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>>>By 1868, When Edward Sherriff Curtis Was Born, The Civil War Had Ended And America's Attention Had Shifted To The Final Taming Of The West. The Transcontinental Railroad Was Nearing Completion, And The Remaining Independent Native Tribes Found Themselves In Deepening Conflicts With The Government. Many Were Forced To Fight.
>>>By The Time When Curtis And His Family Moved From Wisconsin To Seattle In 1891, All Of America's Native Tribes Had Been Forced To "Accept" Government Terms And Were Either Confined To Reservations Or Being Assimilated Into White Culture. In Seattle, Curtis Developed Skill As A Photographer, And Established His Own Studio, Intrigued By The Native Residents Of The Area, Curtis Began Photographing Them. he Commercial Potential For Such Images Was Strong, And Curtis Became Convinced That He Was Witnessing An Irreversible Loss Of Native American Culture.
>>>To Help Document That Culture, Curtis Began A Series Of Journeys Across The West To Photograph Members Of Various Tribes. His Ambitions Expanded, And By 1904 An Immense Project Was Taking Shape In His Mind.
>>>In 1907, He Published The First Volume Of What Would Become His Twenty-Volume Masterwork: The North American Indian. Each Volume Of This Work Focused On A Specific Tribe Or Group Of Tribes, And Was Published In A Limited Edition Of 500 Copies.
>>>Curtis's Energy And Perseverance During The Course Of His Immense Project Were Nothing Short Of Amazing. His Journeys Encompassed Thousand Of Miles, Often Under Daunting Conditions. With The Help Of Assistants And Interpreters, He Filled The North American Indian With Tribal Histories, Folk Stories, Vocabularies, Religious Rites, And Songs.
>>>Curtis Attempted To Meet His Subjects On Their Own Terms, Taking Part In Their Daily And Ceremonial Lives Whenever He Could. He Was Even Initiated As A Snake Priest In The Hopi Snake Cult Ceremony.
>>>Despite His Hopes, It Was Impossible For Curtis To Capture Images Of Native American Life As It Once Existed. Many Of His Portraits Were Created Under Studio Conditions, And He Often Romanticized Indians According To The Convention Of The Time. What Curtis Did Have Was Cooperation And Blessing Of Subjects Who Had Often Lived Traditional Tribal Life, People Who Understood And Wished To See Recorded The Unique Facets Of Their Cultures.
>>> This Book Presents Some Of Curtis's Most Striking Photographs.(Don't Have Them Scanned In My Computer) Accompanying Them Are Statements Of Culture Values, Beliefs, And Attitudes From A Number Of Native Americans Who Lived And Experienced Traditional Tribal Life In The Years Between The Civil War And 1930, The Year Curtis Finished The North American Indian.
>>>Their Words Preserve The Wisdom.
If Interested To Get Your Own Copy Of This Series You Can Go To www.runningpress.com
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Native American Wisdom
Walk The Good Road 2 It Is Strictly Believed And Understood By The Sioux That A Child Is The Greatest Gift From Wakan Tanka, In Response To Many Devout Prayers, Sacrifices, And Promises. Therefore The Child Is Considered " Sent By Wakan Tanka," Through Some Element-----Namely The Element Of Human Nature. Robert HighEagle ( Early 20th Century )
Teton Sioux |
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Native American Wisdom Walk The Good Road 3 Often In The Stillness Of The Night, When All Nature Seems Asleep About Me, Thee Comes A Gentle Rapping At The Door Of My Heart. I Open It; And Voice Inquiries, " Pokagon, What Of Your People? What Will Their Future Be?" My Answer Is: "Mortal Man Has Not The Power To Draw Aside The Veil Of Unborn Time To Tell The Future Of His Race. That Gift Belongs Of The Devine Alone. But It Is Given To Him To Closely Judge The Future By The Present, And The Past." Simon Pokagon ( 1830-1899 ) Potawatomie |
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Native American Wisdom Walk The Good Road 4 When I Was A Young Man I Went To A Medicine-man For Advice Concerning My Future. The Medicine-man Said: " I Have Not Much To Tell You Except To Help You Understand This Earth On Wich You Live. If No Man Is To Succeed On THe Hunt Or The Warpath, He Must Not Be Governed By His Inclination, But By An Understanding Of The Ways Of Animals And Of His Natural Surroundings, Gained Through Close Observation. The Earth Is Large, And On It Live Many Animals. The Eath Is Under The Protection Of Something Which At Times Becomes Visible To The Eye." Lone Man ( Isna La-Wica ) ( Late 19th Century ) Teton Sioux |
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Native American Wisdom Walk The Good Road 5 It Was Supposed That Lost Spirits Were Roving About Everywhere In The Invisible Air, Waiting For Children To Find Them If They Searched Long And Patiently Enough....( The Spirit ) Sang Its Spiritual Song For The Child To Memorize And Use When Calling Upon The Spirit Guardian As An Adult. Mourning Dove ( Christine Quintasket ) ( 1888-1936 ) Salish |
