When American Indians left reservations in the 1950s, enticed by the federal government’s relocation program, many were drawn to cities like Tacoma and Seattle. But in these new homes they found unemployment and discrimination, and they were no better off. Sin Aikst Indian Bernie Whitebear was an urban activist in the Pacific Northwest during the last decades of the twentieth century, a man dedicated to improving the lives of Indians and other ethnic groups by working for change and justice. He unified Northwest tribes to fight for the return of their land and was the first to accomplish this in the United States. But far from a fearsome agitator, Bernie was a persuasive figure who won the praise and admiration of an entire community. Bernie began organizing powwows in the 1960s with an eye toward greater authenticity; and by making a name in the Seattle area as an entertainment promoter, he soon became a successful networker and master of diplomacy, enabling him to win over those who had long ignored the problems of urban Indians. Soft-spoken but outspoken, Bernie successfully negotiated with officials at all levels of government on behalf of Indians and other minorities, crossing into political territory normally off-limits to his people. Bernie Whitebear’s story takes readers from an impoverished youth—including a rare account of life on the Colville Reservation during the 1930s—to the “Red Power” movement as it traces Bernie’s emergence as an activist influenced by contemporaries such as Bob Satiacum, Vine DeLoria, and Joe Delacruz. By choosing this course, Bernie was clearly making a break with his past, but with an eye toward a better future, whether staging the successful protest at Fort Lawton or acting on behalf of Native fishing rights in Puget Sound. When he died in July 2000, Bernie Whitebear had left an inestimable legacy, accomplishing things that no other Indian seemed able to do. His biography is an inspiring story for readers at many levels, an account of how one American Indian overcame hardships and obstacles to make a difference in the lives of his people—and an entire community.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Whitebear was born to a Native American mother and Filipino father in 1937 and emerged from an impoverished childhood to become an influential Indian-rights activist who earned the respect of senators and governors and served on the board of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian until his death in 2000. His older brother now tells Whitebear's remarkable story. His first cause was Indian salmon-fishing rights on the Columbia River; later Whitebear worked with Seattle's "urban Indians," teaching them how to straddle cultures and not abandon their traditions. He organized powwows that led to the formation of the United Indians of All Tribes and to the completion of their spectacular cultural center outside Seattle. He networked with other minorities to raise money for educational and employment services, Head Start and GED programs, and multicultural art centers. Reyes' tribute to his brother is uplifting and informative, offering a firsthand view of the progress of Indian rights during the last half of the twentieth century. Deborah Donovan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
"Reyes' tribute to his brother is uplifting and informative, offering a firsthand view of the progress of Indian rights during the last half of the twentieth century." —Booklist “Blends biography with Native American insights as it tells of a man who began as an impoverished you on a 1930s reservation and grew to a powwow organizer whose influence improved the lives of Indians across the country.” —Midwest Book Review “A loving tribute to Seattle’s most-admired Indian activist.”—Sunday Seattle Times & Seattle Post Intelligencer
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bernie Whitebear a winner,
By Muffy (Texas) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Bernie Whitebear: An Urban Indian's Quest for Justice (Paperback)
The author is justly proud of his brother "Bernie Whitebear". The book provides many facts and stories of Whitebear's accomplishments in fighting for Indian rights. Many of these facts can be be authenticated by going on-line and reading newspaper articles from that time.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bernie -- A Visionary,
By DHL49 (California USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Bernie Whitebear: An Urban Indian's Quest for Justice (Paperback)
I knew Bernie Whitebear while I was a teenager in Seattle and he was the first Urban Indian leader I had met. Over the course of time, I found him to be a person who mentored youth and he was a visionary in a very enlightening period for Urban Indians in Seattle. His perseverance and dedication is a testament to his character and reading the book written by Lawney, his brother, about their upbringing makes all the pieces in the puzzle fit and make sense. He came from a humble background (perhaps "poor" as far as wealth) but also one that was rich in morals, values, traditions and culture. This book was a very good read.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great seller,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Bernie Whitebear: An Urban Indian's Quest for Justice (Paperback)
This seller sent my book on time and I was satisfied with the book not being damaged. Basically, the seller well described how the book descriptions were. :)
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
