Drums of Change: The Story of Running Fawn

Women of the West #12

by Janette Oke

An Indian girl is forced to go to a reservation with her people where she is confused by the white people's culture and their God.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Christian, Romance, Fiction, Historical, Christian Romance

235 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1995

About the author

Janette Oke is a Canadian author known for her inspirational fiction, often set in a pioneer era and focused on female protagonists. Her debut novel, Love Comes Softly (1979), became the foundation for a successful series, followed by over 75 other novels. The first book in her Canadian West series, When Calls the Heart (1983), inspired the popular television series of the same name.
Born in Champion, Alberta, to farmers Fred and Amy (née Ruggles) Steeves during the Great Depression, Oke went on to graduate from Mountain View Bible College in Didsbury, Alberta, where she met her future husband, Edward Oke, who later became the president of the college. The couple has four children, including a daughter who has collaborated with Janette on several books.
A committed Evangelical Christian, Oke has authored numerous works exploring themes of faith. She has received various accolades for her contributions to Christian fiction, including the 1992 President's Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association and the 1999 CBA Life Impact Award.

Reviews

[Myffanwy Geronazzo · Rating 1 out of 5]

So to be clear, I have heard of, but have never read Janette Oke before. I went through a phase of buying Native Fiction from a local used bookstore, and saw this in the mix.
I don't know why it wasn't in Christian Fiction, but I should have probably paid more attention to it at the time.
This was extremely upsetting to read, not in the fact that it was trying to represent the overtaking of Native culture, but the fact that it was done in such a "positive" light.
I don't think Mrs.Oke is aware of how many thousands of Canadian First Nations people were massacred and died by their culture and heritage being taken over and being forced to convert to the English-mans god.
I should have expected it to turn out very settler-oriented and friendly, but I really wasn't expecting the story of a girls change to be so bastardized.
Stay WELL away from this book, especially if you are actually first-nations, actually....everyone else stay away from it too because it's not anywhere remotely close to a good portrayal of how English settlers took over and eradicated First Nations culture.
(I refuse to say "white-oriented" as many cultures that are considered white were not involved in this time period.)

[Shirley Chapel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful heartwarming historical romance about an Indian maiden, Running Fawn and the Chief's son Silver Fox. Story takes place in the late 1800s in Western Canada. It's written by master story teller, Jeanette Oke. The story has many twists and turns and takes readers through the main characters growing years and into their young adult years. The book covers a time when the Indians roamed free and traveled to different locations with the summer and winter seasons and on to the times when the Indians moved to their reservations. A very different and original book that I enjoyed. I thought it was an interesting read. Something very different from the other books in this series. Drums of Change concludes The Women of the West Series. The narration was quite different from the usual audio book. It was a though the narrator was reading to me. Kind of like when my third grade teacher would read to her students every school day after the lunch break.
I recommend to readers of Historical Romance and fans of Jeanette Oke.
I borrowed an audio copy of Drums of Change from the Hoopla library. A review was not requested. All opinions expressed here are my own.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little slow in the beginning and not my favorite Janette Oke book, but this one was unique and so good!! :D

[Katja Labonté · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars & 4/10 hearts. At first I found this book jerky and a little uninteresting, and
struggled to like/relate to the characters. But soon I was sucked in. The theme of change was really well done. I liked Running Fawn and she was very well portrayed. Silver Fox was amazing. I liked Running Fawn’s father, too. I wish there had been more RCMP xD but the story was well done and I enjoyed it. It’s kind of hard to rate it—I’d say it’s a little less than 4.5 stars but more than just 4 stars. If that makes any sense. XD

A Favourite Quote: “‘How did you find me?’ she asked softly.
“The question filled the darkness between them. ‘How did I find you? he repeated the words silently in his heart. With her traveling one way over the vast prairie, and him on another course, how had he found her? If he had not bent down to tie the hobbles at that very spot where she had stepped—? And with her plans to travel by night and his to travel by day—? If he had not found her when he did, would he EVER have found her? Would she have made it alone?
“At last he spoke. His voice was soft in the stillness of the night.
“‘They pray,’ was all he said.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Then the girls were distracted by a group of boys who wrestled on the stiff brown grasses, trying to prove to one another—or to the girls—who was the strongest. Mostly they proved which was the loudest.”

