne through the years as he searches for his identity and finds humor, friendship, tragedy and hate along the way.

ROBERT GREY CLOUD has been many things during his lifetime -- farm hand, door-to-door salesman, store clerk, businessman -- and he can add author to that list. Born in 1912, Robert lived through the times described in this book and his own childhood experiences were the inspiration for Between the Bloods, his first novel. Still seeking new adventures, Robert celebrated his 90th birthday with his first tandem parachute jump. Robert lives in Idaho with his wife of 63 years, Jean.

[Yes, I am related to the author - he is my grandfather.]

I found Beyond the Four Corners of the World to be an excellent piece of work on two levels. On the surface it's a biography; one woman's journey away from - then back to - her roots and her homeland. On a deeper level, it's a rare glimpse into the religion, culture and lifestyle on the Navajo reservation. Upon completion of this book, I felt that I had gained insight not only into the mind and heart of Ella Bedonie, but also into the beliefs and values of the Navajo People.

The story of Ella and her struggle with illness and how it intersects with her spiritual and cultural world is at once fascinating and very sad. To read Benedek's account is to travel by literary horseback deep in the rez, and meet the residents of a different world, one which is changing, one which is struggling to hold onto traditional ways at the same time. I recommend this book to anyone with interest in native people, anyone interested in cultural perspectives on illness. And anyone else! Benedek is academic and personal, she takes you there.

This is a story of outdoor adventure and personal transition. These hunting tales are humorous, touching, and sometimes tragic, and through them runs the silent question: to kill or not to kill?

In a refreshingly original western voice, Stephen Reynolds tells his life story. As a game warden, he explores the wonders of wild, untamed places such as the Gila Wilderness of New Mexico, and the Brooks Range and Yukon Delta of Alaska. He meets people who use the land to live and people who live to abuse it. His is the heritage of a boy raised as a hunter, drawn to the excitement of the kill, but who experiences transform him into an outspoken protector of wildlife. Yet, this is no sermon or manifesto. Stephen Reynolds offers adventure, spiritual change, and transformation - but no easy answers. B&W illustrations.

Lois and Jerry Jacka do an EXCELLENT job with every project they undertake. Certainly this book is no exception. The text by Lois is insightful and well written. Jerry's photography and layout are some of the best. With an historical introduction by Clara Lee Tanner, the book is COMPLETE from Preface to page 206. Works by many of today's MASTERS are illustrated and a brief description of each item is included. The number of Native American artists is far too extensive to list, so may a half dozen suffice: Charles Loloma, Grace Medicine Flower, Rondina Huma, Jesse Monongye, Loren Phillips and Doug Hyde. There are so many more! Since the book is now OUT OF PRINT, grab a copy; it truly is one to own.

This is an excellent sourcebook for those wanting to learn more about quality Native art. The information provided will help you learn about the various associations that work with Native artists as well as wonderful insights into many of the artists themselves. "Anything by Lois and Jerry Jacka" is the recommendation given in the conclusion of The Native American Indian Artist Directory (a book that gives you actual contact information, i.e. phone numbers, mailing addresses, etc.) for good reason. The quality of their work has been recognized for many years. If you attend the major Native art events in the Southwest you're likely to see them there, keeping current on the latest in Native arts. One more terrific publication from the Lois & Jerry Jacka team!

NOBLE TRUTH THIS BOOK OPENS YOUR EYES TO WHAT I NEW IN MY HEART.
I AM AFRICAN YET I KNOW MY PEOPLE ARE ORIGINAL TO THIS LAND.

This book is an amazing, eye opening book. This book pioneered a new area of research!

A large amount of so called black Americans have stories of American Indian mothers or grandmothers. These stories are largely ignored by black American families who see themselves as not being American Indian but African. The only link they have to being African is that an ancestor was labeled negro at one point in their history. This book points out that the world "Negro" only refers to dark-skinned people, it does NOT refer to any country of origin.

If you start doing your research you find that between 1492 and 1651 a large number of Indian slaves were taken. If you do even more research you find that any Indian captured "against the united states" was sent to the Caribbean, the same place that slaves were being shipped to the new world!! (a side note: very few, if any, africans landed directly onto North America, all africans landed in the Carribean first, then were shipped out to SOUTH America) Kidnapped/Captured Indians would leave their land Indian, take a boat ride to the Carribean and then Show up in their land as a Negro slave! Entire peoples were being labeled "colored" or negro like the Appalachians and Nanticoke! And lets not forget the one-drop rule....so if you looked too dark, you were labeled a Negro, plain and simple, but all eastern woodland Indians (the first to be seen by a european) were dark-skinned, and would be hence labeled colored or Negro by the one-drop rule!

As for the other reviewer, you are either Amerindian or African. If you are African, then call up your home country in that continent and ask them to pay for your relocation to your homeland and give you full citizenship to your rightful homeland (not residency) as Israel does for their displaced. For those of us who have no political or land connection to africa, we are American Indian and poud of it.

Other Books to Read:
-Africans and Native Americans: The Language of Race and the Evolution of Red-Black Peoples
-The Olmecs
-The MoundBuilders

Get reading! Get Writing!

This was assigned reading in a Native American Literature class I was enrolled in a few years ago. I have come back to the book twice since then, finding great enjoyment. The character Edgar Bearchild is an enchanting protagonist with the best of intentions and a terribly misguided soul. The opening of the book reveals this--during his first experience with tribal psychedelics intended for serious use, but approached by Ted and Edgar with less-than-pure interest. The book gives its readers a good idea of what reservation life has been like throughout the middle of the 20th century, how institutions have failed the dwindling and seemingly suicidal societies they are meant to serve.

