Our Stories Remember: American Indian History, Culture and Values through Storytelling

by Joseph Bruchac

Within the pages of this introduction to American Indian history, culture, and values, readers will gain insight into the totality of Native American experience and culture. Each chapter in the book explores a particular shared cultural value or world view through both traditional stories and Bruchac's commentary. A diverse range of Native groups is included-Tlingit, Navajo, Cree, Abenaki, Yupik, Seminole, Sioux, Cherokee, and many more.Awards WonSelected for inclusion on the New York Public Library Books for Teen Age 2004 ListIPPY (Independent Publisher) Award winner, Story Teller of the Year

Genres: Native American, History, Indigenous, Nonfiction, Native Americans, Cultural, Mythology

187 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Joseph Bruchac lives with his wife, Carol, in the Adirondack mountain foothills town of Greenfield Center, New York, in the same house where his maternal grandparents raised him. Much of his writing draws on that land and his Abenaki ancestry. Although his American Indian heritage is only one part of an ethnic background that includes Slovak and English blood, those Native roots are the ones by which he has been most nourished. He, his younger sister Margaret, and his two grown sons, James and Jesse, continue to work extensively in projects involving the preservation of Abenaki culture, language and traditional Native skills, including performing traditional and contemporary Abenaki music with the Dawnland Singers.

He holds a B.A. from Cornell University, an M.A. in Literature and Creative Writing from Syracuse and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the Union Institute of Ohio. His work as a educator includes eight years of directing a college program for Skidmore College inside a maximum security prison. With his wife, Carol, he is the founder and Co-Director of the Greenfield Review Literary Center and The Greenfield Review Press. He has edited a number of highly praised anthologies of contemporary poetry and fiction, including Songs from this Earth on Turtle's Back, Breaking Silence (winner of an American Book Award) and Returning the Gift. His poems, articles and stories have appeared in over 500 publications, from American Poetry Review, Cricket and Aboriginal Voices to National Geographic, Parabola and Smithsonian Magazine. He has authored more than 70 books for adults and children, including The First Strawberries, Keepers of the Earth (co-authored with Michael Caduto), Tell Me a Tale, When the Chenoo Howls (co-authored with his son, James), his autobiography Bowman's Store and such novels as Dawn Land, The Waters Between, Arrow Over the Door and The Heart of a Chief. Forthcoming titles include Squanto's Journey (Harcourt), a picture book, Sacajawea (Harcourt), an historical novel, Crazy Horse's Vision (Lee & Low), a picture book, and Pushing Up The Sky (Dial), a collection of plays for children. His honors include a Rockefeller Humanities fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts Writing Fellowship for Poetry, the Cherokee Nation Prose Award, the Knickerbocker Award, the Hope S. Dean Award for Notable Achievement in Children's Literature and both the 1998 Writer of the Year Award and the 1998 Storyteller of the Year Award from the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. In 1999, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers Circle of the Americas.

As a professional teller of the traditional tales of the Adirondacks and the Native peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands, Joe Bruchac has performed widely in Europe and throughout the United States from Florida to Hawaii and has been featured at such events as the British Storytelling Festival and the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesboro, Tennessee. He has been a storyteller-in-residence for Native American organizations and schools throughout the continent, including the Institute of Alaska Native Arts and the Onondaga Nation School. He discusses Native culture and his books and does storytelling programs at dozens of elementary and secondary schools each year as a visiting author.

Reviews

[Rebecca Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took my time reading this book because I felt like every chapter caused a major perspective shift for me. I honestly (ignorantly) thought I was so knowledgeable about native peoples, but thankfully this book has awakened me to my ignorance. I also appreciate that at the end of most chapters there is a recommended reading list of resources by native authors. Because I definitely have a lot more learning/listening to do.

[Francesca Calarco · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those seeking a personal, folklore-centered history of Native Americans, that also provides clear cultural context for its stories, I can definitely recommend Our Stories Remember.

While the volume flows freely thematically, it addresses some of the criticisms that I had for the similar work The World We Used to Live In: Remembering the Powers of the Medicine Men. In addition to well developed background, it also clearly cites sources and recommendations for additional reading.

Also, when it comes down to it, so many of the stories were really great. In particular, I have long been fascinated by the trickster Coyote and was happy to read some of his different tales, as well as how the enigma provides significant warnings and life lessons. The final story of deer was especially moving, given its own emphasis on the importance of remembering.

Overall, I really liked this one; feel free to pick up a copy and decide for yourself.

[Yvonne Aburrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting book. Lots of information about Indigenous lore and mythology. I wish that he had used the real names of Indigenous Peoples throughout instead of the European names for them (though he does provide a list of their real names).

The stories are really good though, and the context given for them is helpful. I was particularly interested in the information about Indigenous afterlife beliefs.

The residential school experience in the USA does not seem to have been quite as horrendous as in Canada (according to this book, at least) but I wonder how different it actually was.

Some might think the book is too pan-Indigenous but he gives the source of each story and which people it came from, plus a great further reading list. The book is an excellent primer for people who want a general introduction to the Indigenous cultures of Turtle Island (North America).

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our Stories Remember: American Indian History, Culture and Values through Storytelling is an insightful look at Indigenous culture through the lens of Indigenous stories and how Indigenous culture has always fit so well into the natural world, spirituality, human nature and family. Through stories from a variety of Indigenous American groups, Joseph Bruchac relates Indigenous history and culture through a modern lens. I liked the pairing of personal and traditional stories along with the author's thoughts, research and history of Indigenous groups. Along with each story is an additional reading list that I found very interesting. One of the best insights I gleaned was in one of the first stories that advised not to keep carrying something that is of no use to anyone and that you can always learn from a fall as long as it isn't too far. Other favorite stories were that of Sky Woman and the circle of life.

[Courtney Billings · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved reading this book. I recommend it to anyone interested in mythology and folk stories. I loved learning about the different tribes and how the myths and legends grew and shaped. Over all great book!

[Rohan Katpally · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a book that meanders through a whole bunch of indigenous American traditions. It's good storytelling, but I do wish there was an overarching structure to the book. Maybe I'm missing the point by asking for that.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this interesting and interesting and lovely.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent.

[Devon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the title suggests this books is interesting in that Bruchac gives stories from different Nations, more so from Abenaki (which is Bruchac's tribe). He also gives a lot of extra reading material on different subjects that a person is interested in.

I thought this would be a good buy for anybody who is interested in learning about different tribes, or someone who has already.

However, when Bruchac was discussing theories on the origins of First People. Bruchac is very tongue-in-cheek about stating that the Kennewick man had "Caucasian features", Bruchac uses this to imply that First People could be "white" or of "European descent". This bothers me because not all people with Caucasian features are of European descent. For example there is a group of people in China who do have "Caucasian" features.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can only say, read this to gain a much deeper understanding on how Native Americans convey their values and teach the big lessons of life through stories--and how easy it is for people from other cultures to misunderstand their truths. Every page can be pondered and reread for more insights and you'll come to respect the depth of those truths...

[Bex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book. I learned quite a bit about the Native American peoples and their beliefs and cultures and values. I officially want to raid the Native American section at Barnes and Noble now LOL. I really am glad that I bought this one. Check it out!

[Stan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An overview/recollection of a Native American author on storytelling in Native cultures. Not in depth, nor detailed, just a smattering of stories, their backgrounds and also cultural background. Includes references for those interested in researching further.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for an essay I'm doing on Native Americans, and the only thing I can say is: they were right. Who wouldn't want to be(come) an Indian American?

I found it very interesting. I wish we could all learn more from Native American Peoples and be better human beings.

[Jnguyen921 · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a collection of short stories from various nations and it provided much insight to the native people and ways..i liked it a lot

[hh · Rating 4 out of 5]

wonderful book about how stories intrinsically comprise the worldviews of many native americans. bruchac is a solid writer and the stories hum. a powerful teaching tool.

[Tabatha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice Thanksgiving read. It is good to remember the real deal.

[Nanu]

Welcome the opportunity to buy or borrow :)

[Matthew Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starts off slow, but once I got into it i really enjoyed all of the stories used in this discussion of american indian history/culture/values. Some great examples, and enjoyable reading.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a broad look at Native American culture rather than looking at one area/tribe specifically. I enjoyed the set up (each chapter starts with a myth) and learned a few things

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting. I enjoyed the stories they told of their culture and what they believe in.