What the Eagle Sees: Indigenous Stories of Rebellion and Renewal

by Eldon Yellowhorn, Kathy Lowinger

"There is no death. Only a change of worlds.”
—Chief Seattle [Seatlh], Suquamish Chief

What do people do when their civilization is invaded? Indigenous people have been faced with disease, war, broken promises, and forced assimilation. Despite crushing losses and insurmountable challenges, they formed new nations from the remnants of old ones, they adopted new ideas and built on them, they fought back, and they kept their cultures alive.

When the only possible “victory” was survival, they survived.

In this brilliant follow up to Turtle Island, esteemed academic Eldon Yellowhorn and award-winning author Kathy Lowinger team up again, this time to tell the stories of what Indigenous people did when invaders arrived on their homelands. What the Eagle Sees shares accounts of the people, places, and events that have mattered in Indigenous history from a vastly under-represented perspective—an Indigenous viewpoint.

Eagle's tale
The story of the Old North Trail
First come the Vikings: we fight them off
Slavery: rebellion
Old nations crumble: we forge new ones
Invaders' battles: We walk the war road
New days: new ways
They took our land: victory is survival
Assimilation: we resist
Our day is not over: we dance!
The eagle has landed: understanding the past, soaring into the future

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Indigenous, Middle Grade, Historical, Childrens, Social Justice

120 pages, Paperback

First published November 12, 2019

Reviews

[Amy Layton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an utterly fantastic book, and I'm so glad that I read it.  Summarizing historical events across not only countries but nations as well, What the Eagle Sees offers a hard, cold, but hopeful look at an ongoing genocide.  I know I'm pretty ignorant in a lot of aspects that were discussed int his book, but I knew at least a few things such as the #NODAPL events and reformation/assimilation schools.  But what this book does is not only summarize the events, but gives the actual numbers of those who fought and were assimilated, perished from disease, or were otherwise murdered.

And seeing those numbers made me pale.  And made me realize how little I actually knew or understood about their pain.  

Filled with photographs, quotations from chiefs and warriors, explanations of eugenics, genocide, and experiments, lifted-with-privilege stories, and references, this title comprises the history of many nations.  I was glad to see information about nations now living in Mexico and the south-west United States, as well as nations who live in what is now Canada.  Being from the United States, I was only actively taught about nations that were around where our education was, and not necessarily history as a whole or across nations.

This is a hugely important book, and one written by Native American authors--which just goes to show that this book is probably one of the most honest and least biased out there.  Overall, I'm glad that I read this, and I hope to use this information wisely in the future as I continue learning more and more about the history and contemporary situations of native peoples.  

Review cross-listed here!

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars that I'm rounding up to 5 because I think it's a very important book that we should all read. It's more of a history book than a story, but much of it is written as if an elder were relating the story (at least that's what I was hearing in my head). This is the story of the indigenous people of North America (Canada, US, and Mexico) written by Eldon Yellowhorn, a member of the Piikani Nation, and also an archaeologist. I think this would be a very appropriate book for a Middle School library, but older Elementary School students would likely find value in it as well. The history is not complete, nor is it necessarily in chronological order. Rather, he divides the book into sections having to do with the early visitors (Vikings), Slavery, the Crumbling of old nations, invaders, New ways, the major loss of land, assimilation, and then the survival and restoration of some of these nations and how understanding the past will lead to a better future. I know the US has a terrible record of how we have treated the Indigenous people, but I didn't realize Canada and Mexico were also guilty of similar things. In fact, some of what's described here was quite brutal. But the author shares hope for the future by describing some of what Canada has done to try to make reparations (some helpful, some not so helpful), none of which I was aware of. This book is very well laid out with very helpful illustrations and I think it would be great as the basis for a Social Studies unit in middle school social studies.

Thanks to NetGalley, Eldon Yellowhorn, and Annick Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I told the librarian that I wanted to take out this book I was told “it’s a children’s book”. I still insisted in taking the book and I am happy I did. This book of Indigenous stories was a very interesting book full of historical facts. This is a very worthwhile book to read for all ages!

[Storytime With Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non fiction texts are some of the best ways in which we learn about people, places and things. We can learn about history or animals or sports through these important texts. However, these books need to be vetted to ensure the information they provide is accurate and appropriate. I wouldn’t want to read about baseball from a biologist who has never picked up a baseball, likewise I would hesitate to base my understanding of Indigenous history on books written by settlers.

What the Eagle Sees by Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathy Lowinger aims to educate youth about the history of the Indigenous people of Turtle Island. It is a critical text for classrooms as it provides us with the history of a long suffering people through their own lens. It is an Own Voices text that travels back 10,000 years to the beginning of Turtle Island and journeys to the present, providing us with a more complete picture of the problematic colonization of Indigenous people and how they resisted that persecution.

