Customer Reviews

Indian Yell: The Heart of an American Insurgency

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This book is a most enjoyable read, but is a very narrow presentation of Indian history. Michael Blake is certainly a very gifted writer and this book is a wonderful presentation, if, and that's a big "if", it is read within the context of which it was written. By that I mean, I fear that many readers might take this rather narrow presentation of "white man, bad - red man, good" history and run with it as being an all-inclusive presentation. That's not what it is, and I don't believe that's what Blake intended, but revisionist historians have given us such a skewed view of the history of the American West, particularly in white/Indian relations, that I'm afraid that might indeed be the end result.

INDIAN YELL is a presentation of twelve different events. The events are portrayed quite accurately, in fact, Blake gives the most accurate accounting of what took place at what has become known as Beecher's Island that I have found. And the problem is, I do not believe Blake has given any "bad" information here, I simply believe a matter so complex as the history of the American Indians in the 19th century cannot possibly be contained in the confines of a book of less than 200 pages, or for that matter, in the confines of twelve specific events. What I mean is, there is a much bigger picture that is not encapsulated here.

Perhaps the most stunning example would be the portrayal of the history of the Sioux. Don't misunderstand me here, certainly there is no question the American government mishandled the settlement of Indian lands at virtually every turn, and in the case of the Sioux, much emphasis is placed upon the massacre at Wounded Knee, but the overall picture is often left untold.

Historians, in the vain of Dee Brown's epic "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee", try to interpret the Indian wars of the northern plains only as "Indian-white" wars and described them only from the viewpoint of the Sioux hostiles. Historians typically brush off as "mercenaries" those tribes that became allies to the whites against the Sioux.

To view the Crow (who white trappers and traders had predicted in the 1830's would soon be extinct due to their far more numerous red enemies) and the Arikara (who also lost their land to the Sioux) as white "mercenaries" is far beyond simplistic reasoning and completely overlooks the long history of Indian warfare in the region. The Crow, Arikara and many other tribes had been fighting the Sioux (and losing, for the most part) for generations before they received any effective aid from the whites. Twentieth century historians are shortsighted in their work to attempt to lend understanding of the plight of the Indian without an awareness of the history of intertribal warfare.

The Sioux migrated south and west to the Missouri around 1750. In the century preceding and following that movement, the Sioux engaged in war with at least twenty-six other Indian tribes, as well as the River Metis and the U.S. Army. Historians almost always fail to note that the most dramatic battles fought between the army and the Sioux were on lands the Sioux had taken from other tribes since 1851. Also overlooked is that the Arikara and Hidatsa chiefs who had signed the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 had both been killed by the Sioux when in 1864, the Arakara Chief White Shield petitioned the army to uphold its treaty and punish the Sioux.

I've ventured off course, so let me return to Blake's work here. This is a highly readable and well-written piece. I seek only to remind readers of what Blake's presentation was surely meant to be; a depiction of twelve events that were a small part of the overall picture of history. Those twelve events are well presented here.

Monty Rainey
www.juntosociety.com

It is true as the author states that those who have done previous reading on this subject will find little that is new in this book. I have read other works on the conflicts between the Native Americans and the Whites as the latter encroached on their land, but still found the book to be enjoyable. Those with little or no background will find much to learn about this infamous part of our nation's history. Author Michael Blake has chosen twelve incidents between the warring factions and provided the reader with an interesting review. Such incidents as the Sand Creek Massacre, The Battle (?) of the Washita, the Little Big Horn, Wounded Knee, and others, some of which are not so well known, are included. The book is 170 pages long including the index, and is larger than a conventional hardcover which I feel is a definite plus. Also included are a number of photographs of the areas covered and the individuals involved. My one negative comment is the lack of the Fetterman Massacre and Wagon Box Fight near Fort Phil Kearney in Wyoming in 1866. The book is easy reading, and whether you have a background in this area or not I feel you would find it interesting reading. I would especially recommend it to young people in middle or high school.

