The Way We Lived: California Indian Stories, and Songs & Reminiscences

by Malcolm Margolin

Ranging from love songs to death chants, legends to oral histories, The Way We Lived captures the vitality and continuance of native culture in California. Includes dozens of historic photographs.

Genres: History, Native American, Indigenous, Nonfiction, Anthropology, American, Mythology

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never truly learned about Native American history, culture, and stories growing up in the States. Even at my liberal high school in the suburbs of Chicago, we did not learn much other than that we should respect Native American heritage and that the history of European colonization is one of massacre, plague, and tragedy. But crucially, we did not learn the vibrance and intricacies of different tribes' stories, opinions, languages, beliefs, and values. Through this book, I had the wonderful opportunity to learn about all of the above, to learn greater respect of other cultures, and to acknowledge that Native American cultures are still alive and beautiful today; that although cultures are different from hundreds of years ago, they have taken on new meanings and happenings, and cultural traditions are still alive. I enjoyed this book and think it should be essential reading for all.

[Sandra The Old Woman in a Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as an accompaniment to my road travel around California and the SW USA. It blew my mind. Unfortunately I had no idea before reading this book that CA had the most dense population of any pre-Colombian region of the US. Over 100 distinct polities with sophisticated land management, cultures, languages and more. Almost all was lost over a very short period of time. This book should be required reading for any person interested in US history. It transformed the way I see the land I am traveling.

[Elizabeth Ruiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of songs, stories, and knowledge from Indigenous folks from what is currently known as California. An essential reading for any non-native/ settler of the state. This book felt like a love letter to the many cultures that have been present on these lands since time immemorial. Rich with first-person accounts of community joy, healing, and the atrocities committed by white people and the US government, this book was a great starting point for my understanding of the many histories and current reality of Indigenous communities. I picked this book up as a reference, and ended up reading the whole thing. I especially loved the sections on Dreams and Coyote.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much I didn't know about California Native traditions and thought that I didn't know before I read this book. I also learned much about the systemic massacres of California natives by the first hand accounts. This is heartbreaking. This book should be read and discussed in every high school in the state.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting compilation of collected stories and photos. I learned a great deal and the format made it an easy book to pick up and put down without feeling like I’d get lost.

I would have preferred for the excerpts to include dates along with name and tribe affiliation to help out the stories into context.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is essential reading for anyone growing up on the central coast of California.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an ethnographic collection, aka a bunch of small essays and stories from indigenous Californian people. Some pieces are a few pages long and tell creation myths or describe traditional behaviors, some are a poem or a song with a description of the role it had in traditional Californian indigenous life. I mostly read a piece at a time so as not to lose them and confuse them with each other. A good book to get a feel for the living history of California's native peoples and the culture that remains to them.

[Daphne · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a native Californian who went to public schools, I learned about the missions in the fourth grade. Of course, it was the "Disney" version of what happened to the indigenous people of the state. We only glanced over what it was like and only learned of a few tribes in the state. I'm glad I read this as I never knew how diverse the indigenous population was in California. This book definitely has piqued my interest in learning more about the tribes here. Loved the variety of stories, songs and accounts of life in the state so long ago. A great read!

[James]

Presenting a new and revised edition of this well-loved and popular classic. The Way We Lived is a rich and varied collection of stories, love songs, chants, and more from native people around the state. Sometimes poignant, often humorous, and always fascinating, these pieces show the remarkable perseverance of native culture and ways in modern times.

[Sophie Carbone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great mix of stories in here! Great for people living/growing up in or around California.

[Bertha · Rating 3 out of 5]

stories from California’s natives, told the living history that is of the land and the people. Gave an insight on their culture and how storytelling is a big part of history knowledge.

[Lee Wainwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of Native Californian anecdotes and writings which explains how these natives were (are) able to live intelligently with their surroundings: it's all about attitude. One outstanding example is people of European origin use themselves as a point of reference against which they describe the world. We refer to the right hand and the left hand, and we might describe a certain mountain as being on our left hand side or our right, depending on which way we are facing. Native Californians, on the other hand, see things the exact opposite. So if they pointed at a certain mountain to the north, say, then that hand would be described as the northward one, and if they turned round then that hand would now be the southward arm. In other words, the features of the world remained the constant reference while the sense of self changed and continually adjusted to a world in which the individual was not the centre of all creation. There are songs and trickster tales and details of how the whites degraded everything. Fascinating.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book. the stories and poetry and imagery did a lot to supplement and bring to mind more about California Native culture. Admittedly I didn't read all the sections/segments but it's something I'd like to return to again.

[Jim]

Have not read this yet, but I have it.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving collection of Native Californian stories and accounts sensitively edited by Malcolm Margolin.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is essential for anyone who teaches California history.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent source for first-hand accounts, stories, myths, etc. However my burning questions about morteros remain unanswered...

[The Book Garden · Rating 4 out of 5]

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