For Canadian educators and parents, it’s important to note that although many of the items in this books seem to focus on people who live south of the border, historically there was no Canada, United States or Mexico. All Indigenous people lived and continue to live on Turtle Island which has no borders as we know them today. Different Nations occupied various areas on Turtle Island but the Nations crossed what we use as our boarders now. There are many examples of how both settlers in Canada and the United States aimed to assimilate Indigenous people and how the different nations fought with all of their might against that assimilation.

What the Eagle Sees is an inspiring book especially for Indigenous children as it explains with pride the strength, resilience and resistance of their ancestors. It also provides a critical look for settlers about how our ancestors took these lands from the people who were already here and continue to perpetuate the generational trauma Indigenous people face. I would strongly recommend this book for every classroom studying life in early Canada. While the Ontario curriculum is beginning to open the doors to learning about Indigenous life in Upper Canada there are still significant gaps that need to be closed. Honest texts by the people who have lived the experiences we are trying to understand are one way we can begin to close those gaps

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having finished watching a very detailed series about The West by documentarian Ken Burns, I felt enriched by the content of Yellowhorn's book that is definitely accessible for a YA audience and even middle-grade students who want to know more.

The audience is helped to understand the long and complex history of Indigenous people as they were forced off their lands, scammed out of their natural resources, and re-educated to "kill the Indian, save the man" but that they have persevered with projects like Project Surname to return back to native language, names, and ancestral practices.

I wish that there was more to it, but understand how the dive showcases the elemental stories that other authors can build on. The illustrations and maps were informative as were the text boxes focused on people, projects, and war.

[Leah Horton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What the Eagle Sees is a fantastic book about what the Indigenous people did when invaders arrived in their homeland.

This was a beautiful, and haunting book showing the atrocities of the past as well as the resiliency of the indigenous people.

Being a Canadian this was incredibly educational and eye opening to what occurred in our past. Dark and light somehow finding a way to coexist in a country divided by a violent history.

[Lys · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a ton about Indigenous history from this book and I think this is a must-buy for all teen nonfiction collections. While on the shorter side, it is filled with different stories, perspectives, time periods, and cultures, and the visuals are excellent. Read this book and recommend it to your students!

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not just a children's book! It is great for *all ages*! You can learn the history of indigenous life in America and Canada, complete with biographies, photos, maps, and folklore stories. Great research tool for everyone!

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much from this book. The history of the cruel ongoing genocide and erasure of Indigenous people is prevalent in most historical texts. This book should be required reading for young students, along with his other book Turtle Island. So grateful for Yellowhorn and Lowlinger for making these important accounts accessible for YA readers.

[Laura Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this new book by #EldonYellowhorn (#Piikani) — MUST BUY!
.
〰️
〰️
What the Eagle Sees skillfully weaves together facts and myth to tell the full story of atrocities committed against Indigenous people in North America, as well as their attempts to rebel. Inspiring stories like the 1680 Pueblo revolt in New Mexico in which runners traveled 140 miles to spread the message about the rebellion will thrill readers. Stories from the past are connected to the present (the running tradition continues for many Indigenous groups including the Hopi), as well as traditional stories from various Indigenous groups. .
〰️
〰️
With clear formatting, a gorgeous design, and full color images of artifacts and paintings, this sequel to Turtle Island chronologically lays out the struggle Indigenous people have faced in the last 500+ years. .
〰️
〰️
In each chapter, an effective and powerful “imagine” pull out box puts the reader in the position of an Indigenous person during that time period struggling with new diseases, discovering Spanish horses for the first time, and being separated from family members to attend a residential school. Profiles of important Indigenous people during each time period are highlighted, as well. Includes a glossary, selected sources and an index.
.
〰️
〰️
#nativeamericanheritagemonth #middleschoollibrary #library #librarian #futurereadylibs #iteachlibrary #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #librariesfollowlibraries #librarylife #librarianlife #schoollibrarian #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #iteach #librarylove #booksbooksbooks #amreading #bibliophile #schoollibrariansrock #bookreview #bookrecommendation #igreads #malibrary #msla #mediaspecialist

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the Eagle Sees by Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathy Lowinger is a deeply fantastic book for both middle school and young adult readers, and even for adults looking to learn and understand.

This book offers up a brilliant explanation of many of the ways Indigenous people in North America have been impacted by colonization since it began. I think one of the best things about this book is that not only does it cover atrocities committed against Indigenous peoples (which must be remembered to prevent them being repeated), but it also covers many of the ways that Indigenous people have fought back against colonization, adapted to newcomers, and more. I think it's so important to have that model of Indigenous resistance since there is still so much fighting to be done, just as it is important for us to acknowledge that Indigenous people have grown and adapted and changed since colonization began, just as every other society has changed in that time--no more myths of all of them being gone. It's also great to see the ways in which preparations are being made for the future, whether that looks like legal action being taken, traditional ceremonies thriving, languages being revived, or the knowledge of elders being recorded.