[Lacey Yoder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not my favorite! But it was interesting towards the end. I don’t know if I would recommend it or not ,but it was OK. It was hard to rate it but I would say 3 1/2 or 4. but all around, it was OK book 👌🏼😊 and I’m happy to say I got 4 books done this month!!👏🏼😁

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story took place around 1877 with the signing of treaty 7 between the white man and the Blackfoot. It is a fictionalized account of the bringing of the gospel to the Native people. I was at first disturbed by this narrative of the young Running Fawn who was taken to a mission school in order to learn the " white man's ways." My mother attended a residential school. As many now know, these schools were cruel in their attempts to assimilate my people. I then realized that this book, though naive, presented what ideally should have taken place. Respect for the individual's freedom of choice, regardless of race and the vital role of letting people encounter the words of the Book for themselves.

I am a Christian and although Oke and myself share similar beliefs, we do differ in our understanding of conversion. However, her approach was gentle as she showed the essential faith and love for Jesus that is required.

This book was a light read and well written. I looked forward to reading it at the end of my day.

I wondered, though, what my Mother who lived such a different account thought of this book as it came to me through her collection.

[Natalie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won't mince words here. This book is problematic. I read it simply to judge for myself *how* problematic it was, and break down the issues with this narrative, as I don't rate a book I haven't read. There's subtle racism here, romanticization of westward expansion and the removal and submission of the indigenous peoples, a white savior complex, along with a complete historical rewrite of the Mission schools.
Drums of Change starts off innocently enough, until author Oke refers to the Blackfoot language as "simple native tongue." Not only that, when the Blackfoot are speaking their own language, they often speak in broken sentences. Yikes. Moving on. The Blackfoot accept the white missionary very easily into their tribe, and allow him to preach the gospel to the people unfettered and consistently. They quickly begin to convert to Christianity. Two of the tribe are sent to a mission school in Calgary, where they are taught the bible and white people's ways. Silver Fox and Running Fawn are the only indigenous children at the school. Historically, that's not how this worked. Most all children were ripped from their families, put in schools together, and prohibited from dressing, speaking, and praying in the ways of their people. Conditions were terrible, children were beaten and some even died. None were allowed to leave. The way that the school is portrayed here is completely misaligned with history, to make the white christian people look better.
Further in the book, one of the main characters admits that without the white people, the Blackfoot would not survive, and they were helpless without them. The author conveniently leaves out the fact that white people were responsible for the extinction of the Buffalo and other animals, as well as moving the Blackfoot to reservations that couldn't possibly sustain them.
Throughout the story, Silver Fox is the white man's champion, and insists that the entire tribe should convert to Christianity. He even puts Running Fawn to an ultimatum- he won't marry her until she converts. The whole thing is uncomfortable. What follows is a chapter of what the author was waiting to write all along- how great God is and how the bible holds all life's answers to a happy life and a saved soul. Gag me.
Indigenous peoples did convert to christianity because they had no choice but to do so. The white colonists who came and pushed west relegated the people to reservations, took their children from them, and had more advanced technology than the native peoples. Spears and bows held no chance against guns.
I urge anyone who has read this book and enjoyed it to read other books on the subject- ones that include actual historical facts of what happened to these native people. This book only exists to make christian white people feel better about destroying indigenous peoples and their culture.

[Celestria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kinda slow and boring for the most part

[Bridget Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite liked this; both engaging and entertaining, but it did not leave me with a 'profound' effect as some books do.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

For most of the book, I didn't know how to feel. I was torn between giving it three or four stars cause there were parts that I loved, but almost an equal amount of parts I was confused about or didn't specifically love.

