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Buffalo Bird Girl: A Hidatsa Story
This fascinating picture book biography tells the childhood story of Buffalo Bird Woman, a Hidatsa Indian born around 1839. Through her true story, readers will learn what it was like to be part of this Native American community that lived along the Missouri River in the Dakotas, a society that depended more on agriculture for food and survival than on hunting. Children will relate to Buffalo Bird Girl’s routine of chores and playing with friends, and they will also be captivated by her lifestyle and the dangers that came with it.
Using as a resource the works of Gilbert L. Wilson, who met Buffalo Bird Woman and transcribed her life’s story in the early 20th century, award-winning author-illustrator S. D. Nelson has captured the spirit of Buffalo Bird Girl and her lost way of life. The book includes a historical timeline.
Using as a resource the works of Gilbert L. Wilson, who met Buffalo Bird Woman and transcribed her life’s story in the early 20th century, award-winning author-illustrator S. D. Nelson has captured the spirit of Buffalo Bird Girl and her lost way of life. The book includes a historical timeline.
47 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
December 1, 2019
This is a book for history minded children or children who might be doing a report on Native Indian cultures for grade school. This is a long picture book and not for younger kids. I saw this and I did not bother reading it to the nephew as I knew he couldn’t sit through something like this.
It is a well told story. I, as an adult, enjoyed it. It tells the story of Buffalo Bird Girl who was a real person and was old in 1912. She was a Hidatsa Indian. There are plenty of illustrated pictures and interspersed with those are actual photos of Indians doing things the story spoke of and it said ‘this is what Buffalo Bird Girl would have looked like’. I thought that was a nice touch.
We get to see how they lived and survived and the troubles they had. The Lakota peoples constantly raided them and attacked them. Winter was harsh and growing food was everything. I find it so strange how separated men and women were in society. They did not eat as whole families, but men ate together and women and children ate together. Most everything was separated. It’s so strange to my modern sensibilities.
I learned a lot and I thought it was a good book, but I can’t see it being a book most children enjoy reading in that age range.
It is a well told story. I, as an adult, enjoyed it. It tells the story of Buffalo Bird Girl who was a real person and was old in 1912. She was a Hidatsa Indian. There are plenty of illustrated pictures and interspersed with those are actual photos of Indians doing things the story spoke of and it said ‘this is what Buffalo Bird Girl would have looked like’. I thought that was a nice touch.
We get to see how they lived and survived and the troubles they had. The Lakota peoples constantly raided them and attacked them. Winter was harsh and growing food was everything. I find it so strange how separated men and women were in society. They did not eat as whole families, but men ate together and women and children ate together. Most everything was separated. It’s so strange to my modern sensibilities.
I learned a lot and I thought it was a good book, but I can’t see it being a book most children enjoy reading in that age range.
December 18, 2019
The childhood of a real Native American girl in the 1840s and 1850s gets a treatment that should appeal to fans of the American Girl or Little House books. Lots of pictures and vintage photos, but maybe too text heavy for younger readers or those with short attention spans.
I didn't make the connection until the end matter that she was from one of the tribes mentioned in the Ken Burns Lewis and Clark documentary I watched earlier this year.
I didn't make the connection until the end matter that she was from one of the tribes mentioned in the Ken Burns Lewis and Clark documentary I watched earlier this year.
July 6, 2016
An elegantly written piece that tells of Buffalo Bird Girl, Waheenee-nea, one of the last Hidatsa people to live the traditional way. It begins by informing us how Buffalo Bird Girl has lost many family members, including her mother and brother, to the small pox epidemic; therefore, her grandmother and aunts took her in and loved her like they were her own mother. The story then progresses forward to show all of the traditional ways of the Hidatsa, such as: collecting and preserving food, moving homes during different seasons, and warring with other tribes until the white man’s influence started impacting their lives and forcing the Hidatsa tribe to move to a reservation.
