Lakota Belief and Ritual [Paperback]

James R. Walker (Author), Elaine A. Jahner (Editor), Raymond J. DeMallie (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1991

"The real value of "Lakota Belief and Ritual" is that it provides raw narratives without any pretension of synthesis or analysis, as well as insightful biographical information on the man who contributed more than any other individual to our understanding of early Oglala ritual and belief". ("Plains Anthropologist"). "In the writing of Indian history, historians and other scholars seldom have the opportunity to look at the past through 'native eyes' or to immerse themselves in documents created by In-dians. For the Oglala and some of the other divisions of the Lakota, the Walker materials provide this kind of experience in fascinating and rich detail during an important transition period in their history." ("Minnesota History"). "This collection of documents is especially remarkable because it preserves individual variations of traditional wisdom from a whole generation of highly developed wicasa wakan (holy men)..."Lakota Belief and Ritual" is a wasicun (container of power) that can make traditional Lakota wisdom assume new life." (American Indian Quarterly"). "A work of prime importance...its publication represents a major addition to our knowledge of the Lakotas' way of life". ("Journal of American Folklore"). Raymond J. DeMallie, director of the American Indian Studies Research Institute and a professor of anthropology at Indiana University, is the editor of James R. Walker's "Lakota Society" (1982) and of "The Sixth Grandfather: Black Elk's Teachings Given to John G. Neihardt" (1984, a Bison Book), both published by the University of Nebraska Press. Elaine A. Jahner, a professor of English at Dartmouth College, has edited "Walker's Lakota Myth" (1983), also a Bison Book.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A work of prime importance . . . its publication represents a major addition to our knowledge of the Lakotas' way of life"-"Journal of American Folklore,"

About the Author

Raymond J. DeMallie, director of the American Indian Studies Research Institute and a professor of anthropology at Indiana University, is the editor of James R. Walker's Lakota Society and of The Sixth Grandfather: Black Elk's Teachings Given to John G. Neihardt, both available as Bison Books. Elaine A. Jahner, a professor of English at Dartmouth College, has edited Walker's Lakota Myth, also available in a Bison Books edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 369 pages
• Publisher: Bison Books (May 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803297319
• ISBN-13: 978-0803297319
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #327,195 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True story of a medical doctor that became a Wicasa Wakan, January 24, 2002

By 

W. Lambdin "Two Bears" (Ellensburg, WA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lakota Belief and Ritual (Paperback)

James Walker went to the Pine Ridge reservation in 1896 (as a Christian) to serve the indians as a Medical Doctor.

18 years later when he left the reservation; he had adopted the Sioux form of Spirituality, and had become a wicasa wakan (holy man). He was trained by George Sword, and other medicine and holy people.

Some of this material is very dry, and dificult reading because a large part of the book (expecially the rituals and myths) were translated into English from the Language of the Sioux. But if you have a sincere wish to understand this form of Spirituality; this book is well worth reading.

I do wish to confirm one statement in this book by wicasa wakan (George Sword). "Any pipe can be used in a sacred manner" I could NOT agree more! I have used a meerschaum pipe, a pipestone (catlinite) pipe, and a briar pipe. The condition of the heart and mind is far more important than the kind of pipe one uses.

I encourage questions and comments about my reviews; Two Bears.

Wah doh Ogedoda (We give thanks Great Spirit)

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lakota Belief and Ritual, December 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Lakota Belief and Ritual (Paperback)

This book is the litmus test for subsequent interpretations of the Lakota religion. Since the true authors felt that their culture was disappearing, they were extremely forthcoming with their information to Dr. Walker. All Lakota expressions of religion that follow this revelation of the Lakota medicine men are in fact derivative of it. Some have questioned the qualifications of the "informants" within Lakota society, but I have seen no contemporary Lakota belief or ritual that deviates from the broad strokes of this book. If you truly want to learn about traditional Lakota religion, start here, and then move on to Raymond J. DeMallie's edited texts under the title The Sixth Grandfather.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Primary research materials; an essential history, May 4, 2002

By 

Former Rater (Nowhere) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lakota Belief and Ritual (Paperback)

Lakota Belief and Ritual is a book rich in oral history. It was recorded at the a time when there were First Nations members who had the personal experiences of a lifetime and whose tradition was an oral tradition. Dr. Walker (a physician and anthropologist) collected and preserved this oral history in the face of the destruction of most First Nation's cultures through the intervention of the European cultures.

The narratives are all excellent and there are 90 + documents containing those first-person narratives along with several photographs.

The Bison Books edition has an extensive (and very valuable) series of appendices, including an extensive (modern) bibliography.

The original Walker papers (or the majority, at any rate) are now part of the Colorado Historical Society collection.

A first rate piece of work by the editors, DeMallie & Jahner, working from the primary materials created and preserved by Dr. Walker and his family.

An invaluable work. This book -or at least excerpts- should be part of any text on U.S. History. The inclusion of First Nations culture in our textbooks is rare, indeed.