From the River's Edge

by Elizabeth Cook-Lynn

Native-American cattleman, John Tatekeya, seeks redress in the white man's court when his cattle are stolen, but instead finds himself the accused

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Native American, Indigenous, Contemporary

147 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1991

About the author

Elizabeth Cook-Lynn (born 1930 in Fort Thompson, South Dakota) is a Crow Creek Lakota editor, essayist, poet, novelist, and academic, whose trenchant views on Native American politics, particularly tribal sovereignty, have caused controversy.

Cook-Lynn co-founded Wíčazo Ša Review ("Red Pencil"), an academic journal devoted to the development of Native American studies as an academic discipline. She retired from her long academic career at Eastern Washington University in 1993, returning to her home in Rapid City, South Dakota. She has held several visiting professorships since retirement. In 2009, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I recently read an essay by the author, I was impressed by the clarity of her writing. I was curious to see how she might portray some of her ideas in fiction. With public libraries closed in these times of the pandemic From the River’s Edge was available via the Internet Archive.

In delving into the thoughts and past experiences of the main protagonist John Tatekeya Cook-Lynn developed a penetrating portrayal of three dynamics. The first was the extent to which Native Americans have been exploited. The second was how much impact that has had on their their lives, their painful sense of isolation, and the manner in which they treat each other. The third was their determined resilience to carry on despite all of this.

To her credit the author accomplished all of this in less than 150 pages. Her descriptions of the people, the land, and the weather were well crafted in direct, readable prose that was sometimes lyrical.

I agree with one of the Goodreads reviews that the lack of a glossary of the Dakota language terms sprinkled throughout the novel was a drawback. Most of these words and phrases were not even available via Google. It also would have been helpful had the author provided some brief explanations of the references to Dakota beliefs or mythology.

Overall, however, this was an engaging read. As some of Cook Lynn’s other books are available via the Internet Archive I will read them in the coming weeks.

[Michelle Boyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 1967, this is the story of John Tatekeya, a cattle farmer that has gone to trial because someone has stolen some of his cattle. During the course of the trial, white lawyers attempt to make it look like John stole his own cattle, that he lost some of his cattle, that he is an alcoholic, and that he is having an affair with Aurelie Blue despite being married. While John does see Aurelia, and might have a drink now and then, none of this is pertinent to the trial--it is just there to make him look bad in the court.

John does end up winning his trial, but of course there are significant consequences regarding whites and Indians in the community. It is a well-written, often poetic novel, and is a quick read if you have some knowledge of American Indians--but might be slower going if you do not. The following passage might sum up the entire premise of the novel:

And soon after, as the white man continued to bargain for the land from indigenous peoples, who resisted in their desire to save their own lifeways, the exploitative and brutal policy of colonialism, a deeply felt impulse of the European newcomers, became a powerful force, at once legalized in the courts and yet denied in history. (p123)

[Rusty · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Surrounded and absorbed, we tread like Etruscans on the edge of useless law; we pray to the giver of prayer, we give the cane whistle in ceremony, we swing the heavy silver chain of incense burners. Migration makes new citizens of Rome.” ― Elizabeth Cook-Lynn

The quote from the author sums the experiences of the protagonist in this book. John Tatekeya, a Dakotah cattleman, loses forty-two head of his herd to cattle rustlers. When he identifies three of them them and seeks help through the white man's court he finds the experience quite removed from his cultural beliefs. He is further disillusioned when he finds a family member testifying against him. He realizes that his life has changed forever. John wins the case but his hay is mysteriously burned immediately afterward.

The author leads the reader into the thoughts of John Tatekeya as he struggles with what he learned from the old ones as he grew up. I found it a moving experience. Yet, the thoughts of his lover, Aurelia, were less meaningful for me. I wonder if the author meant to contrast the differences between the ages. He is much older than she is. This is a quiet and thoughtful read that can help the reader understand the conflicts that have long existed between the white and Indian cultures.

[Jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was heartbreaking in a completely unanticipated way. At first I hated it but by the end I thought it was beautifully done and I'm still moved by it. I guess that means it was good. I'm familiar with Cook-Lynn's scholarly work but not her fiction until now. She says writing is critical to the survival of contemporary Indians and I understand why so much more now.

[Susan Moriarty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little difficult to follow, and at times difficult for a white to understand, this is an interesting read that delves into a culture most Americans know nothing about. I wish there had been a glossary in the back of Dakota words.