Appropriate for grades 5-8, the author has taken multiple components and flawlessly melded them together to tell an eloquent recount of Buffalo Bird Girl’s life. There are quotes directly from Buffalo Bird Girl who shared her experiences with an anthropologist back in the early 1900’s, as well as the author’s own added text, based on Buffalo Bird Girl’s reminiscing, of how Buffalo Bird Girl’s life was as a child. Furthermore, there are authentic pictures of American Indians as they performed their traditions in the early 1900’s. Finally, there are exquisite illustrations that help convey the information in the text. The author includes an extensive note and timeline at the end of the story to further provide information about Buffalo Bird Girl and the Hidatsa tribe. This is a solid text to use to enhance any social studies curriculum or unit revolving around American Indians.
Appropriate for grades 5-8, the author has taken multiple components and flawlessly melded them together to tell an eloquent recount of Buffalo Bird Girl’s life. There are quotes directly from Buffalo Bird Girl who shared her experiences with an anthropologist back in the early 1900’s, as well as the author’s own added text, based on Buffalo Bird Girl’s reminiscing, of how Buffalo Bird Girl’s life was as a child. Furthermore, there are authentic pictures of American Indians as they performed their traditions in the early 1900’s. Finally, there are exquisite illustrations that help convey the information in the text. The author includes an extensive note and timeline at the end of the story to further provide information about Buffalo Bird Girl and the Hidatsa tribe. This is a solid text to use to enhance any social studies curriculum or unit revolving around American Indians.
September 8, 2012
The acrylic paint illustrations and the drawings made with black colored pencil for this book are really quite special, filled with tints and tones that celebrate the vibrancy of the Hidatsa people who once lived on the Great Plains. Relying on the childhood experiences of Buffalo Bird Girl, who was born in the 1830s and who told her stories to anthropologist Gilbert Wilson who recorded them, thus preserving vestiges of the traditional life Buffalo Bird Girl had lived, the author/illustrator describes how she spent each day, the gathering and preparation of food, times of celebration, and times of conflict, and how her people coped with the change of seasons and their forced move to a reservation. There is a poignancy about the stories but also genuine respect for the way of life being described here. The book also contains black and white photographs of Buffalo Bird Woman and the area she lived. Back matter includes a timeline and additonal information about the Hidatsa people. Late elementary and middle grade readers are sure to be intrigued.
August 9, 2012
An insightful, poignant picture book biography. Beautifully designed and illustrated.
November 7, 2020
Lovely artwork, and it was wonderful meeting Buffalo Bird Girl and learning about her life.
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June 14, 2017
We have been reading through this one over the course of a few weeks. It was a great introduction for my six year old, to the lifestyle of certain Native American tribes.
December 14, 2019
Rounding up from two and a half stars. I liked this, but not as much as I wanted to. The mixture of paintings, photographs, quotes from the real Buffalo Bird Woman, and retelling of her story sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. Some of the illustrations are amazing, but too many are perfunctory. The quotes enhance the book overall, but sometimes they felt jarringly out of place. I am glad they did not skip over some of the darker aspects of the story, but sometimes I felt like they were awkwardly trying to soften the blow: The white people brought small pox, but they didn't do it on purpose we are told. This isn't really a story, but it's not really a history either. I was interested, but ultimately a little dissatisfied.
April 1, 2019
I thought this book was amazing. I found it to be very informative about the Hidasta Indians, and their daily lives. I think that children will be able to relate to Buffalo Bird Girl because of her chores and hobbies. I found the artwork in this story to be outstanding and very detailed. Overall, a good story that children will be able to enjoy and also learn from.
October 6, 2021
An interesting book about Hidatsa life on the great plans. I enjoyed how the story was told and the historical images that were presented with them. A great intro for kids.
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February 23, 2023Text heavy, and more historical than story-form. Information and sources seem appropriate, and I appreciate that it’s a story retold, and that the author has Native American descent, though not a Hidatsa (his mother is Lakota). The loss of Hidatsa land to settlers was unfortunately glossed over and barely mentioned; this book was more resourceful in describing how the Hidatsa live.
February 17, 2022
Absolutely beautiful illustrations. The story goes from Buffalo Bird Girl as a child, then abruptly and briefly as Buffalo Bird Woman as an old lady. Totally skips over her adulthood.
I borrowed this from Hoopla. The print was stupid small with no way to magnify it.
I borrowed this from Hoopla. The print was stupid small with no way to magnify it.
November 8, 2019
An interesting read about a Hidatsa girl from the 1800s. Very informative on the life of Plains Indians.
