Grandmother's Grandchild: My Crow Indian Life

by Alma Hogan Snell, Peter Nabokov (Preface), Becky Matthews (Editor)

“I became what the Crows call káalisbaapite—a ‘grandmother’s grandchild.’ That means that I was always with my Grandma, and I learned from her. I learned how to do things in the old ways.”—Alma Hogan Snell

Grandmother's Grandchild is the remarkable story of Alma Hogan Snell (1923–2008), a Crow woman brought up by her grandmother, the famous medicine woman Pretty Shield. Snell grew up during the 1920s and 1930s, part of the second generation of Crows to be born into reservation life. Like many of her contemporaries, she experienced poverty, personal hardships, and prejudice and left home to attend federal Indian schools.

What makes Snell's story particularly engaging is her exceptional storytelling style. She is frank and passionate, and these qualities yield a memoir unlike those of most Native women. The complex reservation world of Crow women—harsh yet joyous, impoverished yet rich in meaning—unfolds for readers. Snell's experiences range from the forging of an unforgettable bond between grandchild and grandmother to the flowering of an extraordinary love story that has lasted more than five decades.

Genres: Memoir, Native American, History

215 pages, Paperback

First published January 9, 2000

Reviews

[Becki]

I wish there would have been an audio version. I think the story would have come across better hearing it.

[Ahnna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a phenomenal read full of ancestry, culture, hard times, survival, and rebirth of tradition. Many will find it weird that Alma focuses so much of her story on her Grandmother but the life of Crow is very communal and a understanding of how they live their lives is not like the American individuality culture. I loved it and would recommend this to anyone wanting a closet look into the Crow nation of Montana and neighboring Natives.

[Eden Silverfox · Rating 3 out of 5]

At some parts the book was pretty slow and it took me longer to read than usual, as it wasn't always holding my interest. With that said, it definitely wasn't a bad book. I did like it and it is a good read if you want to know more about Crow life and the life of Alma Hogan Snell, the granddaughter of Pretty Shield.

[Carroll Straus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read it twice now. Again-- i know the author but it is a deeply healing and inspiring book. highly recommended

[Wayne C Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful view and perspective of the early - mid 20th Century life of the Crow Indian. Rich in heritage and a look at history you will not see on the Discovery/History Channels..

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read in 2011 and really enjoyed this book. It follows on from Pretty Shield (the grandmother). I may comment further if I get the time to back-track my reading.