Indian Books

A. Slater does a wonderful job at drawing the reader into Vince Schearer's life. Reading the ups and downs, twists and turns of his life were almost as if I was being taken on a journey of someone I knew. I was taken on an emotional roller coaster that ran a gamut of feelings: joy, pain, pride, disappointment, concern, anger, shame, sadness, and most of all love. A. Slater fully exposes his main character to the reader and shows how love (love of a mother, love of God, love of family, etc.) can ultimately redeem even the most wayward and help them strive towards their full potential.

I had a hard time putting this book down once I began reading. A wonderful and truly inspiring book.

By the end of the book I felt like I knew the author as I had experienced many of the highs and lows of his life.

Provides an unbiased insight into the relationship between men and women and exposes many of the nuances and vulnerabilities of both sexes.

Will highly recommend.

Every time I read this book I am pleasantly reminded of the power of God, Faith, Love (A Mother's Love), Strength and Courage. You are invited to grow up with Vince, along the way you suffer with him through his trials and you celebrate his triumphs. This book is an inspirational breath of fresh air. The bond between Vince and his mother is one to be envied. She fought to make her love of God his and after you read this book it becomes yours. A friend of mine bought a copy and after reading it she started saying things like `I can do all things through Christ' when faced with a problem. In the three years that I've known this friend I've never heard her mention anything even remotely related to Christ. Expect results like this, in yourself and the ones you share Mr. Slater's book and/or message with. Andy Slater has a wonderful voice and reading his book will provide an instant shot of fortitude and inspiration.

This was an excellent book! It is a vivid, comprehensive and sweeping biography of a most important and influential man of the early American West. At the age of twenty four, Thomas Fitzpatrick started out with Ashley's expedition of 1823 as a fur trapper going up the Missouri River. The following year he discovered South Pass, then was part owner of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. After the fur trade declined, he guided the first wagon train west over the Oregon Trail, then acted as guide to Fremont, Kearny and Abert on their expeditions. Later,he was appointed as an Indian Agent for the government and in this position he was most significant in facilitating relations with the Plains Indians. Leroy Hafen's writing is to be commended. He was an excellent author/historian. This is an easy book to read, and there is so much history to this remarkable man, Thomas Fitzpatrick.

This book is the result of a historian's dissertation on this little known now, but once well-known figure in the expansion of the west. Fitzpatrick discovered the Southern Pass, mentored Kit Carson, and is buried in the Congressional Cemetary in Washington DC. I'm not a fan of historical novels, or much of a student of history. But, this book described the way of life of the great western explorers of the 19th century in fascinating detail. Chock full of facts that I never learned in school history, this book sheds light on a poorly represented but important part of US history by tracing Fitzpatrick's life as reconstructed from historical documents and interviews with surviving ancestors. I highly recommend this book.

Most historians of the fur trade period of the old West regard Thomas Fitzpatrick as perhaps the greatest of all the Mountain Men, certainly among the top three or four along with Jedediah Smith and Jim Bridger, or perhaps Joseph Walker or Kit Carson. Hafen thinks of him as almost a god and writes glowingly of his exploits and character.

Fitzpatrick was born in Ireland (quite a few Mountain Men came from Irish or Scots-Irish descent) in 1799. He came to America by the age of 17 and was a member of Ashley's first venture up the Missouri in 1823. As a trapper he led parties into every region of the Rocky Mountain west, returning frequently at the end of the trapping season to St. Louis with that year's catch, only to return again a short time later with the supply trains for the designated rendezvous. He was owner for a while of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, which he later sold to the American Fur Company. When the fur trade fell victim to a change in hat styles, Fitzpatrick became a guide for emigrant wagon trains and in the trade that existed along the Santa Fe Trail. He injured his hand (so the story goes, Fitzpatrick never gave a full account himself) in an encounter with the Blackfeet in 1836, and it was by the name Broken Hand that the Indians ever after called him. In 1843 he was guide with Fremont on his second expedition to Oregon and California, and guided Kearny to Socorro, NM, at the beginning of the Mexican War the following year. He became Indian Agent for the Central Plains tribes and organized many councils with them (including the famous Ft. Laramie council of 1851). He died in Washington, DC, there on Indian affairs business, in 1854.