March 25, 2015
Waheenee-wea, or Buffalo Bird Woman, was one of the last of the Hidatsa people to live in the traditional way that they had lived for many generations. Waheenee grew up in an earth-mound lodge with eleven other family members on the Missouri River (in what is now North Dakota). As a child, she helped with tasks like farming, tanning hides, and gathering firewood. For fun, she would play with dolls or play games like kickball or hide-toss. Although there were dangers from neighboring tribes or illnesses brought by the white men, Waheenee always remembered her childhood as a happy one. In her later years, Waheenee lived on a reservation and tried to keep alive the traditional ways of her people by telling her life story to those who would listen.
This is a beautifully illustrated picture book biography that offers a window into the life of a young Native girl living before the coming of white settlers disrupted the traditional Native American way of life. I found a lot of the details fascinating, and I think kids today will be able to relate to Waheenee more than they might think at first. The one issue I have with the book is that in the one illustration that depicts a white person (p. 17), he looks fairly realistic, while throughout the book, the Native people are depicted in a more stylized way. I thought the difference was jarring and that the unfortunate effect was that the Native people look more foreign. That minor consideration doesn't dampen the overall accomplishment of the book, however.
I would recommend this book to grades 3-5, especially those who want an authentic look into the traditional practices of the Plains Indians. One readalike for slightly older readers would be the Birchbark House series by Louise Erdrich.
This is a beautifully illustrated picture book biography that offers a window into the life of a young Native girl living before the coming of white settlers disrupted the traditional Native American way of life. I found a lot of the details fascinating, and I think kids today will be able to relate to Waheenee more than they might think at first. The one issue I have with the book is that in the one illustration that depicts a white person (p. 17), he looks fairly realistic, while throughout the book, the Native people are depicted in a more stylized way. I thought the difference was jarring and that the unfortunate effect was that the Native people look more foreign. That minor consideration doesn't dampen the overall accomplishment of the book, however.
I would recommend this book to grades 3-5, especially those who want an authentic look into the traditional practices of the Plains Indians. One readalike for slightly older readers would be the Birchbark House series by Louise Erdrich.
March 22, 2017
Genre: Biography, Juvenile Nonfiction
Story written and illustrated by S.D. Nelson (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe).
Buffalo Bird Girl, Waheenee, was one of the last Hidsata girl to live in the "old ways." The beginning of the book talked about how Waheenee lost most of her family members to the deadly smallpox disease, and therefore, she was raised by her grandmother. As the story continues, the book talked about the traditional Hidsata way of living (through a Native girl's point of view). Some of the topics mentioned in the book included hunting and gathering food, storing food, farming, migrating, and having play time.
Of all the books that I have read regarding Native Americans' ways of living, this was the first book that explained the story from a girl's point of view. I was able to gain more insight into what Native girls would do in comparison to what a Native boy would do (i.e. hunting, going to war, protecting the village). Although a clear plot was not present, the story was still very well told based on chronological events. I especially enjoyed the real-life photographs of people, plants, houses, and various other materials related to Hidsata living style; it gave the book a very authentic feel. The illustrations were colorful and unique (because the characters had non-typical human colored skins, such as blue, pink, teal). The language of the book was easy to understand, and overall, it gave a very descriptive overview of what life was like back then.
Story written and illustrated by S.D. Nelson (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe).
Buffalo Bird Girl, Waheenee, was one of the last Hidsata girl to live in the "old ways." The beginning of the book talked about how Waheenee lost most of her family members to the deadly smallpox disease, and therefore, she was raised by her grandmother. As the story continues, the book talked about the traditional Hidsata way of living (through a Native girl's point of view). Some of the topics mentioned in the book included hunting and gathering food, storing food, farming, migrating, and having play time.
Of all the books that I have read regarding Native Americans' ways of living, this was the first book that explained the story from a girl's point of view. I was able to gain more insight into what Native girls would do in comparison to what a Native boy would do (i.e. hunting, going to war, protecting the village). Although a clear plot was not present, the story was still very well told based on chronological events. I especially enjoyed the real-life photographs of people, plants, houses, and various other materials related to Hidsata living style; it gave the book a very authentic feel. The illustrations were colorful and unique (because the characters had non-typical human colored skins, such as blue, pink, teal). The language of the book was easy to understand, and overall, it gave a very descriptive overview of what life was like back then.
