Life's Journey―Zuya: Oral Teachings from Rosebud

by Albert White Hat Sr., John Cunningham (Compililation)

“Our people are very lucky to be here,” says Albert White Hat Sr. He has lived through a time when Indians were sent to boarding schools and were not permitted to practice their own rituals. Although the Lakota people can practice their beliefs openly once again, things have changed and old ways have been forgotten. As a teacher at Sinte Gleska University in South Dakota, White Hat seeks to preserve the link the Lakota people have with their past. In Life’s Journey—Zuya , White Hat has collected and translated the stories of medicine men, retaining the simplicity of their language so as not to interpret their words through a Western lens. This is Zuya, oral history that is lived and handed down over the generations. White Hat also shares stories from his own experience. Using anecdotes he shows not only how the Lakota lifestyle has been altered but also how Lakota words have begun to take on new meanings that lack their original connotations and generate a different picture of Lakota philosophy. Language, interwoven with history, tells the people where they came from and who they are. By gathering the traditions and ceremonies in a single volume, with the history of how they evolved, he has secured the meaning of these practices for futre generations. Filled with warmth and humor, Life’s Journey—Zuya is an enjoyable and enlightening read.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Native American, Indigenous

224 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2012

Reviews

[Douglas Penick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This profound and deeply moving account of Lakota life, culture and practices by the late Albert White Hat and John Cunningham has just won Foreword Reviews' Gold Prize as a Book of the Year. It is fitting that Albert White Hat's life work and testament has been recognized as an extraordinary gift to all people.

[Reba Rauch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book about Lakota spirituality, told by one of the best storytellers. If you have not read this book, you should. It will give you insight and make you think. It also carries the sparkle of Albert's humor.

[Michael Spisak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met Albert several years back and he and I have many mutual friends. Its a good book and the photos are amazing.

~hawk

[Taté Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am Mniconjou Lakota (CRST) and working hard to wean myself from the Lakota Language Consortium, which has been exposed as a language colonizer - selling our own information back to us (copyrighting culture)—and making terrible (Christian/Western) translations on certain words/phrases. This book is a great resource and place to start for folks like me who are making (incremental - le sigh) progress toward language reclamation and revitalization. I once got to listen to White Hat at an education conference about 15 years ago and he said something I’ll never forget: “Language is culture is language.” This book explains that proverb.

[Janet Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a lot of literature and nonfiction about the Native American life in the past, but this book was interesting because it brings their story to the present. Especially interesting is how their language has been Westernized/Anglicized/bastardized by those of us who tried to understand them, missed the mark and just substituted a word we thought it meant but is totally off the mark. But sadly even the Lakota will use the wrong word because they were forbidden to speak in their native language for so long. So many of their customs and way of life was forbidden but now men like White Hat are trying to educate both us and the Lakota so the customs are not lost

[Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We are all related” a philosophy and way of life that I wish everyone could embrace! Not just one Wakan Tanka, or “powerful being” - the difference between religion and spirituality.

Everything in the universe, we are all related. “This is the most fundamental belief in our Lakota philosophy, that we are related to everything on earth and in the universe.”

The Lakota way of life - the pipe, the sun dance, the sweat lodge, all of it - is thoroughly detailed in this book. As is the language! I learned an amazing amount of information from this read! Definitely a must read for anyone interested in Native American culture!

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book you will see a little bit of how Lakota ways were demonized and made illegal and how some still practiced in secret and then, how the old traditions started coming back. Hopefully the language and tradition will some day flourish once more.

[Prairieprincipal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely endearing read about Lakota cultural ways and a little history.

[Stephanie Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this to be super interesting. I learned a lot about the Lakota that was unexpected.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this one slowly, lovely description of Lakota spiritual practices.

[Sharolyn Stauffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enlightening summary from Albert White Hat about the Lakota ways, beliefs, and ceremonies.

[Nilce Landau]

I visited Rosebud Reservation two times.

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book to anyone seriously interested in contemporary Native America and the traditional Native American life ways.

I knew Albert, briefly, and visited his home several summers for educational purposes and a cultural exchange between colleges. Guests and interns slept outside in their own tents or campers. Albert Whitehat died 6/11/13, at 71 years old. This book is like hearing him speak once again. He was a unique, inspiring individual who spoke so softly his words were sometimes carried away by the wind, but he spoke with authority and depth.

I'll be writing more about this book soon, but wanted to encourage people to check it out.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, Albert is a wonderful story teller and you get such a deep insight into Lakota culture and traditions by reading this. It's the kind of book that really makes you sit and think about not only Lakota life, but your own and how it really relates to everything.

[Maura Kelly]

White Hat’s!! They should’ve written about Little Dude eating Loosie’s croc

[Jj · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, rich book by Albert.

[Maria]

Amazing book