In a Sacred Manner I Live: Native American Wisdom

by Neil Philip

A collection of Native American speeches and excerpts, from the 17th century to the present day.

Genres: Native American, Nonfiction, History, Poetry

93 pages, Hardcover

First published August 18, 1997

About the author

Neil Philip is a writer, folklorist and poet. He is married to the artist Emma Bradford, and lives in the Cotswolds, England. Neil loves words, poetry, and the art of storytelling in all its forms. Among his many books are A Fine Anger, Victorian Village Life, The Cinderella Story, The Penguin Book of English Folktales, Mythology (with Philip Wilkinson), The Great Mystery, War and the Pity of War, The New Oxford Book of Childrens Verse, The Tale of Sir Gawain, Horse Hooves & Chicken Feet, and The Adventures of Odysseus. Neil has contributed to numerous journals, including The Times, and Signal: Approaches to Childrens Books, and has also written for stage, screen, and radio. His work has won numerous awards and honours, including the Aesop Award of the American Folklore Society and the Literary Criticism Book Award of the Childrens Literature Association. Outside of the storied world, Neil is passionate about cats, art, music, France, food & wine, and friendship.

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly beautiful volume of Native philosophy regarding life, community, respect for the Earth and each other from quotes of Native leaders.

What might our world be today if we lived by these principles?

"We do not want riches, we want peace and love." Red Cloud, Oglala Sioux Lakota, 1870.

[Julie Pfeiffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book of history, photos and inspirational Native American speeches and poetry. All the works have been translated from their original tongue into English. The photos are set up as an historical reference for the works. There is a common theme that runs across many of the works of "the circle of life and hoops that are continuous. All working together on Mother Earth." There is also reference to the "white man" and the "white man's ways" that the Native Americans do not agree with. Through these works the reader gets a clear understanding of the Native American way of life.

[AER · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You look at me, and you see only an ugly old man, but within I am filled with great beauty. I sit as on a mountaintop and I look into the future. I see my people and your people living together. In time to come my people will have forgotten their early way of life unless they learn it from white men's books. So you must write down all that I will tell you; and you must have it made into a book that coming generations may know this truth." - Old Man Buffalo Grass, Sandoval, Hastin Tlotsi hee, 1928, Page 15 of In a sacred manner I live.

[D.K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another acknowledgement that we have to start paying attention to the path of destruction we are creating in the spirit of progress. The rules are simple, and the truths are absolute. As a people, as a past and for a future we have to start changing our relationship with the planet that has nurtured us for so long. We need to relinquish our crushing need for immediate gratification and sensationalism, as there is nothing that WE can CREATE that will rival what we were GIVEN.

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up in denver in the late-1990s and have treasured the wisdom contained within. Using photos and the words of great Native Americans like Chief Seattle, Chief Joseph, Sitting Bull, Cochise, Geronimo, Black Elk, Red Jacket, Fool Bull and many others, this anthology captures the breadth of passion, love and hope that we all could learn from.

[Elisabeth Newbold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful photographs--many very old. Beautiful words from members of various tribes. Very well done!