The Sea of Grass: A Family Tale from the American Heartland

by Walter Echo-Hawk

This historical fiction novel is inspired by real people and events that were shaped by the land, animals, and plants of the Central Plains and by the long sweep of Indigenous history in the grasslands. Major events are presented from a Pawnee perspective to capture the outlook of the Echo-Hawk ancestors. The oral tradition from ten generations of Echo-Hawk's family tell the stories of the spiritual side of Native life, and give voice to the rich culture and cosmology of the Pawnee Nation.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Indigenous, Social Justice, Historical

350 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2018

Reviews

[Amy Layton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this was near-unlike anything else I've read.  I consider it to be non-fiction, a memoir--after all, The Sea of Grass tells the written tale (though once oral) of many generations ago and their stories, and offers a well-researched and cited list in the backmatter. Yet this book also falls certainly within the historical fiction category, as certainly events from so long ago and events that were certainly not recorded or documented in what is now deemed the "traditional" or "academic" way.  Not only is it unlike anything I've ever read due to its genre-crossing boundaries, but its plot and structure is totally unlike anything I've read either, likely due to its Native American influence.  

Told in many parts, from various different perspectives, Echo-Hawk offers points of view from many generations ago to himself today.  Within each section, however, are additional stories and tales, as well as context that are woven in throughout the text.  After all, how could I, and perhaps plenty of other white readers, really understand the heart of this book without also trying to understand the culture and traditions that Echo-Hawk has understood his whole life?

It reads as though one were telling you this story themselves--there are many contexts, many dates, and plenty of facts that do not need to be expanded upon in order to make this book make sense.  Because of that, it did take me a while to really be able to dig in, being so different than what I'm used to, but it made for an incredible and relaxing reading experience.

Overall, this book is a strong, sturdy text, and though I read it specifically for Native American Heritage Month (November), I highly recommend reading this outside of that month, too.  It's intriguing, historical, and offers many perspective that I'd little considered due to our current society's constraints.  

Review cross-listed here!

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an epic and gut-wrenching read. The Sea of Grass is a novel based on real people and events over multiple generations from the perspective of the Pawnee Nation. It's based on oral tradition, and admittedly, the narrative does take a little while to get used to, but it is very worthwhile and ultimately rewarding.

Despite the many disasters faced along the way, The Sea of Grass is a book about survival as well as the endurance of the human spirit. Although, I must confess by the end of the novel the message did feel a little hollow. Based on historical events, the many cruelties and disasters visited upon the Pawnee Nation were a lot to absorb and process, however, perhaps others may feel differently.

The myths and legends scattered throughout were also fascinating to read about.

Highly recommended.

This was an ARC in exchange for an honest review. With thanks to Netgalley and Fulcrum Publishing.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rich and well written story. Touching and also heart wrenching at times, it kept my interest through. Really liked the way the story has the feel of oral tradition. Was not able to read on my kindle, but was able to read on my computer in a PDF file. From the beginning origins, to the wars with neighboring groups and finally the whites, it is a telling of the history of the Pawnee nation, including Crazy Horse. From the telling of how the Wolf was their protector, to how they got the Big Dog (horse), it was interesting throughout. Highly recommend this book and author.

[Akchev · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was fascinating to read about historical events in the U.S. through the perspective of an indigenous person. From what their ancestors went through during wartime with other tribes, to weathering smallpox, cholera, influenza & other diseases brought by outside settlers, to starvation after their main food source - Buffalo - were hunted to near extinction by outsiders, to having their land taken and their culture outlawed by the government, this book will run your heart ragged with emotions.

[timv · Rating 5 out of 5]

I consider this book to be the history of the Pawnee people since the late 1700 as told through the family lineage of the author, Walter Echo-Hawk. It’s a historical and cultural treasure told from the oral tradition viewpoint of the Pawnees. The author says it was inspired by reading the novel, “Roots“.

I have read a lot of western America history, but I have not encountered this history as told through the eyes of the Pawnee nation, until now. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to hear the story of the Great Plains from the Pawnee perspective, which is a very different perspective from that of the American government or other Plains Tribes.

There was one thing that especially touched me in this book that I want to mention.The first part of the book is told from the perspective of Calico-Cloth–Woman, the authors 3rd great-grandmother, who was born in the 1790s and then from the perspective of numerous of her descendants. Stories upon stories upon stories are told by these people about their lives in the Pawnee villages in Nebraska. Then very late in the book the author briefly describes the struggles the tribe had with the Nebraska state government who evidently had funded the digging up and looting of the graves of over 400 people in the same Pawnee villages (and very likely some of the very people telling the stories in this book) and were refusing to repatriate the bodies and possessions back to the tribe. ...Shameful.

