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Goodbird The Indian: His Story
""Goodbird The His Story"" is a book written by Gilbert L. Wilson that tells the story of a Native American man named Goodbird. The book is a historical account of Goodbird's life and experiences, as well as a reflection on the broader history and culture of Native Americans in the United States.The book is structured as a first-person narrative, with Goodbird recounting his life story to the author. Goodbird was born in the mid-19th century in what is now Minnesota, and he grew up in a traditional Native American community. As a young man, he witnessed the arrival of European settlers and the gradual displacement of his people from their ancestral lands.Throughout the book, Goodbird reflects on the challenges and injustices faced by Native Americans in the 19th century, including forced relocation, loss of cultural identity, and discrimination. He also shares stories of his own life, including his experiences as a warrior, a husband and father, and a participant in traditional ceremonies and rituals.Overall, ""Goodbird The His Story"" offers a unique perspective on Native American history and culture, told through the eyes of a man who lived through some of the most tumultuous times in American history. The book provides a valuable insight into the experiences and struggles of Native Americans, and it is a must-read for anyone interested in learning more about this important aspect of American history.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
- GenresHistory
84 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1985
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14 people want to read
About the author
Gilbert Livingstone Wilson
40 books6 followersGilbert Wilson was born in Springfield, Ohio, in 1869. He earned a bachelors degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1899 after graduating from Wittenberg College, and was ordained a Presbyterian minister in Moorhead, Minnesota. He then returned to Wittenberg and earned a master’s degree. In 1902, he became a pastor in Mandan, North Dakota. Wilson was excited to live near Native Americans, as he enjoyed studying Indian life and folklore, and aspired to write sympathetic children’s books which accurately depicted Indian life and customs. Wilson married Ada Myers of Springfield in 1909 and had one child, who died suddenly in early adulthood. Later in life, Wilson was both a pastor in Stillwater, Minnesota, as well as a professor of anthropology at Macalester College in Saint Paul, where he also served as pastor.
Wilson’s career as an ethnographer began when he visited the Sioux at Standing Rock Reservation in 1905. Two books came out of this early work; The Iktomi Myth (1906) and Indian Hero Tales (1907). The next year, Gilbert and his brother Frederick would visit the elderly Hidatsa woman, Buffalo-Bird-Woman, at Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota. This began in earnest Wilson’s careful documentation of Hidatsa life. In following years, he would include other family members of Buffalo-Bird-Woman in his scholarship, most prominently her brother Henry Wolf Chief and her son Edward Goodbird. Wilson was also adopted into the Prairie Chicken Clan as a son to Buffalo-Bird-Woman and a brother to Edward in 1909.
Among the many published works (some posthumously) that came out of this relationship, were the ethnographic works; Agriculture of the Hidatsa: An Indian Interpretation (1917), The Horse and Dog in Hidatsa Culture (1924), Hidatsa Eagle Trapping (1929), The Hidatsa Earthlodge (1934) and the children’s books; Myths of the Red Children (1907) and Indian Hero Tales (1916). He also published Buffalo-Bird-Woman’s and Goodbird’s autobiography in Waheene: an Indian Girl’s Story, Told by Herself and Goodbird, the Indian.
Early in Wilson’s work at Fort Berthold, he generated great controversy when he bought the Waterbuster clan medicine bundle from Wolf Chief, who converted to Christianity and was wary of shouldering the responsibility of bundle ownership. Wilson then sold the bundle to a wealthy New York collector, which angered many Hidatsa, especially those from the Waterbuster clan, as well as the curator of the State Historical Society of North Dakota who tried to bar Wilson from the reservation. However, Wilson’s adopted family supported him and allowed him to continue his research.
As a student of Alfred Jenks, Wilson became a doctoral candidate in anthropology at the University of Minnesota in 1910. He received his degree in 1916 with his dissertation, Agriculture of the Hidatsa: An Indian Interpretation. This work is a classic of northern Plains ethnography, and is still used by scholars today to gain insights into traditional Hidatsa farming practices.
~http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_...
Wilson’s career as an ethnographer began when he visited the Sioux at Standing Rock Reservation in 1905. Two books came out of this early work; The Iktomi Myth (1906) and Indian Hero Tales (1907). The next year, Gilbert and his brother Frederick would visit the elderly Hidatsa woman, Buffalo-Bird-Woman, at Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota. This began in earnest Wilson’s careful documentation of Hidatsa life. In following years, he would include other family members of Buffalo-Bird-Woman in his scholarship, most prominently her brother Henry Wolf Chief and her son Edward Goodbird. Wilson was also adopted into the Prairie Chicken Clan as a son to Buffalo-Bird-Woman and a brother to Edward in 1909.
Among the many published works (some posthumously) that came out of this relationship, were the ethnographic works; Agriculture of the Hidatsa: An Indian Interpretation (1917), The Horse and Dog in Hidatsa Culture (1924), Hidatsa Eagle Trapping (1929), The Hidatsa Earthlodge (1934) and the children’s books; Myths of the Red Children (1907) and Indian Hero Tales (1916). He also published Buffalo-Bird-Woman’s and Goodbird’s autobiography in Waheene: an Indian Girl’s Story, Told by Herself and Goodbird, the Indian.