Pros-
1. You can fully imagine what is happening. What things look like, smell like, feel like, which is a very important detail for me.
2. I really liked that Reverend Forbes stayed with the Native Americans throughout the hard time. It proved that he really cared.
3. I liked that the romance was not a huge part of the book, but rather a small addition to it.
Cons-
1. Running Fawn's behavior was not always the most consistent, which was confusing to me. One day she was super worried about the sick pastor, but a few days later when her father asks her to go care for the pastor, she complains and makes it like a chore. A few times in the book things like that happened that just thoroughly confused me.
2. The story is mostly told without dialogue, and sometimes the dialogue is hard to read. For the beginning of the book there's a lot of description, which isn't a bad thing at all, except that sometimes I felt like I didn't really know the characters because they hardly talked. When they did talk it was sometimes choppy or just seemed a little stilted.

This book wasn't all bad. There were just a few things that made it a little slow and not the most interesting at times, but besides that I liked the plot and the characters. I would recommend if you want a small glimpse of Native American life in reserves.
I also liked how this book didn't hold too much bitterness. Ever since I read The Light In the Forest a year ago I was slightly timid to pick up another book that talked about the struggle between White people and Native Americans.
Anyway, if you've read that book you'll understand what I mean. It's bitter, and sad, and just always left me with a bad taste in my mouth, but while some of those struggles are talked about in this book, there's not as much of the negative content that I was expecting.

[Annalissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really lovely read on a particular part of history that I have not yet really researched.

Things I did not enjoy:
- Although I think the mission school had good intentions (and Oke portrayed them in the way it should have been done), I could not help but feel repulsed that they would take away their names. I understand wanting to have them have names that could be understood by the English people, (since apparently running deer would translate to "ikkaayi áwákaasii" in Blackfoot/Niitsitapi) but they could have simply called them Running Fawn and Silver Fox. To me, changing their names completely seems a little disrespectful of their culture, and not really necessary.
- The fact that even during the summer holidays they were not allowed to return home just doesn't sit right. I understand that it was done then, etc., but it just wasn't right. Not wanting to take them home during the winter holidays makes sense (prairie storms, etc.) but there isn't a logical reason during the summer...
and Martin wanting to marry Running Fawn even before she was saved, and not thinking it weird that he had seen her grow up, sent her to a missions school where she was unhappy, and was of a different culture, and about 8 years older than her? It just seemed a little weird to me, though great job on Oke for pulling that unexpected (until the end) plot point. Truly got worried that she would say yes haha!


What I enjoyed? The part that wasn't the mission school xd.
- Silver Fox was a model young man and very patient.
- I enjoyed how Oke stressed how important the Blackfoot culture was to Running Deer... as someone from two cultures, I understand Running Fawn's struggles with wondering if she would have to change her culture to a certain extent.
- The descriptions of their daily life.

*mentions of hunting, many mentions of death, mentions of alcohol (condemned), mentions of "mother earth" and other Blackfoot/Niitsitapi gods, mentions of losing children, mentions of fires, mentions of blistered feet (not detailed)*

[Nadine Keels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Running Fawn has always loved and taken pride in the ways of her Blackfoot tribe. But survival is becoming difficult as the buffalo disappear, and white men have shown up on the prairie, bringing guns, diseases, and their foreign religion. Running Fawn will have to decide where she fits in a world she barely recognizes anymore in Drums of Change, a novel by author Janette Oke.

I first read this book by one of my all-time favorite authors, oh, twenty years ago or so. Rereading it was a walk down memory lane with a changed pair of eyes.

The Native American peoples' plight is presented with a gentle hand by the author, but the tension, the irony, the pain, the resignation in all of it hit me in a different way this time around. The mix of skepticism, hope, and anger at the offer of (more) treaties. A nomadic people reluctant to face the prospect of no more buffalo to follow, but perhaps more reluctant over the prospect of moving to a Reserve. A young, imminent chief, Silver Fox, who respects his heritage but wants his people to make it in a world that, for better or for worse, won't be the same.

