Mountain Windsong, YA novel Robert Conley (Cherokee), paperback, $8.76

• In the framing story, a 10-year-old boy learns much about Cherokee culture from working with (and listening to) his grandparents. In the middle, grandpa tells the story of a romance, broken by the Trail of Tears and its tragedies -- but since it's a romance, based on an Appalachian ballad, the couple get together in the hills of North Carolina in the end. Despite the romance, history and culture are truly presented. This book is far preferable to the Ku Klux Klan writer's fake autobiography, The Education of Little Tree, which is required reading in many schools. That's a fake, this is real.

• Purchase any book by Robert Conley that is still in print.

Why I Can't Read Wallace Stegner and Other Essays : A Tribal Voice Elizabeth Cook-Lynn (Lakota, Crow Creek Reservation); Paperback: $14.36

• Literary essays from Wicazo Sa, the journal she founded to try to make Native Studies become responsible "survival scholarship" for Native Nations and people. This hasn't been well accepted in academia or academic journals. These essays are consistently interesting. She always brings a fresh angle of vision to topics you think have been done to death. Well written too, also not welcome in academic circles. where jargon is the profs' native language, and PoMo is not a tribe.

The Politics of Hallowed Ground : Wounded Knee and the Struggle for Indian Sovereignty; Mario Gonzalez, Elizabeth Cook-Lynn (Lakota, Crow Creek Reservation) (Not yet Published)

• Should be interesting. Mario Gonzalez is the long-time judge in tribal court of Pine Ridge Oglala Lakota reservation, South Dakota, and was heavily involved in trying to prevent a Washington law firm from settling the Sioux claim for the Black Hills just for money; Oglalas want return of the land (most of which is held by the US government as federal land).

Then Badger Said This (Poetry/Prose); Elizabeth Cook-Lynn (Lakota, Crow Creek Reservation); 2nd Edition Paperback; $5.00+ $2.35 special surcharge

• First published in 1977, this new poem-chronicle combines contemporary poems, prose, oral history, old stories, personal narratives, and art in a holistic new form. We see the people and the land share the same fate, as the Missouri Valley is flooded by Army Corps of Engineer dams (in the '50's), but we also see serene, timeless scenes. The present and the past are simultaneous she says -- or shows, or sings.

From the River's Edge ; Elizabeth Cook-Lynn (Lakota, Crow Creek Reservation); 1st Ed.Hardcover. (Hard to Find) 1991

• This powerful, ironic, and authentic novel by a lady who has fought for a tribally-relevant University-based American Indian Studies discipline should never have been allowed to go out of print! If you can afford the seach, get it for your library. A Dakota tribal rancher has cattle stolen by a white man -- but it's the Indian who's on trial, when he insists the thief be prosecuted. Aurelia, his lover, is in contact with her spiritual heritage. John's trial forces him back into the circle of family -- away from Aurelia. Aurelia suffers this loss and begins to lose her beliefs, too.

The Power of Horses and Other Stories; Elizabeth Cook-Lynn (Lakota, Crow Creek Reservation), 1st Ed. Hardcover, 1990, out of print (Hard to Find)

• Stories are both poetic and political. Cook-Lynn's anger is shaped -- but not compromised -- by irony and vision. This -- which also shouldn't ahve been allowed to go out of print -- also is worth a search fee for your library.

• Purchase any book by Elizabeth Cook-Lynn that is still in print.

April Raintree; Beatrice Culleton (Metis); Paperback: $12.00

• A reworking of Culleton's 1984 book, fleshed out somewhat better, loose ends captured. April can pass for white, but her Cinderella marriage doesn't last when the rich family finds out she's Indian. Her sister goes from activism to alcoholism and suicide. This teen-appealing story is not a mellerdrammer but a realistic portrayal of native women's lives -- it's based on Culleton's own (she had 2 sisters who committed suicide). Book ends on a note of hope, as April resolves to care for her dead sister's illegitimate boy, and bring him up to know his Indian heritage as best she can.

• Brief bio by InterNet library project, which doesn't know about the updated re-publication of April Raintree.

• Purchase any book by Beatrice Culleton that is still in print.

