The Way

by Stan Steiner

Reveals the way of life and culture of the American Indian through writings which convey his hopes, struggles, and despair

Genres: History, Native American

261 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Terry Cornell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this used copy back in my college days when I was taking Native American Studies classes. I might have used one or two quotes for a research paper. I decided to go through and read through the whole book to see if it's a 'keeper' or goes to my discard stack.

For the most part I wouldn't call it literature. There are some selections by well known Native American writers like N. Scott Momaday, some traditional stories, but mostly writings of activists of the 1960s era. I'm sure there is better and more specific material available for those interested in the subject matter.

[Abby]

[Working my way through the odd library discards I’ve collected and refused to let go.] This is an old anthology, and I would say it’s an important collection representing the conversation at a certain point in time, especially documenting the early “New Indian” movement and perspectives of those involved (or not). A few pieces in here are true classics (“We hold the Rock!”). Many are chosen for an active sense of irony or clever jabs–Vine Deloria is always funny as heck, and some of the letters to editors are powerful and sardonic. As literature, though, only a few stick out. I was happy to get to the poems–Ray Young Bear, Patty Harjo, Simon Ortiz. Clyde Warrior’s writings, which the editor clearly admires, are pretty interesting. I like that this is not just the usual suspects–not knowing then who the usual suspects would turn out to be, once they broke into white people’s consciousness. For gorgeous and important writing, though, I think subsequent anthologies are generally better reading.

[Silva]

The Way, compiled by Shirley Witt and Stan Steiner, tells the grim story of the Native American genocide from the perspective of those persecuted. War speeches, traditional legends, poems, songs, and stories weave a heartbreaking narrative spanning from the late 1700s to the mid 1900s.
[SPOILERS] What I found most amazing about The Way is that there are no drawn out explanations or fancy convoluted sentences. Every single word is measured and weighed with meaning. I can’t say I’m surprised. This is a story of the single largest genocide in history, told by generations of Native Americans who saw as their world crumbled and traditions forgotten through war and genocide. The native people of North America were once made up of countless Tribes and Nations. Blackfoot. Sioux. Cherokee Nation. Shawnee. As the white men encroached upon their territories many Tribes didn’t fight back, but many did, they had everything to lose. Red Cloud of the Dakota Tribe knew this and cried to his people “his [the white man's] presence here is an insult and a threat. It is an insult to the spirits of our ancestors. Are we then to give up their sacred graves to be plowed for corn? Dakotas , I am for war!” (Witt/Steiner 18). Many other bands took up the banner of armed conflict but none succeeded in defending their land. Slowly the fighting stopped, as if an unnatural silence had fallen over the mountains and valleys of the continent. Chief Seathe of the Duwamish tribe lamented “there was a time when our people covered the whole land as the waves of the wind- ruffled sea cover its shell paved shore. But that time has long since passed away with the greatness of our tribes almost forgotten” (28) The story of the Native American people is one of horror, hardship, and change. The Way tells this often forgotten story. From war to genocide to revival in the modern era. In 1970, at the Western Hemisphere Meeting of Indians it was declared “we meet, not to weep over today and yesterday but to plan and to create a better future for our children” (231). [SPOILERS]
I would recommend this book to anybody who wants to better understand the world as a whole or is interested in the history of Native Americans. But be prepared to enter one of the darkest time periods in modern history.