It's also wonderful to see the ways the anthropology and archaeology, traditionally fields heavily occupied by colonizers, being reclaimed by Indigenous people studying their own communities, discovering their own histories, and making their indigeneity and academia merge into something powerful and decolonial.

I am thrilled to have read this book, and I highly recommend it. It's the kind of book I could recommend to anyone middle grade and up, whether they are Indigenous, white, or a POC.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happened to the Indigenous People of North America when the explorers “discovered” their land? We know their side of the story. What the Eagle Sees gives readers a long-needed look at the side of the story that has long been silenced: the story of those who were already here on the American lands.

Part of what I adore about the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge each year is how the challenge forces me to flex my reading-muscles and read something that may instead languish on my TBR for years and years. This is one of those titles.

We often hear “history is written by the victors.” We are reminded more & more that those victors and writers were/are white men. It is long past time to add the perspectives and stories of the Indigenous and women to our history books. Authors like Eldon Yellowhorn and Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz (author of An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States) have started to fill the gap. Specifically, What the Eagle Sees touches on many aspects of the events that occurred after the European explorers arrived from the perspective of those who were already here. Not only do readers get to see “the other side of the story” but Eldon Yellowhorn, an archeologist and professor in addition to an author, shares insights into how these stories are learned and shared: through oral tradition and archaeological digs.

What the Eagle Sees is one of those #ownvoices books that desperately needs to be added to every single middle grade history curriculum.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly appreciated this book. I highlighted chunks of text and made notes to refer back to for when I wrote this review. Unfortunately, one week later, when I went to use all that, I couldn't open the ebook. Apparently there was 'no valid license’ for it. I can download another copy to reread, but I don't have time.

The history of indigenous peoples isn't comfortable reading. This book begins with a preamble explaining the story of the eagle and of the old North Trail. The trail spans the North American continent from north to what is now the Yukon, south to Mexico. Indigenous peoples used it for millennium prior to first contact with europeans. What the Eagle Sees spans Indigenous history from their victory over the Vikings, to how people manage to survive and thrive today. I appreciated the many photographs, and inserts of additional information.

It’s not as in depth as Thomas King’s The Inconvenient Indian, but it’s a brilliant introduction for readers unaware of indigenous relationships with settlers.

This is an important read for everyone eleven years and older. It should be mandatory reading for all educators. It goes without saying that it provides an important mirror for indigenous children, and a window for the rest of us. I plan to now go and read the authors’ first book, Turtle Island: The Story of North America's First People.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way history is taught, at least in the United States, is that there was nothing before the Europeans came to the New World. As though the continents were empty of all human life, but that was not the case.

This book, written by a First Nations member, anthropologist. This is a story told from the other side, not from the invaders point of view, but from the Ingenious people. Very thoughtfully written.

The author explains that White people worked under something called "the doctrine of discovery" the false idea that land was vacant until a white man had seen it. This would explain how Lewis and Clark discovered land that was empty.

This is a separate book from his first one Turtle Island, but it is also a companion piece, going on beyond the invasion of the Europeans, which was where Turtle Island left off.

Thoughtful, well written, and with little stabs of insight throughout. This is a great book to flip the perspective, and show what was happening to the indigenous students with the residency school.s

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Kyra Nay]

Published by a Canadian press, What the Eagle Sees examines the history of Indigenous people across North America, noting that the last 500 years have been like eagle feathers, “part light and part dark,” with the dark days of enslavement, deadly diseases, loss of land, forced assimilation, and more. The final chapter ends the book on a hopeful, resilient note, celebrating the light – their survival and efforts to reclaim languages, place names, music, and traditions.

The beautiful book design seamlessly incorporates visual elements like drawings, maps, paintings, and photographs. Pull out sections go into more detail about specific objects, technology, artifacts, traditional stories, and famous figures, while haunting “imagine” sections invite readers to reflect on moments in history – what it would be like to watch most of your village die from an unknown disease or flee your home, leaving everything behind or try to communicate with complete strangers, none of whom speak your language?

Highly recommended resource for expanding Indigenous history beyond a sidebar in a history textbook.

[Rachel G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for PopSugar 2020 book challenge "A book with a bird on the cover".

An interesting and well written overview of American History as told by the Native American. Eldon Yellowhorn is an archaeologist from the Piikani Nation, and his passion for his peoples history shines through the book.

