Native North American Spirituality of the Eastern Woodlands: Sacred Myths, Dreams, Visions, Speeches, Healing Formulas, Rituals and Ceremonials (Classics of Western Spirituality) (Paperback)

~ Elizabeth Tooker (Editor) "Winnebago apparently does not insist that existence depends upon sense perceptions alone..." (more)
Key Phrases: war bundle owners, fellow buffaloes, ceremonial attendant, Night Spirits, Good Mind, Big House (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This work makes available for the first time in a single volume a representative collection of the major spiritual texts from the Native American Indian peoples of the East Coast. Elisabeth Tooker, professor of anthropology at Temple University and an editor of The Handbook of North American Indians, presents the sacred traditions of the Iroquois, Winnibego, Fox, Menominee, Delaware, Cherokee and others. What makes this volume so unique is that it gives the reader direct access to the original works (in the words of the Indians themselves) rather than having them filtered through some interpreter. Included here are cosmological myths, thanksgiving addresses, dreams and visions, speeches of the shamans, teachings of parents, puberty fasts, blessings, healing rites, stories, songs, ceremonials for fires, hunting, wars, feasts and the rituals of various spiritual societies.

The Preface to this volume is by William C. Sturtevant of the Smithsonian Institution, who is General Editor of The Handbook of North American Indians.

Product Details

• Paperback: 322 pages
• Publisher: Paulist Press (July 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809122561
• ISBN-13: 978-0809122561
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #632,218 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent description and understanding, June 7, 2003

By	mianfei - See all my reviews

Anthropologist Elisabeth Tooker has provided here an excellent understanding of Native North American spirituality with this book. Most of the focus is on the southeastern areas of the continent, but that does not manage to detract from the book's ability to convey understanding of what went on in traditional Native American life.

The language is very easy to read and logical, making this very good reading fo a beginner. Indeed, there is almost no technical terminology in thw whole book.

The early part of Tooker's book is devoted to a study of the cosmological viewpoint of the various tribes mentioned in the book. The book shows very clearly how, from the perspective of the Native American tribes, and how myth describe events in the "sky world" ie. the world above Earth. The Winnebago tribe do not base the existence of spirits on sight and hearing, but in terms of what is felt.

The last two-thirds of "Native North American Spirituality Of The Eastern Woodlands" deals with actual Native American rituals. In very clear language, stages of long ritual are described in a way that even a novice on this subject will always be able to understand. At the same time, the rituals are explained very well, with purpose of even such actions as the sluaghtering of deer being well-explained. There is a particularly moving description of what a Winnebago father will teach his child how to reach their "destination" on a spiritual quest via fasting and helping one's fellow men. There are also accounts of offerings of tobacco and other drugs.

On the whole, this work should be read by all interested in Native American spirituality, especially if you have little knowledge.

3.0 out of 5 stars Native North American Spirtuality of the Eastern Woodlands, May 8, 2009

By	H. Barr - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is fully researched and is full of information. I found it to be more like a research text and rather dry reading. Haven't been able to get too far into it. My interest lies in the later chapters.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Alright transaction, June 11, 2009

By	Cheryl A. Hatch "~ PEACE ~" (St. Petersburg FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The book is wonderful and just what I wanted, but I went with this particular seller as they said the book was "Like New" and it wasn't. The edges of the cover were all rubbed off, but it still came in a timely manner and that is what counts. They just need to watch their wording in the future.