Customer Reviews

Blessing for a Long Time: The Sacred Pole of the Omaha Tribe

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have reviewed and written about this book in the professional literature, and won't duplicate that here. But it deserves a note here for the convenience of would-be readers/purchasers. Blessing for a Long Time tells the story of Umon'hon'ti, the Sacred Pole of the Omaha Indians, which was given over and spent a century in the Peabody Museum at Harvard before being returned to the Omahas. Hastings and Ridington beautifully tell and contextualize this story with the situations of the Omahas in 1888 (when it was given over) and in the late 20th century when it was returned, and with the history of the Peabody and anthropological collecting more in general. This is a great piece of anthropological work - and a great story, well-told, and accessible for general as well as academic audiences. Highly recommended for those interested in the Omahas, or Indians in general, or in museums and collecting and their relationships with contemporary Native people.