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that this is an important book because it saves for posterity the history, especially from the oral tradition, of the Pawnee people. It is an important resource for scholars and those interested in the history of the American West. However, I had some problems with the voice and the style of the author or I would have given it 5 stars.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sea of Grass
by Walter R Echo-Hawk
A rough read, look at the history of the people with questions for those parts not maintained by history. Very strongly Pro-Native american. Most of the history is accurate.

[Seth Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful tapestry of the Pawnee told through a great storytelling. Showing truly how stories connect the past and present.

[KatsCauldron R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sea of Grass
The Echo Hawk family is one talked of good as they have always been examples. People to emulate in decency, perseverance, traditional ways of their people, activism, the arts & all facets needed to both go ahead & remember & hold onto the past.
"Not to know what happened before we were born is to remain perpetually a
child. For what is the worth of a human life unless it is woven of our ancestors
by the records of history?"
This is a beautifully written & illustrated story of rich history , perseverance & thriving & injustices. From tales of the first europeans, the hairy noses, the man burners, the first to disseminate the islands & land on this continent that first came up & subjugate the pueblos then tried in the plains. I have heard many stories from different sides of this. They didn’t do well. It was always satisfying to hear when their greed and arrogance led them into fullscale slaughter versus getting away with raiding defenseless villages & camps, raping torturing , burning & throwing people to their dogs to be ripped to shreds in the name of their god. This includes a tale is that helped keep them out of the plains of the Pawnee. " In Spain’s greatest military defeat on the plains, the Skiri had halted the dark empire dead in its tracks, with help from the coyotes, of course. " Then later the other whites wittth evil intent regardless of cover claims. The worst being the muleskinners & traders that intentionally infected Pawnee & other tribes with blankets with small pox. Over half population died same was true or more of all tribes in plains. They were always bad & evil men & caused some of the worst conflicts & trouble. The diseases they brought with the so called missionaries were worse on tribes than anything else in destroying this side or equal to killing the sacred buffalo that were everythign to plains peoples. Different tribes had different ways of looking at things & survival. This is the story of the Pawnee through one families ways & history of surrounding peoples of theirs & their worldview of others. These tales tell of a different outlook on things & incidents & ways of looking at life.
Calico Woman was as any woman would want to aspire for & was the best joy of reading this in retrospect. I have to admit the hairy hide hunters would have been who I would have wanted to go after too. They were the garbage that killed buffalo & took their hides & let the meat rot & did what they could to destroy the herds & starve the People of the plains. The whole book is lyrical like a long song, both good, bad , happy, sad & insightful. Many things I never heard or knew before about the Pawnee.

[Deborah MB · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Sea of Grass" is a wonderful book, in both style and content. Walter R. Echo-Hawk had clearly planned this work meticulously, crafted it lovingly. I would love to see it reach wide audiences, both for its literary skill, for its didactic load, and as fair returns to the author.

It is the tale of Mr Echo-Hawk’s family and tribe. The narration is built in sections, depending on the main character at the period of time covered. This is important, as the author uses the traditional Pawnee storytelling formula to re-tell history. It begins with the myths of creation of the Pawnee people; then, the arrival of European colonists; the move to the reservations and the massacre of population; the World Wars… all the way to today.

This is a text book, a teaching tool despite the similarities to a novel. Yet, it is so much more. It is the tale behind the struggle to safeguard the identity of the tribal nation, its interactions as family, its efforts to maintain its traditions and beliefs.

(For a more complete review, visit https://www.thereadingreview.com/post...)

[David Radavich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walter Echo-Hawk's SEA OF GRASS is a superb historical novel tracing ten generations of one extended Pawnee family from the early 18th century to the present. This richly metaphorical and spiritual book also details the tragic dislocation of the Pawnee from their traditional grounds in present-day Nebraska and Kansas to north central Oklahoma. It provides an important alternative perspective to the more well-known Sioux narratives. Early in the 19th century, the Pawnee numbered roughly 60,000, by the end of the century only 650 (roughly one percent). Fortunately, the numbers have rebounded in subsequent decades to approximately 3200-3600 today. This book documents the Pawnees' remarkable persistence in preserving their lives, language, and traditions. Echo-Hawk's narrative ranks among the very best Native American literary accomplishments.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great idea and important stories! 3 stars only for poor execution. Walter tried too hard to compose something great like Alex Haley's Roots, but just doesn't have the literary talent for it. Despite the poor writing, occasional typos, and hard to follow narrative shifts, the sum total of this book offered me a compelling picture of the Pawnee people-their traditions, history, and sheer will to survive. There were a few beautiful moments of connection with the land and family.

[Dodie O'Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books ever. I loved the spirituality and being able to see Pawnee history through the storytelling of one man's family as they were handed down from generation to generation.