Perhaps with the exception of Running Fawn, I didn't get too strong a sense of the characters. This was particularly true with Reverend Forbes, since much of his "airtime" takes place through letters or in the background somewhere instead of through front-and-center action or dialogue. The "I wish I could marry him/her, but he/she isn't a Christian" plot theme has never really worked to me, in a novel. And, yes, it amused me to run into the same error I remembered running into twenty years ago, where Running Fawn's name is once mistakenly used to refer to Silver Fox.

Still, I enjoyed revisiting this novel from one of my favorite series, the Women of the West. I've already read most of the series' novels two or three times and absolutely plan to reread some more.

[Sarah Brazytis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a WONDERFUL book! I have always had a certain fascination with American Indians - our family even sponsored a young man on a reservation, many years ago. We've been enjoying an inside view of our nation's reservations through Peter Santenello's YouTube series. So, this book has been a favorite for years!

Running Fawn is a wonderful, believable, likeable character - with all her flaws. And that's the best kind of likeable there is. The members of the tribe become so real, and you find yourself caring about what happens to them and their missionary friend. The climax is one of the best I have ever read. This is Christian romance at its finest - redeemed souls submissive to the commands of the Lord...and being blessed in return. It is SO GOOD. Read it!

[cloudyskye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a few Janette Oke frontier-settler books a long time ago, so I was curious how she would deal with this side of history.
I'd say it's not bad at all, she captured the demise of the Indians' way of life and the dilemma of different cultures rather well, with the Blackfoot chief's son Silver Fox embracing the learning possibilities offered to him and the girl Running Fawn rather reluctant, cherishing her people's traditions and not quite trusting the white man's world.
The boarding school part: I hope there were, in real life, such truly Christian schools and friendly teachers like the one in the story, when not too long ago one could read about atrocities that happened to Indian children forced into schools ruled by white monsters.
The faith bits are handled rather well, I think, with the young missionary living among the tribe without privileges, staying with them in the hard times, showing them love and testifying in a non-pushy way.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Running Fawn is a young girl in a changing Indian tribe. She loves the ways of her people and doesn't understand why any of their ways need altering. But the white man and the loss of the buffalo mean that if her tribe doesn't adjust, they will die. Running Fawn understands this, but it is so hard to change.

This book was a surprise for me. I was reluctant to read it, but it was given to me as a gift by someone who thought I would like it. So I went into the book thinking I was not going to enjoy it, and I was pleasantly surprised.

The best thing about this book was the character of Running Fawn. She is a wonderful character. She intrinsically seems to know that sacrifice is an important part of being in a community and that sometimes, other people's happiness matters more than your own. I enjoyed what she was willing to give for others. However, I never have understood the type of person who can keep their tongue virtually always. I guess that is something I need to work on;) The writing was a bit on the simplistic side, but not overly so. One theme I did not like, however, was the love aspect of the book. There was no development of attachment between the characters, and yet they were in love. I just wasn't buying the story.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Running Fawn loves the ways of her people so when the white Man With the Book shows up and chooses her as one of the first children to begin taking his Christian classes she is more than a little worried. She has no desire to give up the old ways and embrace this Christian God and his son Jesus. But much to her dismay, her people slowly begin adopting the white man's religion.
The story spans over a period of 10 years. It is meant to be inspirational and uplifting. But the predictable ending left be feeling sad instead of inspired. I wished Running Fawn and her Blackfoot band had been left alone.
There is a romance too. It also is dependent on Running Fawn's acceptance of Christianity.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was sad to read, especially because I could tell the author was trying to portray the natives' immense change and loss of culture as actually a good thing instead of the horror that it actually was. It's never a good sign when instead of being lost in the story, you're acutely aware of the author.

[Leah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t enjoy, I don’t like that the story is being told from the Native American’s point of view but they speak broken sentences. Like if it was from an English, French, Canadian, etc person I could see that; but this is from the Native Americans POV they should be speaking complete sentences in their language.