Waterlily, Ella Cara DeLoria (Yankton Sioux, 1889-1971), paperback, $7.96

• REVIEW of Waterlily

Dakota Texts, Ella Cara DeLoria (Yankton Sioux, 1889-1971), Hardcover, $49.50, 4th reprinting from 1932

• The most authentic accounts of traditional Lakota myths and folktales in the vernacular. DeLoria's footnotes make old Siouan stories accessible -- understandable -- to modern readers, though these were prepared (DeLoria was the actual pre-eminant Lakota scholar of her day) for scholars, under the aegis of anthro Franz Boas. Vigor and objectivity marked DeLoria's linguistic work. This is a necessary book for all libraries, and every scholar interested in Lakota people. Despite the scholarly apparatus, these stories are much better than a lot of the dumbed-down versions published as children's "myths."

• Purchase any book by Ella Cara Deloria that is still in print.

Crown of Columbus,Michael Dorris (Modoc. 1945-97) and Louise Erdrich (Ojibwe, Turtle Mountain Reservation), paperback $5.99

• Long potboiler written for the money to cash in on the Quincentennial. Nice characterization of the Native woman professor, but icnredible why she'd be attracted to the man. If it's Dorris and Erdrich characterizing each other (or themselves) the mnarriage in real life is as hard to explain as the one here. The crown (supposedly Christ's Crown of thorns, to be presented to the Native king) is garbage, and The ending, with Two Star using it to support land claims, is a fantasy. In the middle: a detective story that doesn't convince, a villain who isn't credible, and every problem solved by convenient coincidences. I'm sure they made a lot of money from this. I was impatient with all the main characters, the only one I liked was the teenaged son. A good trash read, however, if stuck on a plane or something.

Morning Girl Michael Dorris (Modoc, 1945-97), hardcover, $9.06

Morning Girl, ; paperback $2.80!!! real bargain price.

• This YA book shows the ordinary daily lives of a Carribean boy and girl shortly before the arrival of Columbus. At the very end, the characters go eagerly to meet the interesting strangers. The irony of what is soon to happen to them -- which we never see -- hovers over the entire story. Highly recommended for late elementary and Middle School social studies reading.

A Yellow Raft in Blue Water, Michael Dorris (Modoc), $10.39

REVIEW of Yellow Raft in Blue Water

• Purchase any book by Michael Dorris that is still in print.

Love Medicine Louise Erdrich (Ojibwe, Turtle Mountain Reservation), paperback, $10.36. This is an expanded version (1993) of the original 1984 prizewinner. Nothing lost, something gained in clairty of the fmaily relationships that run all through this 4-book series.

Love Medicine, hardcover, $13..97

• Love Medicine's time frame is 1934-84. The Beet Queen's somewhat paraellel, stories cover 1932-72. Tracks (the struggle of Grandfather Nanapush and the evil nun Pauline) is the earliest, 1912-24, and the incidents there are some of the roots whose branches we see later. Burning Love is the contemporary stories of a number of women for the white construction man all of them love; in Bingo Palace, some of the earlier characters (and their descendants) struggle with history vs. prosperity, as Lyman Lamartine wants to build a casino on reservation burial grounds.

• Kashpaw family tree and brief character summaries Nanapush family tree the families whose members reappear over generations in Erdrich's books. Student project (Tari Crawford) for an Americna Lit course.

• REVIEW of Love Medicine by a doctor, in some humanistic medicine project.

Beet Queen, Louise Erdrich (Ojibwe, Turtle Mountain Reservation), paperback, $10.36

Beet Queen, audio cassette, $11.16

Bingo Palace, Louise Erdrich (Ojibwe, Turtle Mountain Reservation), paperback, $10.40

Jacklight, Louise Erdrich (Ojibwe, Turtle Mountain Reservation), paperback, $8.76

Tracks: A Novel, Louise Erdrich (Ojibwe, Turtle Mountain Reservation), paperback, $10

Tales of Burning Love Louise Erdrich, paperback, $10.80

• Several of the women we've met as characters in earlier chronicles of the Kashpaw and Nanapush fmailies and their mixed-blood descendants all have loved the same (white) contractor, from car seats to motels -- and a death is caused by pride.

