In a Sacred Manner I Live: Native American Wisdom - Hardcover

Philip, Neil

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0395849810 ISBN 13: 9780395849811

Publisher: Clarion Books, 1997

Synopsis

A collection of Native American speeches and excerpts, from the 17th century to the present day.

About this title

About the Author

Neil Philip is a noted folklorist and anthologist who has written several books on Native American and multicultural themes for Clarion, including IN A SACRED MANNER I LIVE, which was named both a YALSA Best Book for Young Adults and a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. He lives in England.

Reviews

Grade 6 Up. A standard compilation of Native American oratory and photographs. Making heavy use of Edward S. Curtis's sepia-tone prints, this handsome book presents little new in comparison to earlier titles, such as T. C. McLuhan's Touch the Earth (S & S, 1976). Indeed, the formats and content of both books are very similar. There are a few less-commonly featured quotations here, but most are familiar passages from such heavily quoted speakers as Black Elk, Sitting Bull, Seattle, etc. Speakers are predominantly from western tribes, as are the photos. Generally, the photos reflect the nations of the speakers, or, at least, their cultural type or region. However, they don't always complement the prose. While a quote from Black Elk features a photo of the Lakota visionary and Arapaho songs are flanked by Arapaho dancers, Shawnee oratory is incongruously paired with photos of Paiute prophet Wovoka and a Sioux woman. Such inconsistencies mar the book's effect. Documentation and brief background notes for both text and photos are solid, with individual speakers identified by name and tribe. Sources are given, and there are indexes by tribe and speaker. A useful compilation only if similar collections are not available.?Lisa Mitten, University of Pittsburgh, PA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Carefully selected, sepia-toned archival photographs of Native Americans draw readers in with their haunting beauty, and reflect aspects of ancient stories. Philip, in what is essentially a companion book to Earth Always Endures (1996), offers a lovely book to browse, full of words that have been passed down, from elder to younger, in moving text and pictures, further supported by captions and notes. He covers almost four centuries of philosophical musings, from Chief Powhatan in 1609, to the contemporary Sioux medicine man Leonard Crow Dog in 1995, and in the process illustrates the harmony and tradition of Native American culture. The photographs make additional points: There is artistry in the tipis, with their bold scenes of horses in flight, and grace in the designs of the sand paintings. In such a meticulous gathering, traditional values and beliefs emerge for contemporary readers: To live in a sacred manner is to take pleasure in being alive in the moment and in the world. (Sepia photos, bibliography, further reading, index) (Nonfiction. 10+) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Gr. 4 and up. Part of the power of this handsome book comes from the words of Native American men and women, who speak on peace and war, true teachings and false ones, visions of the sacred path and betrayal in certain situations, the changing seasons, and much more. The carefully chosen words are those of such leaders as Black Elk, Geronimo, Chief Seattle, Sitting Bull, Cochise, and Tecumseh--more than 30 in all. Another element lending vitality and spirit to the book is from the powerful images of the people, captured in sepia-toned photos by Edward Curtis, John Alvin Anderson, Anita Alvez de Williams, Laura Gilpin, David F. Barry, and others. Many of the photos date back to the late 1800s, but some are as recent as 1979. Speakers are identified, along with their tribal affiliation, and the context of the speech is given. Taken together the words and pictures convey a sense of Indian consciousness. Many of the pieces are excellent for reading aloud. A strong companion piece is Philip's Earth Always Endures: Native American Poetry (1996), a collection of poetry, songs, and prayers. Bibliography; sources for text and photos; useful indexes, arranged by speakers and Indian nations. Karen Morgan

Edition details

• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0395849810
• ISBN 13: 9780395849811
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 93