Returning to the Lakota Way

by Joseph M. Marshall III

     Returning to the Lakota Way immerses us once again in the world of the Lakota Sioux through the beautiful storytelling and deep insight of Joseph Marshall’s writing. Relaying traditional tales that have been passed down over generations, Marshall takes us on an inspiring journey that will help us better understand the world around us and our place in it.     The teaching stories found in each chapter provide lessons that open our eyes to universal qualities and practices passed down over many generations. From the hunting adventures of the raven and the wolf, we discover the importance of tolerance; the actions of the grasshopper highlight the value of patience; and the experiences of a young man named Walks Alone show us the benefit of silence and turning within. Speaking to these and other traits, such as faith and selflessness, Marshall helps us see our own lives more clearly using time-honored tales interspersed with stories from his own life growing up on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota. In his work, we find a clear example of how the wisdom of the past has relevance and meaning in the world of today.

Genres: Spirituality, Native American, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Religion, History

Unknown Binding

First published November 1, 2013

About the author

Joseph M. Marshall III was born and raised on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation and holds a PhD from the reservation university, which he helped to establish. The award-winning author of ten books, including Hundred in the Hand, The Lakota Way, and The Journey of Crazy Horse, he has also contributed to various publications and written several screenplays. His first language is Lakota, he handcrafts traditional Lakota bows and arrows, and he is a specialist in wilderness survival. Marshall's work as a cultural and historical consultant can be seen and heard in the Turner Network Television and Dreamworks epic television miniseries Into the West. "

Reviews

[☼Bookish in Virginia☼ · Rating 4 out of 5]

RETURNING TO THE LAKOTA WAY is a philosophical book, and in each of 8 chapters, plus an epilogue, Joseph Marshall III gives us a story. For 8 of those stories Joseph adds his own thoughts, easing our way through the twisting tales so that we can understand the many layered nuances.

[For the epilogue we are left to consider the wise words at the very end. Words which, in a way, sum of what all of the wealth of ideas we've been gathering.]

Chapter 1, for example, is on the value of Silence. The story is about Walks Alone and Grey Grass. The tale meanders and wanders in a less than straight path, but in the end I was left with an appreciation of the power of silence and the role it played for the story's original audience.

The author however didn't abandon me at that point with my cursory conclusions, but instead he expanded upon the theme so that I had more to consider. Referring to his own childhood he explained how real people used silence, and shared silence. How silence and gentleness can hide true strength. How silence can help us still ourselves, and how it allows introspection. These notions are present in other religions and philosophies, of course, but Mr. Marshall has a way of communicating them which is, I think, quite unique.

There are other aspects of the study of Silence that this chapter includes, but I hope you get the idea from what I written that there are layers of possible understanding in this book.

RETURNING TO THE LAKOTA WAY is not a book I would suggest anyone anticipate reading from beginning to end without stopping. In my opinion a race like that would leave the reader missing most of the best points. The approach I took was to read two chapters a week. I'd read the story and analysis and then go back to it for a couple days-- before moving on to the next story and lesson.

Enjoy.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

My childhood was anchored to a long-held family genealogy that traced through my maternal grandmother to the famous Mohican chief Joseph Brant (Thayendanegea). It was exciting to claim, even as the connection clearly was distant to look at my very Caucasian family. Those recollections and a desire to belong have swirled with them certain touchstones related to Native American pop references from early on. The television PSA commercials during the Seventies featuring Iron Eyes Cody, for a start. I was specifically enamored of Tonto's Pinto, likely due to a resurgence of adventure on television in 1980 and its attendant toy marketing. With that horse called Scout, add, that my ardor was reinforced by Tonto's portrayal on the big screen by Michael Horse, also at the beginning of the Eighties.

By the time I was a young adult, the Kevin Costner film based on Michael Blake's novel, Dances With Wolves, completely captivated me. I know I am not alone in recognizing the way that one film catapulted personal admiration for American Indian life to new levels, particularly the Lakota. For me, it drew my attention away from the marginal and impersonated portrayals, and caused me to thirst for information on the true nature of the First Americans. My biggest hurdle? The seeming incompatibility of living in a computer age and wanting connection to a disenfranchised people and a history based in a spoken language struggling to survive. Even in making that statement, I recognize my own arrogance. I expect the information to be brought to me.

I recently connected with the BookNook community and agreed to review this book, Returning to the Lakota Way: Old Values to Save a Modern World And in seeking answers in my own lazy sort of way, I will say honestly that I was so happy to find author Joseph M. Marshall III the storyteller that he is, and that his experience was gathered in an easily readable format, making this such an enjoyable read.

At less than ten chapters, with the various Sioux stories based in themes like Wisdom, Tolerance, Patience, etc., I appreciated the beautiful descriptions, the correlations, and the gravitas within such an accessible read. Each story ends with the way to pronounce in the Lakota language the theme. The author also then takes time to express how the story relates to experiences in his own life raised on the Rosebud Reservation. He is able to reflect back on childhood appreciation as well as the lessons he perceives now that he is older and observing a device-driven world.

I particularly liked the author's personal comments about tolerance. He states things more clearly than politicians who have speech writers. His take on tolerance is colored by the experience of his people, but it is very tempered considering. I found that the author engaged and masterfully altered my perceptions about topics I felt I'd already formed a resolute opinion on. Look for his worthy comments after the chapter about the crow family assisting the hunt of the wolf family.

I also enjoyed the chapter titled, The Journey. This story, and his own is the true heart of this book -- the coming of age for a person or even a whole society unsure where they stand. After reading this entire book, I can accept my weaknesses as a two-legged in this world. And appreciate more fully that this world has the abundance of life upon it and all types of wisdom to be seen in the natural order of it all.

I acknowledge that I received this book free of charge from Hay House in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
You can purchase a copy of Returning to the Lakota Way on the Hay House website.

[Andy Nieradko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Marshall is an incredible story teller. This book is filled with beautifully crafted tales. Legends told by the Lakota from one generation to the next, going back farther than can be known. He wraps up each story with a commentary, sometimes relating the story to his personal experience of growing up on a reservation with his family in the mid 20th century, and sometimes how an ancient legend can still have so much relevance in today's technologically advanced society. I found myself really taking time with this book, not just reading each story, but often, throughout the day, reflecting back on them and the ideas and lessons contained within. As a history buff, I'm always amazed at how much of the story of America is glossed over in the public school system. Hopefully someday we can get over that collective "white guilt" and teach our kids about all the other fascinating history that happened in United States. Returning to the Lakota Way manages to be insightful without being preachy, and a thoroughly enjoyable read, certainly deserving of 5 out of 5 stars. I received this book for free from Hay House Publishing for review purposes. I was not paid for my opinion, it is mine alone.

[Dani Shuping · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC provided by NetGalley

Joseph Marshall is one of my favorite writers around, as he is a marvelous storyteller that captures your imagination and attention from the very first page and this book is no exception. I was first introduced to Marshall's writing in his book "The Lakota Way." I did mission work growing up on the Lakota-Souix reservations in South Dakota and became enthralled with their history, their beliefs, and their views on the world and "The Lakota Way" helped me recapture some of that feeling and it's a book that I try to reread once a year. So when I saw that Marshall wrote "Returning to the Lakota Way" I was thrilled to get a chance to read a copy of the book. I love Marshall's way of using traditional tales to help us understand the world around us and our place within it. The Lakota understood the importance of values that we often seem to forget today and these tales that Marshall tells us help remind us of things like tolerance, silence, and selflessness.

This is one of those books that I'll come back to often. And one that I'll recommend to others trying to find something spiritual, without being overly religious affiliated. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it.

[Lucy Loong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Returning To The Lakota Way by George M. Marshall III

I absolutely adored reading this book and I am sure that you will too! The timeless tales of the Lakota Sioux are expertly recounted by George Marshall in this well- crafted book. Each of the 8 chapters are devoted to a single revered Lakota story covering the aspects of Silence, Tolerance/Acceptance, Faith, Selflessness, Patience, Knowledge, Peace and Wisdom. Each character is well defined and tied in with an anecdotal story from George’s experience of growing up on a reservation. . I am pleasantly surprised how these ancient tales are still so very relevant to us today.

Whether you have an avid interest in Native American culture or simply love a good story, I encourage you to pick up a copy. George Marshall has proved himself as a Master StoryTeller. These beautiful lessons are presented in an easy to read fashion and this book is sure to become a favorite in your personal library.

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from Hay House Publishing for this review. The opinion in this review is unbiased and reflects my honest judgment of the product.

[Lydia Presley · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the things I love most about Native American literature is the complete relevance the stories have to life today. James Marshall recognizes this and expertly weaves his own insight into stories that have been passed down in the oral tradition from his grandparents. Many of the stories contain information about Crazy Horse, one of the most famous of the Lakota, and quite a few of them talk about the origin of familiar creatures and traditions, such as the buffalo and the sun dance. Returning to the Lakota Way is not only a collection of these stories, but also a challenge to its readers to think long and hard about the morals of the stories and the impact it would have on our lives and communities if we just applied them to our own lives.

Read the rest of this review at The Lost Entwife on Nov. 21, 2013.

[CTEP]

This month I read Returning to the Lakota Way: Old Values to Save a Modern World, by Joseph M. Marshall III (I do own several of his books should anyone want to borrow one!) This book is a collection of 8 traditional Lakota stories (along with the author’s input and dissection of each story). Each story teaches a different lesson, including tolerance, wisdom, the importance of silence, and faith. Joseph M. Marshall is a fantastic storyteller, and he grew up with his grandparents on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. Lakota is his native language, but he writes these stories for everyone. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a moment and/or a reason to take a step back, breathe, and think about the world in a refreshing way.

Because this book is composed of 8 different stories, (in all of which I found some connection to my site, AmeriCorps in general, the current political state of our country, or a personal connection to my service year) I am going to focus on the story I found the most powerful when thinking about my service at Brian Coyle. The story is called “The Wolf and the Raven”, and the lesson associated with this story is tolerance. The story is about a wolf and a raven, back when all beings (2-legged, 4-legged, winged, etc) spoke the same language. The raven was known as a scavenger and the wolf as a hunter. One day, a raven got the idea that he had something to offer the wolf, in exchange for extra meat from the wolf’s kills. The raven offered his ability to fly and scout out where the elk were and lead the wolf and his family directly to them, and the wolf decided to think about it. All the other hunters, including the other wolves and bears, scoffed at the wolf for even thinking about teaming up with the scavenger raven. However, the wolf didn’t listen, and accepted the raven’s offer. The two made a great team, and both of their families were well fed for many years. The wolf and the raven eventually developed a friendship, and when after they were getting too old to fly and hunt, they laughed at the fact that they used to avoid each other simply because they had different ways of finding food. They decided to pass their partnership down to the younger generations so their families would always be well-fed.

On the surface, this is simply a story of two different animals overcoming their differences and becoming friends. While valuable in itself, Marshall educates the reader on two different kinds of tolerance. One is tolerance that comes out of genuine fairness and the other comes out of the need to survive. Marshall explains tolerance that stems from the need to survive by describing his experience growing up on a reservation that was dominated by white teachers and Christian leaders. He explains that losing a sense of his Lakota culture and language and conforming to the expectations of Christian leaders was better than the alternative- being sent to boarding school, being beaten, or even put in jail because he wasn’t becoming a good Christian or American citizen. Thus creating a situation in which he had to tolerate the white leaders and forced submission into Christianity in order to survive. He does go on to describe the positive kind of tolerance- one that generally leads into acceptance, but I had never been so consciously exposed to the idea of this survival tolerance. It resonates with so many of the lives that so many immigrants, refugees, and Native Americans (and even POC regardless of whether or not they are American citizens) live in our country. Hatred, intolerance, and racism exist in the United States, but for many it might be better than an alternative options, and many have no other option than to learn how to tolerate it to survive.

I really can’t do justice to how Marshall tells these stories and explains them. He is a fantastic writer, and I highly recommend reading any of his books in order to learn about and from Lakota culture in a way that can benefit everyone.