December 22, 2014
Have you ever wondered what life might have been like for Native Americans long ago? Buffalo Bird Girl is a peek into the life of a member of the Hidatsa tribe as they go throughout a year. You get a look inside their earth mound huts, which would house large families - 12 members of Buffalo Bird Girl’s family lived in one hut!
Girls and women planted vegetables and farmed while boys and men went out to hunt for meat. Everyone helped clean the animal skins when the men brought back game.
Other tribes lived in the same areas. The Hidatsa tribe lived with the Mandan tribe in the same village. They were allies that protected each other. But other tribes were not friendly and one day the Lakota tribe attacked. After the villagers defended themselves from the attack, they had a big celebration with dancing. [show spread on page 24] This is one of my favorite pictures because there’s so much to look at and such bright colors.
If you like learning about different people, if you’re interested in how the Hidatsa tribe lived long ago, pick up Buffalo Bird Girl.
Girls and women planted vegetables and farmed while boys and men went out to hunt for meat. Everyone helped clean the animal skins when the men brought back game.
Other tribes lived in the same areas. The Hidatsa tribe lived with the Mandan tribe in the same village. They were allies that protected each other. But other tribes were not friendly and one day the Lakota tribe attacked. After the villagers defended themselves from the attack, they had a big celebration with dancing. [show spread on page 24] This is one of my favorite pictures because there’s so much to look at and such bright colors.
If you like learning about different people, if you’re interested in how the Hidatsa tribe lived long ago, pick up Buffalo Bird Girl.
March 22, 2016
This book was richly illustrated using a combination of paintings, black-and-white illustrations, and current and vintage photographs. The actual life of Waheenee is very interesting, and various aspects of it, from childhood games and songs to raids and celebrations, are told with detail. Even things that are sad, such as the smallpox devastation and the removal to the reservation, are handled in terms children can understand. The end notes are truly extensive, giving a timeline, more background on Waheenee, a bibliography, and a number of other useful resources. While a traditional "plot" doesn't really exist as such and I admit I had never heard of this woman prior to this book, it definitely holds the reader's interest and is more of a portrait of the Hidasta in general with Waheenee as as specific example. The level of research in this alone is enough to make it a worthwhile read and an excellent resource.
February 25, 2015
Native author S.D. Nelson tells the story of Buffalo Bird Girl, an Hidatsa Indian during the late 19th century. Telling the tale from her point of view, Nelson paints a picture of American Indian life as the white man was beginning to take over. But during the story most contact with white people is through trading and is mostly positive. By the end of the book the Hidatsa tribe has been moved onto reservation land. Buffalo Bird Woman often thinks of the old ways and still communes with the earth and the Great Spirit.
In historical notes, Nelson does touch on the fact that no all of the contact with white people was good. He does mention the introduction of alcohol and diseases in which American Indians had no immunities to. It is rather disturbing to me that this book rather glosses over the hard facts of the culture clash.
In historical notes, Nelson does touch on the fact that no all of the contact with white people was good. He does mention the introduction of alcohol and diseases in which American Indians had no immunities to. It is rather disturbing to me that this book rather glosses over the hard facts of the culture clash.
November 22, 2013
Really gorgeous paintings, interspersed with photographs, of life on the Plains for the Hidatsa and Mandan Indians of history. Told in first person ( but fictionalized), info taken from research and Buffalo Bird Woman's two books, but with some creative license. Includes quotes from her. Tells story of her daily life as a child, referencing the hunting and farming lifestyle of the Hidatsa in general. Author's Note adds postscript of her later life, how they had to leave and go to a reservation; she lived from 1839-1932. Extensive sources, and a timeline that starts back in 5000 BCE! Text is matter-of-fact, descriptive but not particularly literary/lyrical.
May 9, 2013
Buffal Bird Girl shares her history and her way of life. Nelson crafts Buffalo Bird Girl's story from her original books written in the early 1900's.
