Customer Reviews

Native Wisdom: Perceptions of the Natural Way

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This book is a compilation of Ed McGaa's lectures at an "upper income, midwestern, metropolitan suburban school". In it, we mainly get his personal views and experiences of the "Natural Way" which, generally speaking, represent the tradition of his native Lakota Sioux. McGaa's credentials are pretty good: he claims to have studied with Frank Fools Crow and Bill Eagle Feather, without doubt two of the most influential Sioux medicine people. This therefore is an opportunity to partake of life experiences of an insider who is willing to share his views of God, religion, spirits and interconnectedness of life. We learn of such key elements of Lakota worldview as the 6 Powers, the Wakamaskan (animal brothers), yuwipi, Sun Dance, details of Black Elk's vision and the attitude of reverence and respect towards the "Great Mystery". Native Americans cannot comprehend the concept of a wrathful, revengful God, nor can they understand the concepts of sin and "being saved". They have seen what we have forgotten - that what makes a person harmonious, kind and peaceful is their closeness to Nature which gifts them the power of presence (is it therefore surprising to see that the people who wreak discord in the world are characterized by their disconnectedness from Nature and their own bodies?)

McGaa has a lot of beef with organized religion and by golly do I agree with him. According to him, the concept of heaven and hell was great for the priests trying to to keep in control ignorant masses. The more we shed our ignorance, the closer we get to the Great Spirit and the freer we are from the leeches trying to take over our spiritual life. This is why, says McGaa, knowledge is so crucial. Knowledge leads to wisdom, wisdom leads to understanding, and understanding leads to peace. The key to developing knowledge is observation. We do not have to believe anything : it is enough to be patient, observe and draw conclusions for oneself.

In short, this is an eminently practical book written by a knowledgeable person of great integrity. I recommend it.

Eagle Man makes a compelling plea for environmental and social responsibility, in a context of First Nations (specifically Oglala Sioux) history, spirituality, and worldview. I found this book was a great introduction to Oglala culture including information on further resources and an extensive glossary of Lakota terms. It has inspired me to pursue further study of Lakota spirituality. I look forward to reading Eagle Man's other writings.

Dear Eagle Man,

For the past few weeks my family and I have been on a journey of discovery. The first week was about discovering Yellowstone and Wyoming. While camping and at one with nature, I was able to free my mind of the ties to the illusion of life that man has created and instead, be come reconnected to to the way life should be. I felt connected and at peace.

Soon after reading a book I found in Cody, WY called The Soul of the Indian by Charles A. Eastman, I found myself at the Crazy Horse memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota. There was a calling for me to be there as my interest was piqued to learn more about the way the Indians viewed life, religion, nature, and spirituality.

That is where I discovered a woman selling beads, jewelry, etc. It was as if she called me from across the room without saying a word. She introduced herself as your daughter and began telling me about the four books she had of yours. I bought them and started with "Native Wisdom" because it seemed to be right were my mind was.

I cannot tell you how much this book has opened my eyes. It truly has hit home with me in a way I cannot describe. It has helped me see clearly in a way that I have never been able to. I have always felt a connection with nature but this book has helped me reach a new level of discovery. I feel connected in a way I never have before.

I truly believe that this book could change the world if enough people were exposed to it. With this statement I mean that I believe there is a hunger for something people can attach to and believe in. There are so many of us spiritual people who are turned off to the ways of the preacher, the church, catholicism, and the man-made organized religions of the world. Especially in light of what the leaders of this country are interpretting religeon and using as a tool to keep support in their cause.

I believe that if the words of yours and Black Elk were to reach out to more people, it could cause a monumental change in the lives of the people of the world. Your approach to writing this was done perfectly. It was in a manner that did not come across as preaching to the reader. It left the reader to decide if was something they could accept and understand.

I find myself so attached to nature. More than ever. I've been showing my young children the ways of the Sioux and Black Elk. It is something they really can relate to.

If you are ever speaking in the NY State area or on the east coast, please let me know. I'd truly like to thank you in person and ask you a few questions.

Thanks brother Eagle Man. Your ability to communicate in this manner, truly reaches down into the readers soul and makes it so that they can't help but make them understand your point of view.

It has changed me forever. It truly has.

If there is any way I can help you in spreading your message, please let me know. I think it is important for more people to hear about these thoughts. It could be the lever that helps get this world back on track. It is such a powerful message yet simple enough for all to understand.

In the meantime I intend to look for some way I can observe a Sun Dance and continue to connect to Black Elk's words and yours.

May the wisdom of the Great Spirit continue to spread through the words you write and from others who read them.

