Talking Rocks: Geology and 10,000 Years of Native American Tradition in the Lake Superior Region

by Ron Morton, Carl Gawboy (Contributor)

Join the conversation as an earth scientist and a Native American elder—wise men from two cultures—explore the natural history of the Lake Superior region, examining both the science and the spirit of the land.  As the geologist carefully presents a modern scientific perspective, the storyteller eloquently recounts a traditional Native American understanding, passed on through tales, myths, and symbols that illustrate how intimately his people have known and honored the earth and its history for over a hundred centuries.  Talking Rocks is not only a story of geological history told from two perspectives, it is also a chronicle of two people from very different cultural and scientific heritages learning to understand and appreciate each other’s distinct yet complementary ways of viewing the land we share. 
 

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, History

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1999

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good book about the geology of northern Minnesota and the Pays d'en Haut. This was an even better book when it spoke of the lives of the Indians living there for thousands of years. The presentations by Earth Walks even made me tear up and I found the book deeply human and touching.

[Erik Akre · Rating 3 out of 5]

More than just a geology and history textbook, Talking Rocks explores the deep history of the Great Lakes region in a personable style, and relates it to the interconnected experience of Native Americans who came to inhabit the land over thousands of years. The approach of the authors is to expose geological and cultural information, to weave them together, and to do so with a feeling for good storytelling, a more intimate style. As both a book about Great Lakes geology and Great Lakes cultural history, it is worth reading. The relatively wide-ranging geography covered by the book makes for less in-depth exploration of each topic, but themes are nonetheless explored well.

I took a Native American Lit course long ago from the book's co-author, Carl Gawboy, and his down-to-earth demeanor and friendly sense of humor come through nicely in the reading.

[Jacqueline Bussjaeger · Rating 3 out of 5]

The historical content of this book and the insights it gives to Minnesota geology is fascinating, but the conceit is just kind of weird. I don’t know if it’s just a product of its time, or what. Of all the ways to try to make this content interesting—a fictional lecture series? Really? It doesn’t seem like this really needed to be fiction, or to have an arrogant white scientist tossing around microaggressions toward his Native colleague to learn these things that are actually pretty interesting on their own. The scenes created by Earth Walks were among the most interesting parts, and I sort of wish the entire book had been driven by the creation of such hypothetical scenes supplemented by the relevant information in a creative nonfiction type of way.

The information itself though is clearly delivered and extremely educational. The execution leaves something to be desired.

[Steve Voiles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting collaboration between a geologist and an Carl Gawboy (why isn't he mentioned as a co-author). Learn something about Indian history along side geological understanding of northern Minnesota. The work connecting constellations with Minnesota pictographs is worth the cost of the book and more!

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more about Ojibwe people, history culture, beliefs, and traditions than it is about the geology of Lake Superior, but it's a great read regardless. I knew next to nothing about Native American people before reading this, and the book was entirely stuff I didn't know. I would absolutely recommend it.

[Nicole W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scientific and Spiritual history come together from 2 different viewpoints to teach and understand the other side more. A geologist and Native American work together. Set in Lake Superior Region , gives a deeper understanding of this area.

[Michaela · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The narrative was somewhat awkward but I appreciated the insight and knowledge to indigenous lives and use of the local geological features.

[Dean Reep · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is all about Native American interpretations of the geology around the lake superior region. When I read it, I became tranced into a spiritual fantacy that John Blanchard explains it as: "the doors to perception"