Sweet Medicine: Continuing Role of the Sacred Arrows, the Sun Dance, and the Sacred (Civilization of the American Indian Series) [Paperback]

Peter J. Powell (Author)

Book Description

Series: Civilization of the American Indian Series | Publication Date: June 15, 1998

Sweet Medicine is the most comprehensive record ever made of the ceremonies of the Northern Cheyennes. Volume One recounts tribal history against the background of the two great spiritual tragedies in Cheyenne life, the loss of the Sacred Arrows and the desecration of the Sacred Buffalo Hat. Volume Two records the contemporary Sacred Arrow and Sun Dance ceremonies in their entirety. Father Peter J. Powell, who has observed and participated in the rites many times, was given special permission by the Keepers of the Two Great Covenants, the Chiefs, the Headmen, and the Priests to record them in words and photographs.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Father Peter J. Powell was founder and first director of St. Augustine's Center for American Indians, Chicago. He is also the author of the two-volume People of the Sacred Mountain. He is an Honorary Chief of the Northern Cheyenne People. Since 1972 he has been a Research Associate of The D'Arcy McNickle Center for American Indian History, The Newberry Library, Chicago.

Product Details

• Paperback: 994 pages
• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press (June 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806130288
• ISBN-13: 978-0806130286
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 2.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,167,318 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Medicine is beautiful, sensitive, and scholarly, November 15, 1998

By 

Mustang "draa74" (Absarokee, Montana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sweet Medicine: Continuing Role of the Sacred Arrows, the Sun Dance, and the Sacred (Civilization of the American Indian Series) (Paperback)

Father Peter J. Powell (who, contrary to the misinformation passed in another reader's review, is an Episcopalian priest) is the premium scholar of Cheyenne culture and religion. A Sun Dance priest himself, adopted by the Cheyenne, Father Powell renders the beautiful story of Sweet Medicine in evocative prose. After reading his work, I was privileged to meet Father Powell on a sad, but touching occasion, when he presided over the funeral of the great Cheyenne educator Bill Tall Bull in Lame Deer, Montana several years ago. Father Powell is held in great reverence by the Northern Cheyenne people, and on that day was sought out after the service by countless members of the tribe with greetings, hugs, and thanks. I can recommend SWEET MEDICINE without reservation to anyone with interest in Plains Indian culture.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Exceptional Work, February 18, 2004

By 

David Martinez (University of Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sweet Medicine: Continuing Role of the Sacred Arrows, the Sun Dance, and the Sacred (Civilization of the American Indian Series) (Paperback)

One way of regarding what Father Powell accomplished in his epic treatise on Northern Cheyenne history is look at Vine Deloria's appraisal in "God Is Red." Deloria states: "Powell's work, particularly his style of exposition, was based primarily on conversations with reservation people and reflected their language. An Anglican priest who operated St. Augustine's Indian Center in Chicago, Powell viewed all religious expressions as sacred and consequently treated the Cheyenne tradition with respect. His book did not take the superficial approach of listing the quaint beliefs of the Cheyennes as if the reader and the author were beyond such superstitions. 'Sweet Medicine' impressed Indians with the validity of their own traditions." Deloria's comments on Powell's work deserve serious consideration. After all, Deloria set the tone in Chpt. 4 of "Custer Died For Your Sins" for criticizing the historical relationship between anthropology (be it of the professional or self-taught variety) and American Indian communities. The fact that Deloria points to "Sweet Medicine" as an exceptional work is an indication that the study of American Indian culture and history is possible--even by non-Indians--when the resulting discourse is driven by indigenous sources of knowledge, as opposed to forcing research to fit the expectations of a largely non-Indian Academy.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Authoritative work, August 14, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Sweet Medicine: The Continuing Role of the Sacred Arrows, the Sun Dance, and the Sacred Buffalo Hat in Northern Cheyenne History (The Civilization of the American Indian Series, 100) (Hardcover)

Some people don't like the idea of a priest writing a book about Cheyenne myth and ritual. Too bad for them. Who better to understand it than one who is completely accepted by the Cheyenne people and, indeed, one of the holders of the sacred regalia of the Arrows and Medicine Hat? Peter Powell has done the world an undying favor by meticulously recording, with the utmost exactitude, in both words and pictures the sacred rites (and their meaning!) of the Cheyenne people? Ignore the reviews of those who just don't -or can't- get the point of this magistral work and instead buy it and enter into a magical world.