Leroy Hafen was one of the greatest of the "old school" historical writers of the old West. He was an "on sight" researcher, tramping the same ground his subjects did, seeing what they saw. His footnotes, which often identify locations of vague references found in trapper journals or clarify and correct old diary entries, are often as fascinating as the text itself. He is a thorough and careful historian; nothing gets by him without the greatest of scrutiny. His admiration for Fitzpatrick comes through loud and clear: he calls him "an epic figure - unique and incomparable." Hafen is out of the old school of narrative historians (Parkman and Lossing come to mind), and he is a joy to read. History is never so enjoyable as in the hands of these writers. It's an excellent book, informative and entertaining. Highly recommended.

Kenner's book is an excellent narrative which chronicles the actual experiences of the buffalo soldiers and the white officers who served with them. The book is a pleasure to read because it goes beyond the dates and battles, opting instead to recreate their foibles and shortcomings as well as their valor and heroism. It takes a true historian to give the rest of us glimpses into such humanity.

Kenner's book is an excellent narrative which chronicles the actual experiences of the buffalo soldiers and the white officers who served with them. The book is a pleasure to read because it goes beyond the dates and battles, opting instead to recreate their foibles and shortcomings as well as their valor and heroism. It takes a true historian to give the rest of us glimpses into such humanity.

This is an incredible social history placed on the backdrop of the west. When most people think of racial issues in the American west, they think about White settlers vs. Indians on the warpath. Dr. Kenner's book presents a different picture of the West. His book focuses on the world of white calvary officers and their "colored" soldiers. Dr. Kenner talks about issues from the fighting skill of these often forgotten African-American soldiers to interracial dating to homosexuality. This is an incredible story, that no serious historian of the west should ignore.

He is a favorite from many approaches: Native American folklore, attractive art, great read-aloud choices.

Mr. Goble is to be applauded for his engaging stories and fine, impressive illustrations. All children should own at least one of his books. I think my daughter likes Buffalo Woman best because the child, who is the main character, saves the day.

A young hunter, waiting at a stream, sees his prey, a buffalo, slowly approaching for a drink and tightens his arrow against his bow. To his surprise, now he sees nothing but a beautiful woman and "he knew at once that he loved her."

She tells him she comes from Buffalo Nation and they she was sent because he had always had good feelings for her people being a good and kind man. "My people wish that the love we have for each be an example to both our peoples to follow."

They marry and have a son, Calf Boy, but the hunter's people are cruel to his wife and child. So they run away and turn back into their true form, buffalo. The man loves them more than anything and chases after them. He finally finds them (after they'd escaped him several times) and his son, Calf Boy, gives him some "tips" [this is what makes the story in my opinion] to help save his father from the buffalo and unite, not just his family but the entire herd and the hunters that hunt them. [Another interesting part of the story.]

I think there's a strong underlying message in this story, not just for us to respect and protect animals but to respect and love each other. "Mitakuye oyasin--We are all related." o8E
Soar!

I am a faithful listen of Don Imus' show "Imus In The Morning". One morning he was talking about this book and how much his son Wyatt loved it. He started telling the story, but just stopped short of the end. I was so intrigued I ordered one up!

The book, although for a child, teaches a valuable lesson about relationships and how strong their bonds can be. I don't have children, but think should be required reading for our youth. I'm 33 years old (at the time of this revies) and I practice some of the ideals revealed in this innocent children's book.

This book was a great help in my quest to acquire more information regarding the interaction between the Native American People and their horses. It is very difficult to find any information on this subject, let alone such specific information about the interaction between a particular tribe and their animals. I highly recommend this book. Now someone needs to do the same thing for the other Native American tribes.