Themes: history, memories, Native American lifestyle
Characters: Buffalo Bird Girl/Buffalo Bird Woman, the Hadatsa people
Artwork: paintings in acrylic on gessoed Masonite, drawings with black colored pencils on 140 lbs cold-press 100% cotton acid-free paper
Author's Note: Author's story, Buffalo Bird Girl story, Hidatsa story, Hidatsa timeline, notes (and quotes), bibliography, index
Reviewed from a library copy.
Themes: history, memories, Native American lifestyle
Characters: Buffalo Bird Girl/Buffalo Bird Woman, the Hadatsa people
Artwork: paintings in acrylic on gessoed Masonite, drawings with black colored pencils on 140 lbs cold-press 100% cotton acid-free paper
Author's Note: Author's story, Buffalo Bird Girl story, Hidatsa story, Hidatsa timeline, notes (and quotes), bibliography, index
Reviewed from a library copy.
October 22, 2018
Pretty text-heavy, but definitely a story that you can take slowly. (It's kind of slice-of-life through a year). It's very nation-specific, which I liked, and it showed different nations with similar patterns of life coming together to live together when they grew smaller.
The illustrations included both drawings and photos (both from roughly the time that Buffalo Bird Girl grew up and reconstructions).
Detailed endnotes.
The illustrations included both drawings and photos (both from roughly the time that Buffalo Bird Girl grew up and reconstructions).
Detailed endnotes.
Want to read
December 6, 2016Text-to-Teaching Connection 12/06/2016
In this book you learn about living during the 1800's as a Native American. I would have pictures of Native American symbols. I would have the definition of each symbol. Students would choose their favorite symbol to write a journal entry to what this mean to Native American culture and what they like about this symbol.
In this book you learn about living during the 1800's as a Native American. I would have pictures of Native American symbols. I would have the definition of each symbol. Students would choose their favorite symbol to write a journal entry to what this mean to Native American culture and what they like about this symbol.
September 10, 2018
This book was suggested to me because of my love of the Little House series - and it did not disappoint! A very vivid retelling of Buffalo Bird Girl's accounts of her childhood, written in such a way as to honor the original story, but also remain accessible to young, unfamiliar readers. The artwork was breath taking and added an important level to the story, filling in holes that the text left.
May 15, 2017
Detailed information about the life of Buffalo Bird Girl when she was young (in the 1800s). Shows the life of a Plains Indian who lived in a village all but during the winter months (so, not nomadic).
Based on information from Buffalo Bird Woman when she was grown.
Based on information from Buffalo Bird Woman when she was grown.
December 21, 2018
A look into the life of a Hidatsa girl in her village - lots of interesting information and wonderful illustrations. Back of the book includes additional information from the author regarding his life with his Lakota mother, and more details of life in the Hidatsa tribe.
March 27, 2016
What an interesting and beautiful narrative woven together with photographs and stunning illustrations.
December 25, 2016
Wish that it had been written by a woman and that most women's faces were not shown with mouths.
August 8, 2019
This reads as very informational, and covers traditional ways of life of the Hidatsa people.
March 17, 2022
Author/illustrator S.D. Nelson is my go-to source for accessible and well-presented background on Native American heroes and culture. Nelson is a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in the Dakotas. His books are simply not to be missed.
The focus of this book is on Buffalo Bird Woman (Waheenee in her native language), born in 1839. (She was called Buffalo Bird Girl as a youth.). She was a member of the Hidatsa, which was united with the Mandan and Arikara people into one tribe living in villages along the Missouri River. In the Author’s Note at the end of this book, Nelson explains that in 1906, Buffalo Bird Woman, concerned that her people’s customs were vanishing and would be forgotten, met with Gilbert Wilson, an anthropologist studying the Plains Indians, and provided him with the details of her life.
Nelson draws from her stories to share Hidatsa traditions, focusing on Buffalo Bird Woman’s childhood experiences.
When Buffalo Bird Girl was only six, smallpox decimated her people, and she lost her mother, brother, and one of her aunts. Her grandmother and two aunts survived, and they raised her.
She goes on to explain, in words partly taken from direct quotes and partly summarized by Nelson, what their house was like, what they ate, and what they did all day. Women did the farming, cooking, and gathering firewood, while the men did the hunting. The children helped out with whatever they could, but also had time for fun and games. There were also occasional celebrations, such as after a successful battle, or after a successful harvest.
