Customer Reviews

The Long March: The Choctaw's Gift to Irish Famine Relief

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(I got this book in Dublin, Ireland, recently.)

This is a truly delightful book. The drawings are lovingly created and the story is both touching and well written. What makes it even more compelling is that it is based on a wonderful true act of human generosity over 150 years ago, from one impoverished people to another, who, although worlds apart in both distance and cultures, had a common enemy, in hunger and oppression.

The author travelled to Oklahoma to research the book and has gone to great lengths to ensure the drawings are authentic as well as inspiring. I particularly like the drawings of the great-grandmother and indeed,the clever shadow of the American eagle when Choona raises his arms in the final drawing as well as the subtle, celtic symbols to be found in this same drawing. "The Long March" is a must for the millions of us with Irish-American heritage - every Irish American child should read this book!

In 1847 an impoverished displaced group of Choctaw Indians collected from their meager resources the sum of $170 to send toward food relief for the Irish Potato Famine.

Through the memories of Choona, now known as Tom, who is very, very old, we learn of how he, as a young man, at last learned of that part of his family's history about which no one would speak & yet everyone looked so wounded. The Long March, when his people were forced to walk from Florida to Mississippi all through one fearsome, killing winter.

The Long March is rich in American history & memory. The marvelous drawings create a magically real place. This is a must for anyone who loves looking at other ways to live in community; other ways of teaching the spirit to grow & learning about courage, wisdom & respecting the memories.

An amazing book - to be read & read again & again & the pictures to be studied & dreamed over. Beautifully evocative.

This book seems to be a wonderful portrayal of a Native American family and community and their culture and history. One point that I appreciate is that the author tried to stay true to the Choctaw cultural activities, arts and lifestyle in the beautiful drawings and text. The author did not meld several different tribal cultures together as a homogenous "Native American culture." The message of the book also helps young readers to respect the sacrifices and values of the tribe, as well as to question the way Euro-Americans treated them in the past. A treasured book.

This book is worth getting for the artwork alone. The story itself is about a forgotten piece of AmerIndian - Celtic history that is worth remembering: How the impoverished Choctaw tribe turned the tragedy of The Long March into a blessing for a people an ocean away.
This story is true but the parable quality makes it especially worth reading: How this Indian people, the Choctaw Nation, decided to help a specific group of the white race that had afflicted them. In a time of Ireland's great distress, the Choctaw, forgave and reached out to these starving people in simple understanding of the hardships the Potato Famine was creating.
The book is written by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick who is from and who is Irish and lives in Ireland. She reseached the events of this humanitarian gift in conjunction with the Choctaw tribe.
The magnificent art work was done by a Native American man, Gary WhiteDeer who lives in Ada, Oklahoma. He has a tremendous talent and ability. He depicts the despair and horror of The Great March that uprooted so many Southern Tribes. He show the whole tragic incident of great cruelty the grueling trek to Oklahoma during the Presidency of Andrew Jackson. Yet WhiteDeer fills these same pictures with sympathy, understanding and shows the great strength, courage and determination of these people to survive.
I am Irish steeped in Irish history, legend and myth, yet I had never heard the story before. I know several of the Choctaw Nation with whom I shared the book, and they, too, had never heard the story. This is one piece of American - Irish history that SHOULD BE remembered and this book does it with clarity, charity and style.
Although The Great March is supposed to be a children's book, I highly recommend it to teachers of Anthropolgy, History, Art, Philosophy and Psychology at an adult level, as well as to high school teachers of these subjects, and teachers and parents of grade school children for whom this book was specifically written.

An old man, now called Tom but once called Choona, tells a story from his youth, the story of how and why the Choctaw came to the aid of the Irish suffering starvation in 1847. He relates that when news of the Irish famine reached the village a meeting is called to discuss what could be done. At the Tribal Council, Choonas' uncle Moshi relates the story of the Irish suffering and says the tribe has been asked to help. The silence is deafening. Soon enough, objections arise, "Why should we help the Nahullo?," (whites) is the popular and understandable refrain.

For the Choctaw had suffered greatly under the harsh rule of the white man, the forced relocation of the tribe from Mississippi to Oklahoma had killed young and old and nearly destroyed the tribe. Then Choonas Great Grand Mother begins to talk, she tells the history of The Trail of Tears; she speaks of the starvation, the pain and suffering endured and she shows how the Irish now walk their own Trail of Tears. Needless to say, her arguments carry the day.

Choona however, is not convinced. Back at home he raises objections, his Great Grandmother addresses his objections by telling him of some unknown history, with that things snap into focus and his heart is turned. He votes to send the money.

The author, Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick presents the Trail of Tears and An Gorta Mor as journeys on the Via Dolorosa, the Choctaw and Irish walk The Way of Sorrows, their common suffering unites them. There's more to this suffering of course, just as The Word becoming flesh sanctified the flesh, the suffering of the Incarnate Word sanctified suffering. Great as the suffering of the Choctaw and Irish was however, it did not match Christs. Christ suffering, His offering, was in atonement for all sins through all eternity; His suffering was an eternal offering. Because of this, both Choctaw and Irish walked with Christ as He walked the Via Dolorosa and He sanctified their suffering.

This is a great story and deserves to be widely read. As it is written for children from 4 to 84 it can be read and examined on different levels. Its utility for helping examine the human condition to children is self-evident. Serious issues are presented in an age appropiate manner, the story is so nuanced however, the deeper sub-text of the story can be examined as the child matures. Again, the story is top notch and the illustrations superb, this is a remarkable book. Both, Gregory E. Pyle, Chief of the Choctaw Nation as well as Gary Whitedeer, Keeper of The Treasures mark this book with their imprimatuer.

An excellent book. Arrived on schedule from seller in great condition. Price was very good.

This is a must read for kids, it gives exposure to the real Choctaw spirit of generosity and depth. This book made me glad to be a human on this planet.