Customer Reviews

Lame Deer, Seeker Of Visions: The Life Of A Sioux Medicine Man

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I once lived on the Yakima Reservation for a couple weeks, back in 1964. This constituted my entire experience with Native Americans until thirty years later I met a few Navajo and Pueblo people on a trip to the Southwest. So even though I worked as an anthropologist for many years, I had absolutely zip to do with Native Americans. I was aware that there is a huge amount of junk written and shown in movies about them; that they have been either lionized or demonized out of all proportion in America and in the world beyond. I always felt that "ethnic cleansing" was not invented in the Balkans. Only when such writers as Silko, Momaday, Alexie, and Erdrich emerged did I discover the other world of the Indian people, only the film "Smoke Signals" rang true to me. So, I wasn't sure, when I picked up LAME DEER: SEEKER OF VISIONS, co-authored by John (Fire) Lame Deer and Richard Erdoes, whether I was getting some kind of phony, "awesome-dude !" worshipful portrait of a Lakota "medicine man" or not.

Not to keep you waiting any longer---this is a wonderful book on several levels. First, it contains the life story of Lame Deer, a Lakota man born in South Dakota in 1903 at the absolute nadir of Lakota history. It tells how he grew up, surviving relentless hostility by local whites, went through many ways of life, had numerous escapades, and finally turned towards the traditional wisdom of his people, becoming a wise elder, knowledgeable in many aspects of life. He has that wry Indian humor, so different a personality to what was always presented by Hollywood. Nobody can read this book and not be impressed by this man. The second level of this book is that it presents Lakota culture from the point of view of a Lakota steeped in it over many decades, not the interpretation of it by an outside scholar. You will find chapters on the sacred sweat bath, on the holy pipes of red stone, on the meaningful symbols, on the yuwipi ceremony, the sun dance, the peyote church which came from elsewhere, the heyoka (sacred clowns) and more. Lame Deer wanted to tell the world about Lakota ways and get this all written down to preserve it for the generations to come of his own people. On a third level, this book reflects a very attractive cooperation between two people from backgrounds that could not have been more different: a Lakota man from the prairies of South Dakota and a Vienna-born refugee from Nazism, an Austro-Hungarian in the true sense of that multi-cultural empire. Richard Erdoes only introduces himself at the end; Lame Deer talks throughout the whole book.

The editing and proofreading could have been tighter in my 1972 edition-a lot of passages appear twice or more, for example-and that's why I gave this book four stars, but it is a five star book for students who want to read about the inside view of the world of another culture, it is a five star book for someone particularly interested in knowing Lakota culture and thought, and for anyone who still thinks that Indians were or are "primitive" people. This is a book that speaks to the common humanity of all of us under the four corners of the sky.

People here are prasing this book for the insight it gives into the lives of Native Americans. Not that this book isn't important for its take on Amerindian culture: to say that John Lame Deer doesn't have a grasp on what is important to himself and his people would be improper and negligent.

People are missing two of the things that make this book so powerful: its humor and its take on the white world that exists outside of the reservation. Erdoes commentaries on his Indian visitors, Lame Deer's comments on EVERYTHING, and the voice and process of this book are FUNNY. This book is well-constructed and fun to read. On to the second point: Lame Deer is fairly sucessful in making Europeans often look like clowns-- stripping their culture and sophistication, making them more human....

This book should have a much wider audience than it has ever had (and that is actually fairly substantial, strangely enough....) Not that this is a book that could change a person's life: it could at least give direction to the perplexed. I highly recommend this book....

I had the great pleasure of meeting Lame Deer in the mid 1970's, when he came and spoke with a college class I was attending. Well, perhaps "spoke" is not the right word. Looking back from some 30 years later, I cannot say whether the presence he had was completely authentic, completely manufactured, or some combination of the two. But a very definite presence is most certainly what he had. He communicated as much through gesture, posture and his gaze as he did with his words.
And when I say he spoke "with" the class, that is exactly what I mean. Far more than most of the guest "lecturers" I have seen over the years, Lame Deer clearly attended to each question he was asked, as if it was the most important thing in his world for that moment.
I have not read the book in many years (it was lost in a move shortly after that visit) but I remember that it did an excellent job of taking me out of my customary perspective while allowing me to feel GOOD about it rather than threatened or "put down."

There is humor. Lame Deer has an excellent sense of just where to find your funny bone! I broke out in laughter more than once. I'm quite sure the other people on the bus think I'm nuts! But, we all have a heyoka inside of us, eh? He even asks us to laugh at ourselves a little. It's historical, and teaches you some things that definitely should have been taught in school. It's cultural, and denotes some interesting differences between Indian and other groups of people. I like the book on the whole, and strongly recommend it as reading for anyone considering hanblechia. My fiancee' is starting his sun dance next year, and I wanted to educate myself further as to what that entails. It's a great read!