When winter came, Buffalo Bird Girl’s people moved from the exposed banks of the Missouri River to the wooded lowlands.
The U.S. Government contributed to the destruction of the tribes people who had managed to survive the diseases spread to Native Americans. The government passed a series of acts designed to relocate Native Americans onto reservations. They would also take charge of Native provisions and food predicated on tribes adapting to “the white man’s way” (not to mention, predicated on the character of the Government Indian Agent, which was often lacking). This meant giving up their customs, dress, and languages, inter alia. Buffalo Bird Girl and her family went to the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.
But she did not forget the old ways, and was determined that the memories of them would not be lost. She died in 1932, having successfully collaborated with Wilson in the publication of two books based on her stories.
In an afterword, the author explains that in 1934, following the Indian Reorganization Act, the remaining Hidatsa, Mandan, and Arikara officially united as the Three Affiliated Tribes on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, in North Dakota. All three still exist and remain one sovereign nation.
Back matter includes the Author’s Note, a selected timeline of Native Americans, and a bibliography.
Like other books on the Native American experience by Nelson, this volume also features not only his pencil drawings and gorgeous acrylic paintings, but relevant photographs when available. Hand-created maps are on the endpapers.
Evaluation: The charming stories told by Buffalo Bird Woman in this book for older children along with the outstanding illustrations by Nelson should be a part of every curriculum about life in tribes before their total co-optation by whites hungry for their land and prejudiced against their customs. Nelson’s other books are excellent too, in particular, Red Cloud: A Lakota Story of War and Surrender, reviewed here, and Sitting Bull: Lakota Warrior and Defender of His People reviewed here.
Rating: 4.5/5
The focus of this book is on Buffalo Bird Woman (Waheenee in her native language), born in 1839. (She was called Buffalo Bird Girl as a youth.). She was a member of the Hidatsa, which was united with the Mandan and Arikara people into one tribe living in villages along the Missouri River. In the Author’s Note at the end of this book, Nelson explains that in 1906, Buffalo Bird Woman, concerned that her people’s customs were vanishing and would be forgotten, met with Gilbert Wilson, an anthropologist studying the Plains Indians, and provided him with the details of her life.
Nelson draws from her stories to share Hidatsa traditions, focusing on Buffalo Bird Woman’s childhood experiences.
When Buffalo Bird Girl was only six, smallpox decimated her people, and she lost her mother, brother, and one of her aunts. Her grandmother and two aunts survived, and they raised her.
She goes on to explain, in words partly taken from direct quotes and partly summarized by Nelson, what their house was like, what they ate, and what they did all day. Women did the farming, cooking, and gathering firewood, while the men did the hunting. The children helped out with whatever they could, but also had time for fun and games. There were also occasional celebrations, such as after a successful battle, or after a successful harvest.
When winter came, Buffalo Bird Girl’s people moved from the exposed banks of the Missouri River to the wooded lowlands.
The U.S. Government contributed to the destruction of the tribes people who had managed to survive the diseases spread to Native Americans. The government passed a series of acts designed to relocate Native Americans onto reservations. They would also take charge of Native provisions and food predicated on tribes adapting to “the white man’s way” (not to mention, predicated on the character of the Government Indian Agent, which was often lacking). This meant giving up their customs, dress, and languages, inter alia. Buffalo Bird Girl and her family went to the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.
But she did not forget the old ways, and was determined that the memories of them would not be lost. She died in 1932, having successfully collaborated with Wilson in the publication of two books based on her stories.
In an afterword, the author explains that in 1934, following the Indian Reorganization Act, the remaining Hidatsa, Mandan, and Arikara officially united as the Three Affiliated Tribes on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, in North Dakota. All three still exist and remain one sovereign nation.
Back matter includes the Author’s Note, a selected timeline of Native Americans, and a bibliography.
Like other books on the Native American experience by Nelson, this volume also features not only his pencil drawings and gorgeous acrylic paintings, but relevant photographs when available. Hand-created maps are on the endpapers.
