Customer Reviews

Sanapia: Comanche Medicine Woman

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

 

 

I took Dr. Jones in 1997, for the Indians of the High Plains class, at UCF, Orlando. He is, without a doubt, one of the most articulate, fascinating, and knowledgable people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Sanapia is based on the time he spent with a Comanche woman of the same name, and it is a fascinating glimpse into the customs of the Comanche tribe. He spends a great deal of time discussing the spiritual concepts of the Comanches, as well as the use of various plants for ritualistic purposes. I recommend this book to anybody not only to anthropology students, but also to anybody with even a slight interest in Native American beliefs/culture.

David Jones gives an overview of Comanche history and a biography of Sanapia and her tradition training in Comanche doctoring and lore. Highly interested for historians as well as anthropologists, or anyone interested in Native American life and custom.

In reading about the eagle doctor,Sanapia is very concern about the comanche losing their idenity, and theri traditional ways. The book explains her going through to become a eagle doctor as her mother and grandmother before her. I'm still interested in the Pabukut.

Since I am Comanche, I really enjoyed reading about this woman. It was a shame that her children did not wish to follow in her path, and of how much knowledge was lost forever with no one to take her place.

As an author myself, I appreciate what author David E. Jones did--keep a memory alive of a "medicine woman" he had come to know. I found it helpful in my writing my Native American history book THE COMANCHE (Chelsea House, due out 2010).
Some passages are unclear and a little choppy, though, which is why I gave it three stars.
I would have liked it to be longer, and more like a story--a complete biography.
David, I'd like to see this more fleshed out, somewhat more refined, and longer. Rework it and get it republished! In the meantime, though, all people who consider themselves well versed in Native American history should read this.
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