Earth Elder Stories

by Alexander Wolfe

Alexander Wolfe is a Saulteaux/Ojibwa storyteller and the keeper of his family's oral history. These stories belong to his family and include accounts of how the descendents of Pinayzitt, a Saulteaux leader who lived in the Northwest Territories of Canada and the Great Plains of the United States in the 1800s, lived on the land, survived the smallpox and flu epidemics, signed treaties, and were confined to reservations.

The stories blend history with legend and prophecy, giving both the equal weight they occupy in Native oral tradition. In their retelling, Wolfe carries out his responsibility of passing on his family's stories to the next generation, as well as encouraging Natives to record their histories and non-Natives to understand the significance and lessons of these tales.

Earth Elder Stories was originally published by Fifth House Ltd. in 1988. It has proven an excellent resource for students of Native Studies, history, linguistics, and literature.

Genres: Short Stories, Nonfiction, Indigenous

104 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of family stories passed down to Alexander Wolfe from his ancestors, telling of the passing of old traditions and ceremonies, due to settlement and a commitment to honor terms of the treaties. There are three older stories which predate contact. The rest of the stories tell of the changing times that came with settlement. What interests me is these stories also predate our current time, being transcribed for publication in 1988. The stories were oral tradition and the choice to transcribe and publish them was made to preserve them. The stories are a gift from the past, a warning about the loss of tradition in the time they were written and a prediction to our current time and future times about changes, loss. The speak of legacy, of honor and of the choice to provide a written account in English.

[Paul Guthrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

There should be ten thousand books like this, but I think it's fairly unique.

They are family stories, at first almost mythical, wrapped in deeper time, and then things accelerate with contact and colonization.

The stories are quiet, understated, funny and ring true.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the opportunity to experience family stories that are not traditionally written down.

[Clivemichael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating window into a long past lifestyle, attitudes and spiritual presence.

[Megan Joosten · Rating 4 out of 5]

It really opened my eyes to the perspective of this aboriginal community. It hurt my heart and brought tears to my eyes reading “The Last Rain Dance.”

[Vivian Zenari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting short collection of narratives that combine older and newer stories about a specific indigenous band, some more personal than others.

[Cecily - MillennialBookGal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very short book but with some interesting stories. Used this for university English and is now added to my collection.

[Beth Bauman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really lovely collection of stories told to Alexander Wolfe by his grandfather (Earth Elder), and Wolfe has been given permission/rights to share them. I loved these stories: some were funny, some were devastating, some were heavy with grief, some reminded me of our European folk tales, and others were strange and wondrous to me. Many of these stories were histories that Earth Elder either remembers HIS grandfathers telling him, or that he tells about his own brothers' adventures, in a similar style to how any grandparent likes to talk about the mischief they got into as teenagers. Many also tell about the early days of reserve life, and the historical markings of the last dances before they were made illegal by the government. There were some really good adventure stories in there as well! I really enjoyed the writing style.

[Stevie Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciated being able to read stories that were not traditionally written down, and the lessons that come along with oral tradition. Really gave me things to think about regarding traditions and who has the right to partake/pass along these traditions. Great read for anyone living on prairies Indigenous territory.

[Elecia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of family stories I felt so grateful to be able to read. The author, Alexander Wolfe, passed away a few years after he published this so his and his family’s stories feel just that much more special. So many oral Indigenous stories and history has been lost and erased so I am thankful that this text exists.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a good collection of oral stories. They gave a good insight into the traditions and history of the author's people. I learned some new things and enjoyed the teaching of traditions, life lessons and history imbedded in these stories.