Michael Blake has done it again. It was great to continue on from the end of "Dances With Wolves." I love these types of books because they don't just leave you and you don't have to wonder what happened to the characters in the future. I treasured every page. I love the Native American Indians and hope Michael will write more about some of the others tribes; I can't get enough of the history. "Dances With Wolves," the movie was wonderful and I watch wherever I see it on TV; wouldn't it be nice if they made "Indian Yell" into a movie?

Blake is a terrific writer, and if you want a place to start learning about the Indian Wars, this is a pretty good one. It's very clean, focused writing, with nice photos at a decent size (unlike the usual grainy small photos publishers skimp on.) But if you want more info, Utley's books are better. And I was a little put off by the sensationalistic chapter titles, like "Shock and Awe." On the other hand, the prose is terrific, and the history is very solid.

A heartbreaking account of 19th century war crimes and genocide in the American west. This is not a liberal rant on the evils of America as you might expect. It is a collection of short historical treatises on key events in Indian-White relations of the 19th century. The events described shed new light on how zealots among private citizens, the military, and the state and federal governments used deception to genocide in dealing with American Indians. To truly understand the history of western expansion, one must face the reality of its cost. Mr. Blake has given us a concise and moving account of a side of history we would rather forget but must face to understand. It is one-sided, indeed. It is also true and long overdue.

From Michael Blake, author of Dances with Wolves, comes a brief account of the "Indian Problem" between 1854 and 1890, described in Indian Yell: The Heart of an American Insurgency. Blake tries to capture how the American Indian was, and is treated, by picking twelve of most significant conflicts/events in American Indian history.

The dust jacket gives voice to Blake's intention: "Beginning in 1854 with a decrepit cow that wandered onto a Sioux encampment that sparked a slaughter, and ending with the last freezing gasps of breath from the victims of the Wounded Knee in 1890, the horrors and shame of war within our borders is recounted." Sounds fascinating, right?

Unfortunately Blake tries to do too much with too little. If the reader isn't steeped in the history, the reader will be as lost as the Indian way of life. Key information is missing in each event.

For example, in "Deceit," the chapter is supposed to provide illumination on how the Apaches were lied to and the fall of Cochise. Instead, sentences like "A new general, known equally for self-promotion and effectiveness, was installed to oversee a mammoth military commitment" leave the reader wondering what is happening. Which general? Does his name live in the history books? Should I know him? Could it be Custer? His name is never mentioned.

Sentence like the one mentioned abound throughout the book. I found this jarring and interruptive to an already dull narrative.

There are two saving graces to Indian Yell. One is that the chapter titles are creative and interesting "The Music Freezes," "Burned at the Tongue," and "Shock and Awe." Second, is that at the end of each chapter, Blake provides a "Recommended Reading" suggestion to further enlighten the reader of that episode.

As far as reading Indian Yell, readers would be better off taking the author's suggestions and reading his recommendations.

Armchair Interviews says: History lesson that leaves much yet to be learned from this author.

This was a superb purchase....book as described...fast shipping...great seller...thanks so much....will buy from you again.....

These stories are told in a compelling narrative...not dry "history" but personal stories of the men (and women) who fought and died in the American West in twelve pivitol battles. I read it in one sitting. Fascinating. Michael Blake is a great storyteller.

Blake does a fine job stripping each of 12 encounters to its essence, introducing us to compelling characters Indian and White alike.

The bonuses are two. First, each chapter ends with a recommended reading, most of which are new to me and most of which I will pursue. Second, Blake's writing invites the reader to visit the places where the battles occurred. The most intriguing of these is Palo Duro Canyon:

"...the second largest canyon in the United States...Often plunging to depths of one thoudand feet, the canyon cuts finger-like across the Texas Panhandle for more than 100 miles. A river runs through its heart supporting life in multitudes..."

see you there

Michael Blake is author of DANCES WITH WOLVES, and in INDIAN YELL: THE HEART OF AN AMERICAN INSURGENCY he not only reviews past practices but connects them to modern-day policies. Twelve significant conflicts receive survey in INDIAN YELLOW, a narrative which covers conflict between Indian and white man during the nation's expansion. The analysis dispels common myths and stereotypes of the Indian Wars, uses research to analyze both military and cultural interactions, and provides important connections to today's events and concerns among Indian nations.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch