Customer Reviews

Letters and Notes on the North American Indians

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While George Catlin is passionate of his desire to chronicle the North American indians and thier traditions, he falls short in the area of the east coast tribes and nations. The Cherokee, Chippewa, Choctaw, and Six Nations (Iroquois,Mohawk,Algonquin,Oneida,Seneca, and Tuskaroras ) all were an integral part of American history, They are observed on a minimal note. Comparatively, the Mmandans,and Sioux were beautifully chronicled with respect to the traditions and fears of the white man that were held among many Indian nations of the period. The detailed description of the rituals that a boy must endure to become a man, make one realize how trivial our day-to-day challenges really are. You cannot read this book and not gain a renewed respect of the American indian, and all they endured to please the White man,and avoid bloodshed in the name of peace,as they believed the great spirit wanted.

The first 83 pages of this book provide a comprehensive introduction to George Catlin's inspiring life, which really helps you understand the sacrifices he made in order to record his "Letters and Notes"--not to mention beautiful paintings. He was an amazing man with the vision to realize that many of the North American Indian cultures thriving in his time would soon vanish, and the passion and dedication to do everything humanly possible to try to record as much as he could for future generations. He is the only outsider ever to have had contact with many cultures who since have been entirely lost except for his descriptions. Some of his revelations are startling--for example, the Mandan people, who apparently were completely isolated from caucasion genetics, displayed a wide variety of eye colors including blue and hazel eyes, and every color of hair except red and auburn, including bright silver hair unrelated to age. This is a rich, unique book that leaves you in awe.