[Bernie4444 · Rating 5 out of 5]

An elegant writer telling the stories of his people.

“Returning to the Lakota Way” is a continuation of his earlier book “The Lakota Way: Stories and Lessons for Living.” This book works well as a standalone book however after reading it I realized that I do want to read the previous one to see what I have missed.

This book is a keeper. Joseph M. Marshall III is an elegant writer and easy to follow in his train of thought.

The subtitle of this book is “Old Values to Save a Modern world. “By telling stories that reflect Lakota values that the author gained while living on a reservation, we can adapt this information to our way of life hence “Old Values to Save a Modern world.”

I am reframing from transliterating the stories as you will want to read them firsthand.

[Roger Hoehn · Rating 5 out of 5]

And I don’t live there and a lot about that Lakota way of life in the past but about how to use their wisdom in the present

[Nikey · Rating 5 out of 5]

ma specialni misto v srdicku

[Bernie4444 · Rating 5 out of 5]

An elegant writer telling the stories of his people.

“Returning to the Lakota Way” is a continuation of his earlier book “The Lakota Way: Stories and Lessons for Living.” This book works well as a standalone book, however, after reading it I realized that I do want to read the previous book to see what I have missed.

This book is a keeper. Joseph M. Marshall III is an elegant writer and easy to follow in his train of thought.

The subtitle of this book is “Old Values to Save a Modern World. “By telling stories that reflect Lakota values that the author gained while living on a reservation, we can adapt this information to our way of life hence “Old Values to Save a Modern World.”

I am refraining from transliterating the stories as you will want to read them firsthand.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

“All my relations” now include talking animals, shrinking hides that become shields, and wisdom from the oldest in the village.

I have just finished reading a book by Joseph Marshall III, which has a lot of interesting and engaging stories about life on the North American plains before the white two-leggeds came. I must say that I have, like Joe Campbell, always been interested in the people of the plains, and their myths, so I enjoyed reading it. Lakota

If you know some of the character of the Lakota Sioux tribes, it will not come as a surprise to learn that the stories have intention, a moral, a wisdom, or similar, and Marshall pulls these in at the end of each chapter. I find it interesting to compare this with the Virtues project which you can visit on http://www.virtuesproject.com/ This initiative is Canadian, to reach out and retrieve the virtues that we as a planet need.

Marshall’s eight virtues are Silence/Inner Listening, Tolerance/Acceptance, Faith, Selflessness/To give of oneself, Patience, Knowledge, Peace/Quieting and Wisdom. All are also represented in the wider Virtues Project, and I wonder if the Lakota description of the Great Spirit “All my Relatives”, which includes all creation, was the source of the catchline for the Virtues Project also. It reads “There is no they, only us”.

These stories and the wisdom they contain are very relevant for our world. We need to re-commit to virtues, but we cannot do that without first loving ourselves. I recommend reading Marshall’s book in a cocktail with Robert Burney’s “The Dance of Wounded Souls” – it is an intoxicating mix! Have a look at some of the quotes on http://www.wisdomcommons.org/author/R... and compare that to these quotes from “returning to the lakota way”(Published by Hay House 2013)

“When we pray or meditate and say All My Relations, we invoke the essence of all that is in the world. Think of the power that is there. It’s not magic. It is unbridled and awesome power. We must bring it together unselfishly, for the good of all that is” (p271)

“Sometime in the afternoon, a bundle of sage in his hand, he trudged through the deep snow to the cow. She had expired. There was no feeling of elation, however, only sadness. The words of his grandfather ran through his mind.

We do not kill because we can, we do it because we must. For that, the hunter gives thanks and humbles himself for the animals’s gift of life.

Slow laid the bundle of sage next the cow’s head. Then drawing his knife, he set about finishing his chore.” (p239)

Let us sit together and not shun the sadness.

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from Hay House Publishing for this review. The opinion in this review is unbiased and reflects my honest judgment of the product.

[Susanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book! Marshall's storytelling is at its best here with well-crafted, compelling legends that connect to life today.