I enjoy the authors convictions in preserving the Blackfoot Indian's knowledge of horsemenship. He provides an excellent review of early pre and post white contact and horse knowledge. Out of all the subjects I have studies within the field of Anthropology and the books I have read from archaeological subjects to cultural material of pre contact and paleoindians of the High Plains Ewer's book is by far the best I have studied. I would give my eye teeth to own a copy!!

As an early ethnographer of Native life on the northern Great Plains Ewer's work is always of interest.
He has been criticised for "inaccuracies" but I contend this is unavoidable in any work of ethnology or history. Change over time, inaccuracies of memory, and inconsistent accounts by different informants (and sometimes the same informant) contribute. Difficulties in language interpretation are unavoidable, even in native speakers. (Anyone who has ever played the game "Telegraph" knows this!)
The role of the horse was so central to Plains culture made it a clear window into Native culture in general. As with religion it was inextricably intertwined with most aspects of aboriginal life. Thus, the book treats not only with the horse but with economy, warfare, crafts, religion, nomadic patterns, ownership practices, hunting, and many other aspects of Blackfoot life.
Highly recommended.
Also see the excellent works of Hugh Dempsey, Beverly Hungry Wolf, Adolph Hungry Wolf, Paul Raczka, and Clark Wissler.

The historical account of what happened to the native Americans during the white settlement of the United States of America. This ranges from resettlement to out and out slaughter, rape and massacre. It also goes into detail about the propaganda, legal systems and economic problems of the time, as well.

Brown's chronicle of the systemic slaughter and betrayal of American Indians at the hands of the US government is the highly readable and heartbreaking history your social studies teacher never told you about. Dee Brown single-handedly turned back the American myth of the noble settlers fighting the savage Indians and his unimpeachable documentation to original sources has made this the definitive classic of Native American history.

Many people don't remember how important this book was in the Indian movement of the early '70s. It is an excellent overview of many of the major atrocities inflicted by white people and the government on Indians, beginning with Columbus (murdered or let die an entire nation) to Wounded Knee (another, another, another round 'em up and kill them action by the army). As Vine Deloria points out, the government had a perfect record in dealing with Indians: 600+ treaties made; 600+ treaties broken. An excellent starter book for anyone interested in learning about why Indians dislike state and federal governments.

A fantastic collection of stories from the naturalist and writer the late Tejaswi. Many readers may not know that Thejasvi is the son of Kuvempu (Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa), the literary colossus from Karnataka, India. Kuvempu was honored with the title National Poet.

This collection of stories were borne out of Tejaswi's experience with the local wildlife and the unique culture he was born into. Ravi Hanj who is familiar with the terrain by virtue of his background and college education in Hassan, Karnataka, has brought these stories out into a wide domain with an excellent translation. Ravi has the ear for the local idiom and he has thus been able to render the thought process of the author flawlessly to an English-speaking audience. For instance the story Kalappa's Cobra challenges readers into making an early opinion about the snake charmer only to confound them with a surreal twist toward the end! It is quite rare to see a real-life story almost following the denuouement as one would find in stories by Saki (Hector Hugh Munro).

Monitor Lizard is another story where the animal's prodigious grip on things is explained in an amusing manner. Tejaswi brings out the rationale behind the Indian native beliefs in dealing with the wildlife. I don't want to go too much into the twists and turns in the actual story--it is for you the readers to enjoy it in the original.

This is an excellent translation bringing in the same effect of reading the original. I had heard about Tejasvi but never had a chance to know his writings as I speak and read Telugu. Thanks to Ravi Hanj for bringing in all the Kannada literature essence into English!

Happy Reading.

By the Corner of Indian Western Ghats - This is a great way of knowing Indian country side and the struggles of Indian common. The stories are so natural and easy flowing to read. Truely, it opens up a new dimension in translation literature!

Despite the perennial popularity of the American Civil War as a literary/historical subject, by comparison only small attention has been focused on the Civil War in the West - nor on the background of Cherokee Indian removal, or the varied and interesting history of the five civilized tribes in the West and their role in that same war. Truly neglected is the canvas that is the war's devastating effect on them.

