Tasunka: A Lakota Horse Legend (English and Indic Edition) - Hardcover

Donald F. Montileaux

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0985290528 ISBN 13: 9780985290528

Publisher: South Dakota Historical Society Press, 2014

Synopsis

Curiosity leads a young warrior to track a new animal. It leads him far from home, but at last he finds a herd of the strange new creatures. They are horses that shimmer with colour and run swift as the wind. The Lakota capture and tame them, and the people grow rich and powerful. They become filled with pride. With their newfound strength they rule over the plains. Then the Great Spirit, who gave the gift of the horse, takes it away. Donald F. Montileaux retells the legend of Tasunka from the traditional stories of the Lakota people. Using the ledger-art style of his forefathers he adds colorful detail. His beautiful images enhance our understanding of the horse and its importance in Lakota culture.

About this title

About the Author:

Donald F. Montileaux is an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Nation. An award-winning artist, illustrator, presenter, and consultant on Lakota culture, he uses his art to tell traditional Lakota stories. Montileaux lives in Rapid City, South Dakota, with his family. Agnes Gay is the assistant archivist at Oglala Lakota College in Kyle, South Dakota.

From School Library Journal:

K-Gr 4—Legend has it that long before the Spanish brought horses to North America, the Lakota people tamed wild horses and brought prosperity to their tribe. But they misused the gift of Tasunka, the horse, and were made to go without these animals for hundreds of years. This lovely bilingual (English-Lakota) picture book conveys the speed and grace of the horses as well as their importance to the Lakota nation. Though the language is formal, it clearly communicates both the story and the lesson that great gifts must be shared. Illustrations and text also provide many clues about the customs and values of the Lakota, from their skill with hunting and handling animals to the emphasis on family and community. Montileaux, an Oglala Lakota artist and storyteller, uses sweeping ink lines and swathes of prairie color, stylized in the manner of traditional ledger art. His style captures movement and gesture—including deliberate stillness—particularly well. Front and back matter include an informative introduction, a note on the illustrations, and resources for further reading.—Sarah Stone, San Francisco Public Library

About this edition

• Publisher: South Dakota Historical Society Press
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0985290528
• ISBN 13: 9780985290528
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 48
• Illustrator: Donald F. Montileaux