The Way of the Sacred Tree

by Edna Hatlestad Hong

204 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does anyone know who Gideon Pond is? Is he allowed in our history books ~ even here in Minnesota, do we know this bit of our history and heritage? Have the kids at Gideon Pond Elementary School in Burnsville, Minnesota, or the citizens of Bloomington, Minnesota read this wonderful book? It's a priceless piece of their history. It's a history we all need to brush up on. This isn't one to keep undercover. Edna sent me several copies of The Way of the Sacred Tree, as it's one I eagerly gave to friend after friend. She dug them out of her attic, she said. I can't imagine Edna Hatlestad Hong having to dig any of her books out of an attic! Beg, borrow, steal; get a copy of this book ... insist the Publisher get it back in print!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read Aloud with my kids. Perfect Lent read, although I had no idea it would be when I started it.

A narrative history of the Dakota nation in the 1860s. There are many poignant, heartbreaking, culture-clashing truths shared in Hong's beautiful writing, but my favorite, by far, was the idea of the heyoka: a holy fool. I never thought of the holy fool idea in Native American culture, but of course, so many ideas that show eternity written on our hearts know no cultural bounds.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

accurate portrayal of Dakota struggle with white ways and Christianity's challenge of sacred beliefs. Tragic, important.