Book
All our relatives : traditional Native American thoughts about nature
Record details
- ISBN: 9780941532778 (casebound : alk. paper)
- ISBN: 0941532771 (casebound : alk. paper)
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Physical Description:
print
1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 29 cm. - Publisher: Bloomington, Ind. : World Wisdom, c2005.
Content descriptions
| Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references. |
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Available copies
- 1 of 1 copy available at BC Interlibrary Connect.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Holdable? | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort St. John Public Library | j 978.00497 ALL (Text) | BFSJ103967 | JUNIOR Non-Fiction | Volume hold | Available | - |
- ForeWord Magazine Reviews : ForeWord Magazine Reviews 2005 November/December
One hot day, famous Indian leader Sitting Bull was resting with his eyes closed in the shade by the river when a woodpecker warned him, "Lie still!" He discovered a huge grizzly bear standing over him, but obeyed the bird, and the bear left. After that, it is said, he always paid close attention to what birds told him. This is one of twenty-three traditional tales collected by the author reflecting the Native American belief of the interrelationship and interdependency of all living things. Several stories seem to parallel the probably more familiar Aesop's fables. Following each brief story is a series of quotes taken from the writings of those who lived the nomadic life on the Great Plains, long-ago voices from various tribes such as Blackfoot, Arapaho, Kiowa, Cheyenne, and Pawnee. Goble, who was born in England but has lived in the United States for nearly thirty years (he became a citizen in 1984), is an award-winning children's author and illustrator. He received the Caldecott Medal in 1978 for The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses. Most of his twenty-eight published books reflect his life-long fascination with the Plains Indians and their way of life. This book's title is taken from the Lakota phrase "mitakuye oyasin," which translates to "all my relatives" and is often used in tribal ceremonies and prayers. The text is decorated with Goble's artwork portraying bird and animal designs, copied from tepees, shields, and drums and considered sacred "because they picture ... that which came in dreams to give their protection, encouragement, or direction for people's lives." For example, there's the over-zealous hunter who hunted when he didn't even need the meat. He learns his lesson when the elk he's tracking knock him down and he's scolded by the protector of the elk family. To make amends, he must paint his lodge with the elk symbol on his return to camp. All aspects of natureâlarge and smallâare depicted and represented here. One bit of Arapaho wisdom recalls how the turtle became a symbol of earth: "The ridge on her back is the mountain-line, and the marks are streams and rivers. She herself is like a bit of land in the midst of water." Though designated as a book for older children, it probably is more appropriate for older readers, and even adults, who may appreciate and respect the content even more. As Lame Deer, a Lakota, wrote: "You have to listen to all these creatures, listen with your mind. They have secrets to tell." (October) Robin Farrell Edmunds Copyright 2005 ForeWord Reviews. - Kirkus Reviews : Kirkus Reviews 2005 October #1
A beautiful, if overstuffed, compendium of First Nations' prayers, aphorisms and storytelling about animals. The title comes from the Lakota prayer refrain mitakuye oyasin, which means "all my relatives," or "we are all related." Each spread holds a story or two, and then a series of quotations or sayings about the animal in the story, all carefully but unobtrusively footnoted. The profusion of illustrations, brightly colored and "taken mostly from tipis, shields and drums," says Goble in an author's note, are both fascinating and pleasing to look at. Sometimes the pictures are so numerous they overwhelm the text, and sometimes the pages seem to have too many words. However, the stories and the wisdom are strong, and occasionally enchanting: "The buffalo liked to wallow their big heads in the sunflowers . . . Perhaps they did this to decorate themselves, or maybe they liked the smell of the flowers." Especially useful for older children. (foreword by Joe Medicine Crow, author's note, footnotes) (Folktales. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus 2005 Kirkus/BPI Communications. All rights reserved. - School Library Journal Reviews : SLJ Reviews 2005 December
Gr 4 Up -The pages of this book are chock-full of quotations, songs, and brief stories that exemplify Native American attitudes toward nature. No segment is longer than half a page; most are a few sentences. Black Elk, Standing Bear, Brave Buffalo, and others observe the importance of various animals and the sacred qualities of all living things. All 120 sections are documented. The spaces between text blocks are filled with Goble's familiar illustrations based on traditional Native American designs and colors. Few readers will wade through the entire book. Even browsing is difficult. Perhaps this dense volume could serve as a reference source for teachers planning units on Native American culture. Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve's Enduring Wisdom (Holiday House, 2003) includes fewer sayings but is less overwhelming visually and verbally.-Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato
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