Other Council Fires Were Here Before Ours: A Classic Native American Creation Story as Retold by a Seneca Elder, Twylah Nitsch, and Her Granddaughter, Jamie Sams [Paperback]

Jamie Sams (Author), Twylah Nitsch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 27, 1991

A retelling of the Seneca creation story and prophesies for the future.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This latest effort by Sams ( Sacred Path Cards ) and Nitsch ( Language of the Stones ) purports to pass on the knowledge of Nitsch's grandfather, one of the last Seneca medicine men. The book relates the story of creation, of the four worlds (ages) through which the earth has passed and the three worlds yet to come. Past are the worlds of Love (when the love of the creating Great Mystery was poured on the earth), Ice (perhaps some racial memory of the Ice Age), Water (when whites came to Turtle Island, the primeval land mass of Indian myth) and Separation (recalling not only humanity's divorce from creation but also continental drift). Now is the dawning of the World of Illumination, from which we will pass through the World of Prophecy to the World of Completion, when all of creation will be reunited as one. With its emphasis on interdependence and the equality of all parts of creation, the book's heart is in the right place, and parts of it reflect the genuine oral tradition of the IroquoisSeneca are an Iroquos tribe per Jace . However, laden with New Age jargon and often impenetrable, this work ultimately will leave even sympathetic readers pondering its sincerity. Illustrated. Author tour.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Sams, author of Midnight Song (Bear & Co., 1988), and Nitsch, a Seneca elder, take a unique approach in relating the Seneca explanation of the Earth's creation and evolution. The story of the four worlds or ages we have so far experienced is narrated by a stone, and detailed in a delightful panorama of races and characters, triumphs and tragedies. Clearly reflected here is the animism of the Seneca, which ascribes life to all elements in the creation (sky, water, animals, people, stones) and gives each equal status. The final chapters contain the prophecies of the coming three ages, which predict the evolution of all aspects of our world into a harmonious paradise. There is much food for philosophical thought here, and the narrative style makes it approachable for mature YAs. A lengthy appendix on the language of the stones is included.
- Bruce Alan Hanson, Wayzata East Junior High Sch. Lib., Plymouth, Minn.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne; 1 edition (September 27, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006250763X
• ISBN-13: 978-0062507631
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #272,591 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jamie Sams is a member of the Wolf Clan Teaching Lodge. She is the coauthor of Medicine Cards™: The Discovery of Power Through the Ways of Animals, author of The Sacred Paths Workbook, and (with Twylah Nitsch) Other Council Fires Were Here Before Ours.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a must read to understand why to love The Earth., November 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Other Council Fires Were Here Before Ours: A Classic Native American Creation Story as Retold by a Seneca Elder, Twylah Nitsch, and Her Granddaughter, Jamie Sams (Paperback)

This book gives a wonderful perspective on the relationship we have to The Earth. The story of Creation is revealed through the ancient teachings of the Senecas. This story is a creation myth at its best. This story allows the reader to see from the perspective of Mother Nature herself. Here, all of the world of information about history is available not through reading or the internet, but through the wonderful worlds of truth that exist within each being. All of the creatures of The Earth are loved equally and completely by the generous and divine Earth Mother. The book gives explanations for why we have different races of humans and explains the gifts of each. This book is easy to read. I recommend it for anyone who is curoius about why we have gone astray in the world today. Also, it would be a great tool to share with children, who are all naturally connected with their inner wisdom. Remember to share this one with a friend.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for seekers of the Truth, December 29, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Other Council Fires Were Here Before Ours: A Classic Native American Creation Story as Retold by a Seneca Elder, Twylah Nitsch, and Her Granddaughter, Jamie Sams (Paperback)

This book is a must for anyone interested in the spiritual ways of the Seneca's as told by the granddaughter of the last recognized medicine man of the Senecas. It's also her story. The story of how a stone person revealed her future birth and the challenges she would face in life as she took over where her grandfather left off. Included in the book is the language of the stones, a basic guide for revealing a personal message a particular rock might hold for you.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An insightful and enlightening world view., January 29, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Other Council Fires Were Here Before Ours: A Classic Native American Creation Story as Retold by a Seneca Elder, Twylah Nitsch, and Her Granddaughter, Jamie Sams (Paperback)

A must read for anyone concerned about the future of humanity and the planet. Tells the story of Creation and the history of the world and the lifeforms that evolved here, from the point of view of an eyewitness. Includes prophesies about the future, as well as an explanation for why we have created the mess we've got today. Will expand your world view and leave you with a sense of wonder, a broadened perspective, and lasting hope for the future. --L. Kashinn