The five narratives in this book, the third volume in Julian Rice's ongoing examination of the work of Ella Deloria, demonstrate Deloria's artistry in portraying the central values of Lakota (Sioux) culture. The introductory stories illustrate courage in three extraordinary women and Deloria's ability to subordinate her voice to that of different narrators. Another tale, "The Prairie Dogs," explains how the warriors' and chiefs' societies, the strongest forces for social cohesion, came into being.
The longest story, "The Buffalo People," concerns the origin of tribal identity based on such ideal qualities as the strength and generosity of the buffalo and the resiliency and grace of the corn. In her retelling of the story Deloria improvises upon the poetic conventions of oral performance. These stories offer surprising perspectives on Lakota culture to readers with an interest in Native American societies of the past and present.
