Stories of the Sioux

by Luther Standing Bear, Frances Washburn (Introduction)

Luther Standing Bear, a Lakota Sioux born in the 1860s, heard these legends in his youth, when his people were being moved to reservations. In haunting mood and imagery, they celebrate the old nomadic life of the Sioux, when buffalo were plentiful and all nature fed the spirit. The twenty stories honor not only the buffalo but also the dog, the horse, the eagle, and the wolf as workaday helpers and agents of divine intervention; the wisdom of the medicine man; and the heroism and resourcefulness of individual men and women.

Genres: Native American, Nonfiction, Short Stories, Philosophy, History

82 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1934

About the author

Luther Standing Bear (Ota Kte, "Plenty Kill" or "Mochunozhin") was an Oglala Lakota chief notable in American history as an Native American author, educator, philosopher, and actor of the twentieth century.

Reviews

[Brandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful insight into the life of the Lakota Sioux before reservation life. My favorite story of the collection was The Holy Dog about the Sioux's first encounter with horses. You can feel the wonder but also the more ominous undertones of a change of their way of life that the horse heralded.

[Tanja · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book Luther Standing Bear relates some of the stories that were passed on amongst the Sioux as a means to teach a lesson or even just to tell a story for the pleasure of it. None of the stories is very long which surely made it easy to remember for young and old in order to pass it on to others.

[Duarte Grilo · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a good little book to discover more about the Sioux, how they hunt, what do their tales mean and why are they passed down orally to the next generation. It's a wonderful tradition that makes the people more connected and like a big family. Still, I would prefer reading something more philosophical from Luther Standing Bear, hope there's something for me.

[Laura Leilani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very quick read; most stories are only a page or two. The stories are a mix of fables and also memories of the author along with some memories told to him by his grandfather.
There are also a few tales passed down of heroic deeds. Altogether a moving account of a primarily list culture.

[David Devine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and easy read of 20 chapters/stories, each presented in the unique view of Luther Standing Bear as he recites the stories of his people, the Lakota Sioux.

[Shadow the Hedgehog · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief glimpse into an old culture, this short book alternated between interesting and dull. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be "insubstantial." Still, at barely 80 pages, it is worth a read because of its brevity.

What I liked
writing style
Short and sweet, few stories are more than 2 pages. The writing style is also simple, so the book is a breeze to read. I could see certain stories being read out loud to young children.

interior design
I enjoyed the large font size and other details of the interior, such as the chapter titles on each page.

stories
Many of the stories are interesting. My favorites were "The Old Woman Who Lived With The Wolves," "Holy Dog," and "The Snow Woman." Many of the stories detail heroic deeds, answered prayers, and mystical connections with animals.

I went in expecting fairytale-esque stories, but most of these are realistic [even if they push the bounds of believability at times] and are more like legends or tall tales: they are said to have a basis in truth. The protagonist of one of the stories is said to have been known personally by the author's great-grandfather.

What I was ambivalent about
lacking context
For me, the book feels a bit insubstantial because it is missing some cultural context. For example, the story "The Snow Woman" tells of a woman who was escaping an arranged marriage to a man she didn't love. We learn that her brother was the one who was setting up the marriage. I wish I knew more about what was going on here. Why did her brother have the authority to force her to marry someone?

Other stories left me with similar questions. Other stories featured people being left behind as the group migrated to a new area. For example, the very first story "The Old Woman Who Lived With The Wolves" mentions that her family believed that she had been taken by an enemy tribe. I wonder was there no way for them to verify this?

art
The black and white illustrations are effective but bland. The artist, Herbert Morton Stoops, is a well-respected artist. He's created many gorgeous paintings. But I suppose when you sap such paintings of color, much of the artfulness also disappears.

Conclusion
I recommend this book if you are interested in a simple read on folklore and culture.

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book. Well written for a easy read.