[Rebekah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Edit: Originally gave this book 4 stars because it was one I read as a young teenager and remembered liking, however the more I learn about mission schools, the less sweet and romantic this book fells. No I did not reread it.

[Carlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

An look at christianity thru the Indians eyes. And the ways it was spread thru out the tribes.

[Rebekah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Every time I see this book I’m going to buy it so no one else can get their hands on it.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice easy read for an afternoon in the sun. It was interesting to read from the perspective of a Native American character.

The Native American information was all accurate, if not a bit toned down. Of course, for a clean novel that is Christian fiction, that was something I expected.

The author really made you feel for the Native Americans and their hardships, while also showing how the settlers struggled as well. It was a really informative book about an issue in history that is not touched on enough.

I enjoyed the characters, although at times I wanted to shake the main character and tell her to stop being so stubborn. I think that's a sign of a good character though, you actually care what happens to her. Seeing her grow up throughout the novel (she is about 5 when it starts and is 17 at the end) was something that I enjoyed, and I thought it was written well.

The message of God was strong throughout the book, which was something that I enjoy seeing.

Overall I'd give this book a 3.5 stars and would recommend it and the series. This would be especially good for a young adult or teen reader who is looking for Christian fiction.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an American I’d never heard of Treaty Number Seven before this book. In fact until now I don’t think I’d heard of the First Nations. Though in the book it mentions the Blackfoot traveling to Montana for the buffalo. While most of this is fiction, it was interesting learning about some Canadian history and how it kinda mirrored America’s in small ways. In all I believe this was a good end to this series.

With 12 books that are barely 250 pages (if that) each, the Women of The West series is a well done series that illustrates finding God or growing closer to him very well. Janette Oke did a fantastic job. None of these 12 books are connected story wise so if you wanted you could pick and choose which to read. I highly recommend reading the entirety of the series though because they are all great books.

[Mindy G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let go of the past. Be willing to have your life changed. You need a new life, new ways. What you have clung to in the past will keep you from heaven.
p. 223

It is what I have fought against. I need a new birth. Not to change who I am. I have no desire to try to become — White. I will always be Blackfoot. But I have an evil heart. Evil thoughts. I need to be forgiven. To be spiritually reborn. To change on the inside. That is where the change must be. My spiritual being—that inside part that is eternal.
p. 225

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story on finding faith even as you struggle to do so. On God helping even those who have yet to fully know Him. Running Fawn is confused as Christianity is suddenly thrust upon her and she is thrown into private schooling away from home, kept from returning and not told of important events as they occur. When she is finally able to return, she struggles still, but inevitably concedes to read the Bible again on her own and finds truth in redemption, and a future she looks forward to.

[Faith Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the cliche main character (a girl bullied at a boarding school, feeling sad, depressed, and alone as she doesn't do anything to speak up...), the plot was marvelous. I wish it had focused more on the romance, but what there was of the romance was still sweet; there weren't many presumptions or stereotypes of American-Indians; and the Christian messages are refreshing to the soul and spirit.

[Allan67 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book that I read to Diana. We can't do much anymore after her stroke, so I read to her to spend time together. Diana has always loved to have someone to read to her - and I like to do just that.

An adventure story of Running Fawn, a young Blackfoot Indian girl and Silver Fox, the chief's son.

Diana enjoyed the book, thus the four stars.

[Pam A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming of age during cultural transition (native american assimilation with caucasian) mixed with conversion to Christianity and possibility of interracial marriage. Big goals for a little book! Done simplistically, but done. Agree with past reviewers that this might have been a bit sugarcoated (re: cultural assimilation - this was actually very painful and coerced).

[Summereyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this book. Was a little difficult to get into, but then Running Fawn's story becomes very interesting. This book is about a young Indian girl in Canada during the charge west and the changes that came to the Indian nations during that time. I greatly enjoyed this book and found it very appropriate for my teen girls to read as well.