This is a model of what a good oral history book should be. At first glance Native American readers might think negative thoughts of, “OMG another book about us by wannabe princess moonbeam!” You will be wrong. A closer look greets you with the author’s startling comment that she began in ignorance. Surprise, surprise she also has skills, heart and very good ears and she is not a wannabe anything. The author made her own pilgrimage of sorts by starting in the dawn lands where the discoverers first landed and working her way to the night lands along the paths of conquest and destruction, over the course of many years. Along the way she spoke with Tribal people in many places at length, and all of them welcomed her with our traditional hospitality. The author has not abused it. She tells our stories honestly, eloquently and without her own baggage, and our people’s stories don’t pull many punches either. Survivance shines through in every chapter. If you are indigenous, it is a delightful and well crafted book and you will encounter your own voice in here through our relations while they tell their life stories. You may indeed encounter people you personally know, I did.
Regardless of your ethnicity, Owings takes you on a trip into American Indian Country in the early 21st Century, which you will not forget and which can educate and illuminate as only good books will. I wished it to be longer by the time I was done.
This title is recommended as a must buy requirement for all Public Libraries, and all College and University Libraries. It certainly wouldn’t hurt High School libraries at all either!