I enjoyed this book, even the parts I disagree with...because it seems to be a pretty straightforward/honest depiction of someone's contemporary spirituality and why it is what it is...although the "why" part is often tucked between the lines. As has already been mentioned, the book is basically an extended answer to a set of questions that were presented to different representatives of different spiritual traditions at a specific conference. The book though, is much more. The questions simply give the book some structure. It essentially is a "track" a footprint in the sands of time as it concerns the reconstruction of Lakota spirituality after things started getting a little better in the seventies. It seems to me Ed McGaa is right there at the tail end (and that's not a bad place to be) of that time when the Sun Dance was being started up again, and before a lot of the younger people started getting even a little more "reactionary." If you're "Indian" you might enjoy this book to see how Mr. McGaa sees things from his generational perspective and from his dance of life. If you're American, you should read the book to see what you might have been if history would have progressed a little differently, and how you just might "be" if you start to draw on a little bit of Grandmother Earth's Wisdom. Personally, I believe in assimilation...I think it's high time ALL Americans start assimilating a little bit to some aspects of our Native spirituality. This book can serve as a handbook in that regard.
It is not however a "how to" book of Lakota or any other Nation's ceremonies. Because of that, I think I even like this one better than his other book with the pretty cover. There are things I don't particularly like about the book...or the ideas expressed in the book, for e.g. the swipe he takes at Gerald Vizenor, which I think is a tad racist...but at least I can understand that, as it seems they've taken a few literary swings at each other in the past...and I think he has done a slight disservice in not talking a bit more about some of the "problems" we encounter in Native American spiritualities...like putting the whammy on folks, etc., but I guess he does mention it. Anyway, I really enjoyed it and if you're interested in getting in a place more sane than the mainstream, go ahead and order the book.

If you have any questions about "Native Spirituality", read this book. Eagle Man again makes the logical reasonings of the Native American easy to understand. I personally met him about 3 years ago, and he is the person he comes across as in his books-straight,honest,sincere,kind,& willing to share his knowledge with the world. More of us need to listen to him!!

There is MUCH I agree with in this book and some I disagree with.

Disagreements first.

1. On page 94 Mr. McGaa implies that Word Processors updates files on disk incrementaly. Only some word processors do this.

2. On page 149 Mr. McGaa categorizes his wotai (personal stone) as a portable altar. I disagree because it is only a stone. I have been carrying a personal stone for years. The Cherokee word is watai.

3. On page 198. Mr. McGaa purports that Democracy was an invenion of the Native Americans. If memory serves Democracy was first practised in the days of Aristotle and Plato. Furthermore the U.S. was not set up as a Democracy. It was set up as a Republic. Now it IS true that the U.S constitution was loosely based on the Iriquois constitution.

4. On page 199, Mr. McGaa perpetuates the myth of the seperation of church and state in the Constitution. There is NO comment of "Seperation of church and state in the constitution. That comment was written by Thomas Jefferson in the Federalist papers not the Constitution.

6. On page 205 Mr. McGaa talks about abortion and contraception. I vehemently disagree with his philosophy of abortion, but do agree with his notion of contraceptives.

Agreements:

1. On page 6: I appreciate Mr. McGaa's humility in his comment "I may be wrong. You might be right. I don't know."

2. On page 30: Mr. McGaa purports that "A good teacher welcomes questions." I could not agree more.

3. On page 112: Mr. McGaa purports that the pipe can be considered as a portable altar and I agree completely. The pipe bowl represents the feminine aspects of creation, and the pipe stem represents the masculine forces of creation. Furthermore the smoke is offered to the 7 sacred directions.

4. On Page 112 Mr. McGaa cautions about adding halucinogens in the smoke mixture and I agree completely.

5. On page 121-128 Mr. McGaa lists several things done by some members of the "church". I only wish he has included that the "church" was responsible for the black death. (cats that had kept the rat population in check. were wontonly destroyed because that might be "witches familiars").

6. On page 207-8 Mr. McGaa discusses homosexuality. I agree completely that Great Spirit does not make mistakes and EVERYONE should be treated with dignity regardless od sexual preference.

7. On page 229 and beyond Mr. McGaa lists words from the Lakota Sioux language, and the English translation. Unfortunately; it is listed by the Lakota words making it extremely difficult to find what you are searching for.

8. On page 241 and beyond Mr. McGaa lists some Lakota Sioux songs used in ceremony.

9. on the cover Mr. McGaa demonstrates a medicine wheel as described in Black Elk's vision. Now Black Elk (mentioned in "Native Wisdom") Is NOT the same gentleman that co-authored "Black Elk: The Sacred Ways of a Lakota" with William S. Lyon, and furthermore the two gentlemen were not even related.

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

Wah doh Ogedoda

Thankyou so much, Mr McGaa, for this life and perception altering offering of wisdom, clarity and hope. Your book, written with respect, honesty and humility, is one I give to people I care about. It certainly answers more questions than those that are posed. Sharing your 'worldview' is indeed a gift, which I hope the inhabitants of our Mother Earth take to heart.

This is a quick read because it is so full of truth. It really touched me to read the words that I already knew in my heart and spirit. This man is brilliant. We are all related. This reaffirms that which we should all be aware of.

This book is the truth any person who was raised on the reservation can relate to Natures Way a Ed McGaa has written. I have read the book and found it in many ways brutally accurate and discriptive. There are enough books out there written by non Indian people who have no clue about the actual living and being American Indian. I doubt if anyone can imagine the cruel treatment that the people have had to endure, and still do in this so called civilized world.
I trust that you will do yourself the honor of reading a book actually written by a man who has lived his life as a child in a poverty filled world to the man who has served his country as a warrior and educated himself as a lawyer. Ed McGaa represnts what we all can become, he is a true roll model for our children.

Written in response to questions asked by some of our Nations youth, this book will make you think and answer the questions for yourself. EagleMan gives a much needed perspective to some of the problems that we as a Country/World are living with. Gifts of Truth are found that help us as individuals make good healing choices for ourselves, the larger world, and the Generations Unborn. A Very good book for those seeking to understand how the differences in our Spirituality must connect us all within the Power of the Hoop.