• Article about Erdrich and in-depth review of Burning Love Polly Springer, Minnesota Daily

• Interview with Erdrich Salon webzine; has a chat room where you can discuss her work with others.

Tales of Burning Love , (Ojibwe, Turtle Mountain Reservation), hardcover, $17.50

Blue Jay's Dance: A Brith Year (nonfiction), Louise Erdrich (Ojibwe, Turtle Mountain Reservation); Paperback, $10.

• Long Review (Boston Book Reviews) of this philosophical feminist attempt to place motherhood, the body, and its appetites at the center of spirituality. Review is mostly exposure its own author's ego.

• Purchase any book by Louise Erdrich that is still in print.

Firesticks : A Collection of Stories (American Indian Literature and Critical Studies Series, Vol 5), Diane Glancy (Cherokee),paperback, $13.97

• REVIEW of Firesticks

• Bibliography of plays and other writings by Glancy.

• Article about, photo of Glancy on MacAlerter College (where she teachers English) server.

Pushing the Bear : A Novel of the Trail of Tears, Diane Glancy (Cherokee), hardcover, $15.40

• Powerful novel told in near-poetry from the viewpoints of several men and women who go on the death march, the Trail of Tears. forced removal of Cherokees to Oklahoma. Should be accessible to most teen readers, though not intended as a juvenile. Should replace the Ku Klux Klan speechwriter's fake "The Education of Little Tree" required reading in many high schools.

• Purchase any book by Diane Glancy that is still in print.

The Owl's Song, (Juvenile), Janet Campbell Hale (Coeur d'Alene), paperback, $8.80

• Much praised and highly engaging for teen readers. Story of Native youth moves (from Idaho rez) to San Francisco after his best friend kills self; finds drugs and despair in the city, too. Discriminated against (by Black students and teachers), finally begins to find identity in his own culture and spiritual traditions after being messed over considerably in the city. But he isn't going back there, we don't know where he's going. Highly recommended for teen readers.

The Jailing of Cecelia Capture, Janet Campbell Hale (Couer d'Alene), paperback, $11.16

• Cecelia, jailed on a drunk driving charge on her 30th birthday relives memories of her early rez life, struggles in the city to raise a child as a deserted single mother, and marraige to a white straw man, a common literary race. Her bad relationships with men and struggles to get through law school (so she can return and help her people as a lawyer) are less itneresting than the childhood scenes, and not so well written. Society's prisoner most of her life turning into a lawyer is not all that happy an ending.

  Brief bio from Internet public library project.

• Purchase any book by Janet Campbell Hale that is still in print.

The Rez Sisters: A Play in Two Acts, Tomson Highway (Cree, Canada); Paperback, $9.95 plus $0.85 surcharge

• Bio, pic, bibliography, awards -- page created by Playwrights Union of Canada

• Voix Talks Speaker's Bureau ad for Highway.

Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskaing: A Play , Tomson Highway (Cree), Paperback, $10.95

• "Before the healing can take place, the poison must be exposed." Highway takes this as the motto for his second in what will be a 7-play "Rez" cycle. Though there is the same funky rez humor, the sequel is a tragedy, including rape, murder, and a meaningless accidental shooting death. Amazon.com spelled Highway's name wrong and got the sequel book/play's title wrong too in its catalog, but this is the first sequel to the better-known Rez Sisters. Both plays are highly recommended for reading and (with suitable casts) performance.

• Purchase any book by Tomson Highway that is still in print.

Legends of Vancouver, E. Pauline Johnson (Mohawk, 1861-1913), Paperback, 7.95 + $1.35 special surcharge

• E(mily) Pauline Johnson a poet and stage entertainer popular with non-Indian Canadians who knew little about poetry when she retired from the stage -- where she recited dressed in flowing imitation Indian duds -- lived in Vancourver and was befriended by chief Joseph Capilano whose tales -- and some prose pieces recording what was done to the Indians of British Columbia -- were published in 1911. A few of her poems and stories can be found in anthologies, but most of her writing is out of print.

• Emily Pauline Johnson History, background, and some of her writings are presented here by what is apparently a design team of McMaster University staff and students for Canada's SchoolNet Digital Collections.

