During the nineteenth century, many Indian nations lived on the Great Plains of North America. Most nations were made up of separate groups, or tribes. Each tribe had its own distinct history, language, and customs. But no matter how different the Plains Indians were from one another, they all were true to the traditions of their ancestors. Older people counseled the young about living in harmony with nature. Tribes took from the land only what they needed for their daily lives. In sacred rituals, the people thanked the Great Spirit for the abundance of the earth. We Rode the Wind, a collection of Native American literature, focuses on Indian life on the Plains before the region was changed by the white settlers. Many of these writings are autobiographical, while others relate the legends, traditions, and histories of the Plains Indians. All the works portray the richness of Indian culture.
Grade 6 Up?The subtitle perfectly describes the contents of this book. Excerpts from the autobiographies of eight Plains Indians recount various aspects of life in the 19th century. Anecdotes from longer works describe the early instruction of a Dakota boy; the bringing of law to the Cheyenne by the prophet Sweet Medicine; the first war party and vision quest of a Crow boy; Lakota home and family life, philosophy, and spirituality; Ojibway life through the seasons; a Hidatsa girl's training and marriage; a Kiowa-Apache's youth; and the prophetic vision of a Lakota boy who became a renowned holy man. Selections are edited to tighten the flow, and photographs, both in color and black and white, enhance each chapter. However, the photos in one selection confuse the Kiowa-Apache (today known as the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma) with other Apache groups in Arizona and New Mexico. Notes and a bibliography of the original books guide readers to the full texts. This revised edition of the 1975 title (Lerner; o.p.) is a good companion to the many books on the cultures of Plains Indians written by non-Indians.?Lisa A. Mitten
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Gr. 6^-10. Students, librarians, and teachers searching for primary sources on Native Americans will want to see this fine collection, which contains the writings of eight notable Native Americans who grew up on the Great Plains--among them, Charles Eastman, Black Elk, and John Stands in Timber. It is filled with vivid, very readable descriptions of the customs and daily life of Plains Indians from Montana and Texas before white settlers arrived. First published in 1976, the volume has been revised to include more photographs, some in full color, a glossary, and detailed source notes. Biographical notes introduce each account and provide additional information on the selection itself. Chris Sherman
