Native American books?

[Renny]

Hey all,

My boyfriend is a native american, and I want to get him some books about his people as a present for the holidays

I'm looking for something that has more of a spiritual side rather than dry facts, especially considering it's hard for him to read books. I also wanna keep fluffyness to a minimum : )

Anyone know of some good books? Surprisingly, amazon isn't as much of a help as I thought it would be.

Thanks!

- Ren

[Agaliha]

Hmm. Well from what I've read/know finding non-fluffy authentic NA spiritual books isn't a easy task. Seriously. There are a lot of New Age books that have a NA slant. A lot of non-NA people writing them (not that that's a problem, ethnologies for example are very detailed and are written by non-NAs in an Anthropology sense) and I wonder how accurate something is.

I've looked for books about Cherokee spiritual to understand my ancestors more (same for the Slavic side). It wasn't easy. In fact I never really did find anything and the sites online I wondered at their authenticity.

Also what Tribe is he affiliated with-- who is "his people" exactly? There are tons of NA tribes and they're not universal in their culture/beliefs/spirituality even within their regional area (example: Plains, South Western).

[Toby Stimpson]

I think certainly it is a very powerful gesture...but Id be careful in some ways. First id warn not to make assumptions that he doesnt know about his people..or that he dioesnt have an appreciation for them (not that Ims aying you are, just I find thats common soemtiems). Id also warn against giving them to begin with, unless you really know him. Its important to take into consideration soemone's own ties to their community...and how strong those ties are. If he does not identify with his community what so ever, then how much help will giving books be? Then I would warn against making a large wide birth of what 'Native American' is..does he belong to specific Band or Tribe...and what does that part of his identity mean to him?

Now...with thsoe warning out of the way and you hopefully consdiering them....I would suggest this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Lakota-Ritual-Sweat-Lodge-Contemporary/dp/0803261659/sr=8-7/qid=1163735081/ref=sr_1_7/002-4548256-7425608?ie=UTF8&s=books

It looks at the idea of the sweat lodge among the lakota community.

Theres this one that seems to be a social anthropological book:

http://www.amazon.com/Dreaming-Council-Ways-Native-Teachings/dp/1578631327/sr=8-15/qid=1163735081/ref=sr_1_15/002-4548256-7425608?ie=UTF8&s=books

Apart from that....hmm, it depends on him....what are his interests?

Namaste

Tobias

[Teresa]

Neither Wolf Nor Dog by Kent Nerburn was an excellent book. I am still very thankful that NightHawk here recommended it to me.

[Isis_Rose]

I am not sure if this may help your search for a book but I have one called Animals Speak "The magical powers of creatures great and small" by Ted Andrews.

Ted Andrews also wrote a book called "The sacred power in your name" that may grab intrest also?? I am not sure what he speaks most of but I think he might like the animal speak book relates more to nature,animals and our totems.

good luck,
Isis_Rose

[Agaliha]

Animal Speak and most other books out there aren't authentic though. Ditto to the Medicine Cards (Jamie Sams) and a lot of other things about Totems. It's new age-ish. I wouldn't take those or anything online about totems and NA spirituality as fact unless it comes from a credible source or is an ethnology (anthropologist that imbed themseves in the culture for years and write about it). There are many NA's that are offended and pissed at their practices and beliefs being warped and pimped out. ::shrug:: I can understand it.
Just saying. It's fine to give those as gifts, but don't make it seem like it's an authentic representation of what your boyfriend's Tribe or any Tribe actually believes. I've read the book, it's interesting. But fact? No.If you're just looking for someing NA-ish/flavored than those would work though.
I'd love love love to find some real authentic info about the Cherokees (I'm half) but it's not really possible. Unless I go to a Reservation...which isn't going to happen anytime soon.

[Faol-chù]

You might check out Tom Brown...

I can't say he's strickly "Native American", although he certainly draws from his Native American heritage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Brown_(naturalist)

[Verthandi]

You have to remember that looking for "Native American" as an all-encompassing religious path doesn't work. Traditions, cosmologies and rites vary wildly from region to region (the Potawatami for example would know nothing of seals and orcas). If you knew his tribe, you might be able to get information directly from the tribal council; a lot of tribes have websites up that make it much more convenient to find info.

[RunningRiot]

Hm.. Books I got when visiting my tribe's homelands;

Spirit Healing
The Cherokee Little People

[Wolfsong]

Black Elk Speaks ... originally written in 1932 it really is a classic... some say he was influenced by christianity and the book has a few critics but he was a great man. The book was actually written by another man who interviewed Black Elk using Black Elk's son as an interpreter. If there is one book I would recommend for anyone interested in Native American spirituality it would be Black Elk's

Anything by Ed McGaa. A Native american who was a decorated vietnam pilot and is now a lawyer. Although his early writings show a lot anger towards whites his later books (the ones he is known for) really open up to everyone and he goes out of his way to explain native spitituality to everyone and in a lot of ways encourages everyone to become familiar with their ways and even practice them if they are interested. Again.. he has some critics on both sides but his writings hold a lot of truths.

[Wolfsong]

One more that is excellent... "Profiles in Wisdom: Native Elders Speak About the Earth". 17 Native American Elders share stories and thier wisdom about the earth. It was edited by Steven McFadden. What I loved about this one was that it shared the wisdom of 17 elders so it is very diverse.

[omar]

Ed McGaa(Eaglman), has several books & he put Black Elk Speaks on tape. Fools Crow by Thomas E. Mails,The Man Who Knew the Medicine byHenry Niese.Garrett& Garrett,father & son have books about the Cherokee.Lame Deer by Richard Erdoes & Star Medicine by Moondance. I also have Animals Speak.

[Taliesyn]

"Crow Dog"
"Black Elk Speaks"
""the Sacred Pipe" by Joseph Epes Brown
"Black Elk - sacerd ways of a Lakota" by Wallace Black Elk

The last book is one of my all time favorites. I think any earth centerd person should read it. there is also a book about the sundace written by a dancer, I think it is called "Sundancer" but I am not sure.

[Teresa]

One more that is excellent... "Profiles in Wisdom: Native Elders Speak About the Earth". 17 Native American Elders share stories and thier wisdom about the earth. It was edited by Steven McFadden. What I loved about this one was that it shared the wisdom of 17 elders so it is very diverse.

That is an excellent book ! I had forgotten about it.

[wolf]

I liked reading Fools Crow. (http://www.amazon.com/Fools-Crow/dp/0803281749/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b/104-9118247-4740767)

Not as widely read as the Black Elk books, but very good.

You might do well to find out what tribe your SO is, as not all books will be a good fit .... you could unknowing stumble on a longstanding rivalry.