Readers of the recent book "The Cherokee nation in the Civil War" by Clarissa Confer will be divided into two groups: those who never knew most of this happened, and a much smaller group who wonder if anything fresh is left to say about it. Native Americans, and most individuals with Native American heritage are, after all, antiquarians...these things are not new; so much here is familiar to them. They are astute in this rich and unique historical/ethnic area, as are so many around them. In Oklahoma state law requires one semester of Oklahoma history for high school graduation, and many college programs also require it. While school textbooks are not a scholarly treatise, they do provide substantial blocks of knowledge on these topics surrounding the Indian and the West and also the Civil War. This serves as a starting point for such an historical work.

Miss Confer narrates for us a story that is sad, rich, and absorbing. She approaches it at times as an essayist, at times in a tighter style. She writes about notable Cherokee leaders; about slaves, women, children, enlisted men, freedmen; about families and factions who participate, willingly or not, in the upset and devastation that was the Civil War as it played out in the West. She makes the point that these people and their lives must also matter to us. In other words, she does not consider mainstream white males in leadership positions to be the only actors on the historical stage. She insists that we look to the story of minorities of all stripes; to the little people history books so often ignore. Because of this viewpoint that is all encompassing and humane, she accomplishes an historiography that is new and significant. I wished it had been longer and perhaps fuller, but I admired it.

The bibliography of Clerissa Confer's book nearly duplicates that of so many pioneering histories of this region of the 19th century West, but with different results. Obviously she has been tireless in consulting the extensive original sources at the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, the Western History collections at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, and the Oklahoma State Historical Society. Anyone who enjoys Civil War, Western, or Indian/Cherokee history will be enriched by Miss Confer's book and will surely want to add it to their collection.

The book is well written, and readable. The research is amazing ,scholarly and accurate. We don't offen see Native Americans portrayed that honestly, or thouroughly. Very different from the Hollywood
verison.

A well researched and beautifully written account of a time in history that usually finds its focus elsewhere. The devastating effects the Civil War had on our Native Nations is sadly overlooked in our study of American History. Ms. Confer does an outstanding job of bringing it to life for us in an interesting and readable work. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from her.

How do I become a member of a cherokee nation of Oklahoma? please post on internet because I don't have an email! I'm using a friends computer thanks!

This set contains the Official US Census Rolls of Cherokee Indians recorded between 1817-1924. Volume one covers those Cherokee living East of the Mississippi River, Volume 2 covers Cherokee who were living West of the Mississippi River. These same rolls are still used today in determining tribal enrollment eligibility, along with the 1924 Baker Roll and the Dawes Roll for Cherokee people. If you are looking for your Cherokee ancestors, this set is a MUST have!
Raven SiJohn,Managing Editor

Good book, but for the $800 it's listing for on Amazon? Crazy. It is a must have and if you must have it, order it from the Museum of the Cherokee Indian for $10.

Chessie the Travelin' Man is a sensitive and wonderfully written book that details the amazing true story of a very special creature. My children love the illustrations in this book as well as the rhyming prose. This story is not only charming, it is filled with factual information about a rare and endangered species. I would reccommend it to any parent or educator!

Lovely book, all in rhymes which my 6 yr old son loved. Based on a true story about a manatee that somehow makes it up the northern atlantic coast two years in a row. He is tagged and followed. Includes gentle info about how manatees get hurt by boats, and how few there are left in the world. Beautifully illustrated, and received a Parent's Award. "Chessie" is for the Chesapeake Bay, which he entered on this first trip. Five stars because my son loved it so.

Lovely book, all in rhymes which my 6 yr old son loved. Based on a true story about a manatee that somehow makes it up the northern atlantic coast two years in a row. He is tagged and followed. Includes gentle info about how manatees get hurt by boats, and how few there are left in the world. Beautifully illustrated, and received a Parent's Award. "Chessie" is for the Chesapeake Bay, which he entered on this first trip. Five stars because my son loved it so.