Evaluation: The charming stories told by Buffalo Bird Woman in this book for older children along with the outstanding illustrations by Nelson should be a part of every curriculum about life in tribes before their total co-optation by whites hungry for their land and prejudiced against their customs. Nelson’s other books are excellent too, in particular, Red Cloud: A Lakota Story of War and Surrender, reviewed here, and Sitting Bull: Lakota Warrior and Defender of His People reviewed here.
Rating: 4.5/5
November 3, 2019
Buffalo Bird Girl: A Hidatsa Story is a children's picture book written and illustrated by S.D. Nelson. It is a biographical picture book of Buffalo Bird Woman – a Hidatsa woman who lived a traditional Hidatsa life.
November, at least in my part of the world is Native American Heritage Month, which I plan to read one children's book, preferably a biography, which pertains to the subject everyday this month. Therefore, I thought that this book would be apropos for today.
Buffalo Bird Woman was a traditional Hidatsa woman who lived on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota. Her Hidatsa name was Waheenee-wea, though she was also called Maaxiiriwia. She was known for maintaining the traditional lifestyle of the Hidatsa, including gardening, cooking, and household tasks. She passed on the traditional ways of her culture and oral tradition through interviews with Gilbert Wilson, in which she described her own experience and the lives and work of Hidatsa women.
The text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Blending archival material with original prose and artwork, Nelson crafts a first-person biography of Waheenee-wea, a member of the Hidatsa tribe that flourished near the Missouri River on the Great Plains. An extensive author's note and timeline supplement this beautiful tribute could be found in the backmatter. Nelson's acrylic paintings and b&w pencil drawings are intriguingly interlaced with the photographs, contrasting Native American figures in blunt profile with harvest colors and background textures that mimic dried spears of grass, leather skins, and basket weaves.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Using material from his subject's own reminiscences, published by an anthropologist in the early 20th century, Lakota painter and biographer Nelson describes Buffalo Bird's village childhood. Each section begins with a quote from her own story. Born around 1840, the girl grew up in Like-a-Fishhook Village high over the Missouri River in what is now North Dakota. There, for nine months of each year, she lived with her family in an earth-mound lodge. She describes helping her aunts and grandmother with traditional household and garden tasks, visiting a trading center, playing with other children and her dog, and a Lakota attack. During winter's worst weather, villagers retreated to temporary lodges in the woodlands, where they ate stored food.
All in all, Buffalo Bird Girl: A Hidatsa Story is a wonderful biographical picture book that gives an informative depiction of the Hidatsa life.
November, at least in my part of the world is Native American Heritage Month, which I plan to read one children's book, preferably a biography, which pertains to the subject everyday this month. Therefore, I thought that this book would be apropos for today.
Buffalo Bird Woman was a traditional Hidatsa woman who lived on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota. Her Hidatsa name was Waheenee-wea, though she was also called Maaxiiriwia. She was known for maintaining the traditional lifestyle of the Hidatsa, including gardening, cooking, and household tasks. She passed on the traditional ways of her culture and oral tradition through interviews with Gilbert Wilson, in which she described her own experience and the lives and work of Hidatsa women.
The text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Blending archival material with original prose and artwork, Nelson crafts a first-person biography of Waheenee-wea, a member of the Hidatsa tribe that flourished near the Missouri River on the Great Plains. An extensive author's note and timeline supplement this beautiful tribute could be found in the backmatter. Nelson's acrylic paintings and b&w pencil drawings are intriguingly interlaced with the photographs, contrasting Native American figures in blunt profile with harvest colors and background textures that mimic dried spears of grass, leather skins, and basket weaves.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Using material from his subject's own reminiscences, published by an anthropologist in the early 20th century, Lakota painter and biographer Nelson describes Buffalo Bird's village childhood. Each section begins with a quote from her own story. Born around 1840, the girl grew up in Like-a-Fishhook Village high over the Missouri River in what is now North Dakota. There, for nine months of each year, she lived with her family in an earth-mound lodge. She describes helping her aunts and grandmother with traditional household and garden tasks, visiting a trading center, playing with other children and her dog, and a Lakota attack. During winter's worst weather, villagers retreated to temporary lodges in the woodlands, where they ate stored food.
All in all, Buffalo Bird Girl: A Hidatsa Story is a wonderful biographical picture book that gives an informative depiction of the Hidatsa life.
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