• Purchase any book by E. Pauline Johnson that is still in print.

The Manitous: The Spiritual World of the Ojibway; Basil Johnston (Ojibwe, Parry Island Reserve, Ontario); Hardcover: $16.80

• Johnston's latest collection of traditional tales and Ojibwe Midewin and other spiritual teachings, has been described (by Canadian reviewers) as "spellbinding...a magical window on an ancient culture" with beautiful full-color paintings to illustrate the tales and teachings.

The Bear-Walker and Other Stories; Basil H. Johnston (Ojibwe, Parry Island Reserve, Ontario), David A. Johnson (Illustrator) ; Hardcover: $19.95

• The Bear Walker is an evil shaman who puffs a light at night, when he's robbing graves. Ghosts and spooks, told from traditions still alive, but with Johnston's literary polish. The Royal Ontario Museum commissioned the paintings done to illustrate this beautiful book; they have become part of its permanent Native collection.

Indian School Days; Basil H. Johnston (Ojibwe, Parry Island Reserve, Ontario); Paperback: $10.36

• Autobiographical story of his own survival at an Indian residential (boarding) school, Canada's attempt to stamp out Native language, culture, and lifeways, which was similar to the Boarding Schools of the US. Johnston's humor -- and the fact he finds a savvy young homey from his reserve almost immediately on arrival -- save his life and sanity. The story is funny, but that's because Johnston is a very funny guy; the story is easy to read, but ultimately appalling in the near-universal destructiveness chronicled.

Ojibway Ceremonies; Basil Johnston (Ojibwe, Parry Island Reserve, Ontario), David Beyer (Illustrator); Paperback: $7.16

Ojibway Heritage Basil Johnston (Ojibwe, Parry Island Reserve, Ontario); Paperback: $7.96

• The American poet and essayist Jarold Ramsey, who made himself into an expert on Indians, and helped fake up that phoney Chief Seattle. the old-time-environmentalist speech, didn't like this serious and beautiful record of things Johnston recorded from Ojibwe elders. Ramsey said it was devoid of historical perspective (unlike university stuff by white anthros) and nothing new. (Ramsey should know about novelty, faking up historical documents like he did.) Actually, Johnston is showing the timeless structures of Midewewin (Grand Medicine Lodge) and society. He moves from such structures to the stories that dramatize and teach them to the young. Ramsey's pan (in the Journal of American Folklore) is really a high recommendation for this book,

• See long quote illustrating "leadership of the crane clan" (and nice drawing) on a "crane" Ojibwe web page. Crane clan traditionally provided spokesmen and orators, the word (in the Canadian form of Anishinaabemowin) is a sacred term for the bird meaning "'voice that sounds from above.".

Ojibway Tales; Basil Johnston (Ojibwe, Parry Island Reserve, Ontario); Paperback: $7.20

• Published 20 years earlier (1978) in Canada under the far better title "Moose Meat and Wild Rice," the stories deal with life on (and a bit off) the fictional Moose Meat Point Reserve, a reserve near 'Blunder Bay.' The stories which are very funny (as a way to slide the knife in), are divided into 4 themes: The Resourcefulness (to survive); Christianity, Religion and worship (and its failures); Getting Along and Ahead Outside the Reserve; With Housing, Education, and Business...Pouf! (the Indian will disappear). A recurring theme is the clash between solidly-rooted, proud, imaginative Moose Meaters with government bureaucrats and do-gooders of all kinds, overbearing, pompous, incompetent, and dull. Many raucous and rascally comic scenes. that point up the inconsistencies of aculturation.

• Johnson's not known as a poet but this poem, written the summer of 1976, when the young artists cleaned up the vandalism done to the spiritual place of Dreamer's Rock (Manitoulin Island) seems to have released his creative outpouring of traditional tales, recoirding of Midewiwin beliefs and ceremonies, and humor.

By Canoe and Mocassin: Some Native Place Names of the Great Lakes, Basil Johnston, (Ojibwe, Parry Island Reserve, Canada); Paperback, $10.95

Purchase any book by Basil Johnston that is still in print.