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Thank you for posting all of these...great messages..... hugs Annie |
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wado annie. was a pleasure to pass along these and others. I Do TheseIn Another Group As Well and Trying To Catch Up To Gether. lol If You Know What I Mean. Hugs Back SoaringEagle. |
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Native American Wisdom Walk The Good Road 6 The Idea Of Full Dress In Preparation For A Battle Comes Not From A Belief That It Will Add To The Fighting Ability. The Preparation Is For Death, In Case That Should Be The Result Of The Conflict. Every Indian Wants To Look His Best When He Goes To Meet The Great Spirit, So Drssing Up Is Done Whether In Imminent Danger Is An Oncomming Battle Or A Sickness Or Injury At Times Of Peace. Wooden Leg ( Late 19th Century ) Cheyenne |
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Native American Wisdom Walk The Good Road 7 Do You Know Or Can You Believe That Sometimes The Idea Obtrudes....Whether It Has Been Well That I Have Sought Civilization With Its Bothersome Concomitants And Whether It Would Not Be Better Even Now...To Return To The Darkness And Most Sacred Wilds ( If Any Such Can Be Found ) Of Our Country And There To Vegetate And Expire Silently, Happily And Forgotten As Do The Birds Of The Air And The Beasts Of The Field. The Thought Is A Happy One But Perhaps Impracticable. Ely S. Parker ( 1828-1895 ) Seneca Iroquois Sachem Brigadier General, U.S. Army |
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Native American Wisdom Walk The Good Road 8 When I Shot Any Kind Of Bird, When I Killed, I Saw That Its Life Went Out With Its Blood. This Taught Me For What Purpose I Am Here. I Came Into This World To Die. My Body Is Only To Hold The Spirit Life. Should My Blood Be Sprinkled, I Want No Wounds From Behind. Death Should Come Fronting Me. Toohoolhoolzote ( Mid-19th Century ) Nez Perce' Chief |
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Native American Wisdom Walk The Good Road 9 It Is The General Belief Of The Indians That After A Man Dies His Spirit Is Somewhere On The Earth Or In The Sky, We Do Not Know Exactly Where, Lives....So It Is With Wakantanka. We Believe That He Is Everywhere, Yet He Is To Us As The Spirit Of Our Friends, Whose Voices We Can Not Hear. Chased-By-Bears ( 1843-1915 ) Santee-Yanktonai Sioux |
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Native American Wisdon Walk The Good Road 10 A Warrior That Had More Than He Needed Would Make A Feast. He Went Around And Invited The Old And Needy.....The Man Who Could Thank The Food----Some Worthy Old Medicine Man----Said: "---Look To The Old, They Are Worthy Of Old Age;They Have Seen Their Days And Proven Themselves. With The Help Of The Great Spirit, They Have Attained A Ripe Old Age. At This Age The Old Can Predict Or Give Knowledge Or Wisdom, Whatever It Is: It Is So. And The End Is A cane. You And Your Family Shall Get To Where The Cane Is." Black Elk ( 1863-1950 ) Oglala Sioux Holy Man |
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Native American Wisdom Walk The Good Road 11 When I Am Too Old And Feeble To Follow My Sheep Or Cultivate My Corn, I Plan To Sit In The House, Carve Katcina Dolls, And Tell My Nephews And Nieces The Story Of My Life....Then I Want To Be Buried In The Hopi Way. Perhaps My Boy Will Dress Me In The Costume Of A Special Officer, Place A Few Beads Around My Neck, Put A Paho And Some Sacred Corn Meal In My Hand, And Fasten Inlaid Turquoise To My Ears. If He Wishes To Put Me In A Coffin, He May Do Even That, But He Must Leave The Lid Unlocked, Place Food Near By, And Set Up A Grave Ladder So That I Can Climb Out. I Shall Hasten To My Dear Ones, But I Will Return With Good Rains And Dance As A Katcina In The Plaza With My Ancestors..... Don Talayesva ( Late 19th Century ) Hopi Sun Clan Chief |
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this concluded the series. i will add mor to them when i get more. look for the new string i wil start. hope all enjoyed them. |
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Siyo Soaring Eagle, Thank you for posting the many quotes and passages of Native American Wisdom. It has been a joy reading them. My copy of the book Native American Wisdom, which I ordered after reading about it in your posts, has arrived. I like having it very much. It is a beautiful little book that is a perfect size to carry in pocket or purse. Thank you for letting us know about it.  Best regards, Mary |
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 i am honored and felt need to share this with others. i have gotten my copy as well and does fit in pocket or anywhere you can carry. i am starting another one of native american spirituality. i have this one to share as well. walking in the steps of my ancestors and safe journeys. SoaringEagle. |
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