While this book it technically autobiographical (or so a few libraries I've visited have said), there's obviously something to be learned. However, you will not be left hungry for entertainment. "Black Eagle Child" is a journey wrought with comical run-ins and slip-ups, heavy alcohol consumption, drug consumption and rock-and-roll. Since the characters are teenagers, these elements should be expected. And while they come up often, they do not surface without the rightful ponderings that should result from contact with such items in a teenager's life.

Lessons are learned, laughs are had, and ultimately there are truths revealed in this book. I am stunned that this is only the 2nd review posted here on Amazon for this wonderful book. It's truly an enjoyable read.

This is a great read! Ray A. Young Bear's book is not as difficult to penetrate as some of Gerald Vizenor's stuff, but is just as smart. It isn't quite the way Louise Erdrich weaves her stories together, but his use of language and his ability to tell a story is just as good. He's poetic, magical, honest, and can paint pictures with words you won't forget.

What is it about? Well, it's about life. It is about the lives of a group of people from the heartland of America.

If you like Native American literature, get it. If you like poetry, get it. If you enjoy staying up and night and laughing with the characters in the books you read, and feeling their pain, I think you won't be disappointed.

My desire to understand and commune withthe Great Spirit of the Native AmericanWays satisfies my sacred spirit in everygood manner when Ed McGaa speaks about Black Elk and the Vision.Joseph Campbell, the great Mythologist,called Black Elk's Vision the greatest example of imagery and spirituality.This inner locus of control to find our sacred spirit and commune within GreatSpirit with all good people seems to methe essence of our spiritual quest.During the last century, perhaps 1872, Black Elk had a Near Death Experience atage nine years. My NDE happened in 1945 at age seven years. My NDE, and many others, will be presented in a new book called "Children of the New Millenium" in early 1999 by PMH Atwater.The patterns of life that emerge in thelives of such children amazes me! Black Elk kept his fascination with life and all good people, from the enchanting description of his encounter in Londonwith Queen Victoria, called Grandmother England, to his own survival of the massacre at Wounded Knee!"In a Sacred manner I have made them walk..." sings Black Elk about his role as a healer among his people

How to describe what ONE needs to hear? EagleMan's voice speakstruth and tells a story that each two-legged needs to be aware of. Thesinging and drumming create openings for Spirit to Move us. With the hearing of Black Elks songs-we can return the gift by repeating these songs. Blue Man, it is a good day to die!!Hokahey!!!!!

Part II of the "Crazy Horse Chronicles" continues to enthrall. This vivid retelling of the life of Curly, later to become Crazy Horse, explains the early transition to adulthood for Curly and Little Mouse, who become Crazy Horse and Black Robe Buffalo Woman. They grow to maturity during the "Indian Wars" and Crazy Horse earns his name through battle glory. His painful experience of betrayal by family of Little Mouse drives him to forsake his holy name to become "Worm," or One Who Returns to Mother Earth. The bittersweet story of the love of Crazy Horse and Black Robe Buffalo Woman is passionate and fierce and gentle at the same time. Readers will eagerly devour this latest in the series and impatiently await the third in the series.

Nancy Lorraine, Reviewer

Richard Jepperson capably and affirmatively expands his Crazy Horse Chronicles with this touching, tender, fierce, reader-friendly book containing articulate, poetic text and original, beautiful illustrations. There are really only two kinds of books. And they are not children's books and grownups' books but good books and bad books. Black Robe Woman, Lakota Warrior, is most definitely among the former. It's excellent for kids but it is by no means exclusively for them but for all readers of worthy literature. Here is a book you will read to your children and to yourself, not once but over and over again.

As a descendant of Florida's Apalachicola Indians removed to Texas in 1834, I know the Black Seminole as my kin. Porter's narrative parallels our oral tradition and enhances it with photos and maps. Facts presented are well researched and documented with scholarly precision. Historic accuracy is near flawless. Language of the text is readable and the style captivating. No dry history here! Porter brings this forgotten segment of Florida's mixed blood Seminoles to life in seventeen easy chapters. Like a piece of tender, seasoned vinson, it leaves the reader filled but wanting more. No worse injustice could be done to Professor Porter that compare The Black Seminoles to another text. The power of the Porter pen has no peer. Without reservation, Porter's text is a unique gift to all of us. sixwomen@nettally.com

This is a classic. Every serious historian of African Americans needs to have this book. I am a descendant of these people and much of what is in the book confirmed what I have been told since I was a boy. Thanks to those tireless warriors who coompleted this work for without them, it would have remained hidden away.

This account of a people dedicated to freedom is a must read.

This is a very strong collection of stories and an excellent place to start if you're new to Stephen Graham Jones. If you want to have a taste before taking the 15 dollar plunge, do what I did and type the author's name into that A9 Web Search box up top. Several of the short stories featured here can be sampled through various online publications, along with other little gems that could have just as easily fit into the book. You'll probably find yourself hooked before it even arrives in the mail.

stephen jones, the author of three previous novels, THE FAST RED ROAD, ALL THE BEAUTIFUL SINNERS, and THE BIRD IS GONE as done it once again. time and time again jones manages to blow me away with his vision of the world around us. BLEED INTO ME is a collection of stories, some have been published previously while others this is their first time seeing print. nobody puts together scenes like stephen jones. nobody takes ordinary events and flips them on their head like he does. the characters that roam the pages of this collection are 'real' people, people we all know. to steal a line from another review that sums it up best, "Jones sees this world, its parallels between beauty and despair, grace and turmoil, and describes it with originality and stylistic flair. Jones's vision is unflinchingly peculiar. It's also a vision like no other.

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