You will find yourself laughing out loud at the antics in this book numerous times. I almost fell out of my chair when the book detailed Lame Deer's crime spree of moonshine whiskey and stolen cars. ;-) This one story alone os worth twice the price of the book!

There is much wisdom in this book; but the ceremonies in this book are not entirely accurate.

Many American Indian Nations witheld accurate information, but now more and more of them are coming forward and releasing accurate information. Even some of the Hopi Elders came forward about two years ago and released some of their sacred prophecies. I hope it is not too late.

I am deeply disturbed by the Kettle dance, but I am not of that culture, and have no right to judge it.

I would like to give this book five stars but I can't because some of the ceremonies are wrong.

I say the ceremonies are wrong because I have read ceremonies in many other books, and I have several full blooded American Indian friends, and they confirmed what I read in these other sources.

I recommend these books regarding American Indian Spirituality in the order listed.

"The Sacred Pipe" Joseph Epes Brown

"Native Wisdom" Ed McGaa

"Mother Earth Spirituality" Ed McGaa

"Foolscrow: Wisdom And Power" Thomas E. Mails

"Black Elk: The Sacred ways of the Lakota" Wallace Black Elk & William S. Lyons.

I recommend "The Sacred Pipe" highest because Mr. Brown actualy lived with the famous holyman Nick Black Elk for a few months while gathering information for this book.

Then; there are some books written by Indians that are full of new age pap because it sells. ;-(

I am the proud carrier of a Catlinite (pipestone) pipe that my American Indian friends helped me obtain. I agree with the 1990 quote by Orval Looking Horse "No one should be denied a peace pipe.".

If you have questions or comments; E-mail me. Two Bears.

Wah doh Ogedoda (We give thanks Great Spirit)

Lame Deer is an authentic look at traditional Sioux tribal beliefs. The author pulls no punches and western audiences may be disturbed by some parts - eating of dog, hanging by flesh to have a vision of the creator. However, as Lame Deer points out, many things about American culture are deeply disturbing to Native Americans too - from Mt. Rushmore to convenient religion practiced only on a Sunday. This was written a few years ago, before the casinos started seriously plowing money back into the tribes,but I doubt Lame Deer would be very pleased at the social costs of that either. All in all, a profound, deeply moving, provocative, funny and disturbing look at Native American culture subsumed by American white culture, but never defeated. I found it a good source for my own novel as well: Neitherworld, a sci-fi epic that takes place among the Ojibwe.
Neitherworld Book One Akiiwan (CreateSpace Version)

The life and times of this Lakota holy man, contrarian (heyoka), and sometime outlaw are rendered for us through the collaboration of John (Fire) Lame Deer, and Richard Erdoes, an Austrian artist by way of New York. Lame Deer's reckless early days; his quest for vision and spirit; and the integrity of his personality throughout a very full life - this is the meat and potatoes of this book.

The autobiographical first part of the book fades into the ways of Lakota culture and rituals and all the concomitant symbolisms which inhabit them.
Lame Deer is opening up the inner world of the Lakota people, not just for the future generations of his own people, but for all of us interested in the Lakota ways.

What struck me most in this narration is Lame Deer's humor and Indian perspectives on the idiocies of the white people; without hatred or resentment - just an enormous sadness that has pervaded a very unique life. This book will open your eyes to the visions this seeker sought and found. Highly recommended.

Extracts: A Field Guide for Iconoclasts

The Cloud Reckoner

People need to know, that it is very-much-so considered sacrilegious, to some, to share this kind of information with others considered "outsiders" .... and, with good cause, no? We're in a culture of mockery at the moment, it seems wise enough to tread lightly, to me. However, there are those that fill different, that it is the time of the Blue Man from Black Elk's now-famous vision, and thusly an appropriate time to share Native Wisdom with the world. I, unfortunately, am stuck somewhere inbetween the two positions. It's a strange place to be. But at the time I think it is important to bridge the gap between Native ways and Christianity, there are even some who consider Yashua to be on the Red Road, His life being a decent example of same. I am of that line of thought, and yes I already know most will disagree with me, nonetheless, if you are looking for a good book about Native philosophy of the Plains, I feel you couldn't find a better book. The Lame Deers are, and have been, some of the most powerful medicine men in the history. If after finishing this one you had a good laugh and enjoyed the read, maybe learning some things along the way, I highly suggest to you to get the sequel, Archie Fire Lame Deer's Gift of Vision. Which in my opinion is an even better book, but still this one is necessary to read before it. Enjoy.

This book made the Native American people more real and understandable for me. It made me realize how much experience we need to be able to have knowledge. I hope I am a more understanding and better person for having read this book.

I personally read this book many years ago, and found it to be one of the most interesting accounts of personal history I have ever read. John Fire Lame Deer lead a life as many things, but one thing is for sure he 'lived' his life and lived it like no other. Everytime I see this book on my shelves, I pick it up and read it all over again. From childhood to manhood walk side by side with one of the most interesting people in all of history. *Wink* click my name above.