My 3 sentence synopsis: American history as taught in schools is from the point of view of those who invaded it - this book tells many of the same stories from the point of view of those they invaded. It includes many sidebars with information about traditions, art, religion, history and the geology of America, Canada & Mexico's indigenous people. This work doesn't cover or attempt to cover all of Native history, but is instead a good way to whet the interest of its readers to learn more.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an informational/instructional text, chronologically exploring North and South American indigenous cultures with direct text, archival photos, rich side boars of cultural tales. It also features "Just imagine" sections throughout. These invite readers to place themselves within similar circumstances in modern times and ask what courses of action might be chosen.
It is surprisingly readable despite dense content, and appears to use only #ownvoices researchers, sources, and authors. I am very impressed, and feel as if I learn more on every page even though I've made an intentional effort in past years to educate myself from valid sources.

[Amy Cummings · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very accessible and informative book. It’s probably targeted at a middle grade the way it is organized, but it handles big ideas in sophisticated way suitable for older kids and not boring for adults.

I was in the middle of David Silverman’s This Land Is Their Land about indigenous history leading up to the supposed “first thanksgiving,” and I took a break from that rather dense book to read this one. It actually helped me a lot to synthesize all the info! Even though they are on different topics, I found it super helpful to have a very concise and understandable history book to check in with. I really appreciated everything I learned from this book.

[Heather Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am making an effort to read more BIPOC authors, especially indigenous authors, as there are so few currently available in our library system. This book was everything. It was a historical timeline, it was a photographic history, it was a geography lesson, it was an archeological dig, it was folk lore, it was the story of a diverse ethnic group that was slaughtered by the hands who came to tell their story.

I am so grateful to authors Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathy Lowinger. Their willingness to share stories with a readership that is both indigenous and not is incredibly generous. I learned so much and cannot wait to share this book with students and staff!

[Brittany Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An informative, artistic book that really enlightens the reader about Indigenous history. It is an entertaining short book & quite easy to pick-up for people with little background in Indigenous knowledge. As an anthropology major, I quite enjoyed the cohesive order of events presented by the book & learned some new things from Eldon Yellowhorn's permitted stories. Overall, I recommend Yellowhorn's What the Eagle Sees as he seems to be doing some great work in the anthropology field that is worth reading about.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a great history book or even textbook for kids about Indigenous cultures in Turtle Island or North America. I was a little disappointed to see little discussion of how Black history is tied to Indigenous history, beyond one paragraph about music styles. There was no mention of two-spirit or other LGBTQ+ Indigenous peoples. overall, however, I do think this is an accessible, informative, and much-needed book, and look forward to reading the other collaboration between the two authors.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! I knew most of the information in it prior to reading, but it is a fantastic resource for children and adults alike. Not only does it give the indigenous perspective of North American history, but it adds wonderful features like an "imagine" section in each chapter, encouraging the reader to imagine how it would feel going through events that indigenous people have had to suffer through in the past. Everyone living in the USA should know the information in this book, so I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

[Tweller83 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an eye opening but not unexpectedly sad account of what white people have done to eliminate and wipe out indigenous people in North America for centuries. Man's inhumanity to man is on full display here. I would highly recommend to anyone looking to find out more about the systematic not just oppression but true genocide of indigenous people. Well told in 9 sweeping chapters from 10,000 years ago to now.
Includes a Glossary, Selected Sources, Image Credits, and an Index

[Cromaine Library]

What a powerful book! What the Eagle Sees chronicles the atrocities that happened to Indigenous people in North America, and it is gut wrenching and heartbreaking. It ends on a somewhat hopeful note, and the reader will definitely want to springboard into further research on several topics. Recommended for 5th grade and up, due to subject matter.

Recommended by librarian Heather

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an informative primer on Indigenous history for middle school students. It has a slim page count, but there is a lot of information packed into the dense text. I read it over several weeks by just reading a short passage every day. The varied layout, which has a textbook feel, does a good job of keeping it visually interesting and accessible.

[Mackay · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Unusual book. I think it's meant for YA or kids, but it's so accessibly written and covers such a wide scope that it's really for anyone interested in the sweep of North American Indigenous Peoples' experience. Copiously illustrated; serious fun.

[Peyton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very informative book. It is so packed full of information that it took longer to read than I expected. A great book to learn FNMI history.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This eclectic work of nonfiction shares several stories about the struggles and survival of Indigenous people across North America, primarily focusing on Canada and the United States.

[Juli Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful and necessary resource.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is just not one of my favorites. I've seen it put in both young adult and children's collections, but I think it's sort of caught in a nether space. The writing in some parts and formatting style of book feels like it was written for children; the content and context is written for young adults. That I could just get over because tweens exists.

What I had trouble with is there is some inaccurate information. The things written about the Southeastern Tribes feels like it was written from a colonial perspective, which is the opposite of the proposed scope and intent of the work. It's a disappointment in a book that does alright for some of the better known tribes from the West, Pueblos, and North. More than one of these maps is inaccurate (even when factoring in competing perspectives), which is something you'd expect to be correct in a book like this.