Early in Wilson’s work at Fort Berthold, he generated great controversy when he bought the Waterbuster clan medicine bundle from Wolf Chief, who converted to Christianity and was wary of shouldering the responsibility of bundle ownership. Wilson then sold the bundle to a wealthy New York collector, which angered many Hidatsa, especially those from the Waterbuster clan, as well as the curator of the State Historical Society of North Dakota who tried to bar Wilson from the reservation. However, Wilson’s adopted family supported him and allowed him to continue his research.
As a student of Alfred Jenks, Wilson became a doctoral candidate in anthropology at the University of Minnesota in 1910. He received his degree in 1916 with his dissertation, Agriculture of the Hidatsa: An Indian Interpretation. This work is a classic of northern Plains ethnography, and is still used by scholars today to gain insights into traditional Hidatsa farming practices.
~http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_...
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 23, 2021
Having recently enjoyed and learned a lot from having read Waheenee by Wilson I thought Good Bird the Indian would be worthwhile as well. As this book had many of the same features of Waheenee it did not disappoint.
It provided a lot of information about aspects of Good Bird’s daily life as a member of the Hidatsa nation. Such things as how their earth lodges were constructed and lived in; family relations, including how children were disciplined; going on a buffalo hunt; and attending a missionary school, where he learned how to speak, read, and write English were presented. Their spiritual beliefs in sacred bundles, in the former lives of infants, and in having a separate lodge for the older members of the village were also discussed.
Equally important, however, was the manner in which the book disclosed how Good Bird made the transition from a traditional Hidatsa lifestyle to one where he converted to Christianity and adopted American farming practices. In the early 20th century by the age of 35 he was living in a log cabin where his wife was cooking on a stove, growing food and raising cattle on his own plot of land, and sending his children to a missionary school. Believing that the ‘Indian ways are doomed’ he opined it was necessary ‘to travel in the White Man’s ways.’
All of this was represented in a direct, readily readable, and yet still highly descriptive prose. As was the case with the book about Waheenee GBtI contained numerous illustrations done by the author’s brother. These enhanced my interest in the text. Finally, there was also a glossary of Indian terms at the beginning to assist the reader.
Thus, I recommend this book most highly for anyone wanting to learn about late 19th century life for a Northern Plains Native American who made the transition to a more mainstream American life.
It provided a lot of information about aspects of Good Bird’s daily life as a member of the Hidatsa nation. Such things as how their earth lodges were constructed and lived in; family relations, including how children were disciplined; going on a buffalo hunt; and attending a missionary school, where he learned how to speak, read, and write English were presented. Their spiritual beliefs in sacred bundles, in the former lives of infants, and in having a separate lodge for the older members of the village were also discussed.
Equally important, however, was the manner in which the book disclosed how Good Bird made the transition from a traditional Hidatsa lifestyle to one where he converted to Christianity and adopted American farming practices. In the early 20th century by the age of 35 he was living in a log cabin where his wife was cooking on a stove, growing food and raising cattle on his own plot of land, and sending his children to a missionary school. Believing that the ‘Indian ways are doomed’ he opined it was necessary ‘to travel in the White Man’s ways.’
All of this was represented in a direct, readily readable, and yet still highly descriptive prose. As was the case with the book about Waheenee GBtI contained numerous illustrations done by the author’s brother. These enhanced my interest in the text. Finally, there was also a glossary of Indian terms at the beginning to assist the reader.
Thus, I recommend this book most highly for anyone wanting to learn about late 19th century life for a Northern Plains Native American who made the transition to a more mainstream American life.
Want to read
November 11, 2016Edward Goodbird was the son of Buffalo Bird Woman (Maxi'diwiac) and was the interpreter and illustrator for Buffalo Bird Woman's Garden (aka Agriculture of the Hidatsa Indians). I'm interested in historical agriculture practices and Indians, and loved BBWG. This is Goodbird's autobiography, as dictated to Gilbert Wilson.
June 20, 2022
Short and interesting.
August 25, 2020
I read read and reviewed the audio copy for the library for the blind, which was a very interesting experience! It's very important to read the Forward to this book which explains some historically inaccurate portions of the book due to editing. I really loved reading about Goodbird's mother and parenting culture in his tribe. When he shot his mother with his homemade arrow, I gasped and thought he was in deeeeeep trouble. When his mother laughed, I did too, and I contemplated about how my children deserve my laughter and immediate forgiveness when they think they least deserve it.
I wish the book delved more into their religious customs because the tidbits provided were really interesting. Also their food. I was a little sad to see the progression of adopting "white man" customs because, too soon, I had to adjust from learning so much about their culture and wanting to learn more to reading things that were more familiar to me.
However, one thing I definitely lobe was that this book helped me develop a love and appreciation for another culture and an interest in seeking out more.
I wish the book delved more into their religious customs because the tidbits provided were really interesting. Also their food. I was a little sad to see the progression of adopting "white man" customs because, too soon, I had to adjust from learning so much about their culture and wanting to learn more to reading things that were more familiar to me.
However, one thing I definitely lobe was that this book helped me develop a love and appreciation for another culture and an interest in seeking out more.
June 21, 2018
Lots of great info on how the Hidatsa lifestyle changes with the reservation and introduction of Christianity, but a show read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews