As Long As The Rivers Flow

by Paula Gunn Allen, Patricia Clark Smith

Discusses the lives and successes of nine individuals of Native American backgrounds, including Geronimo, Will Rogers, Maria Tallchief, and Wilma Mankiller. Reprint.

Genres: History

336 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1996

About the author

Paula Gunn Allen was a Native American poet, literary critic, lesbian activist, and novelist.

Born Paula Marie Francis in Albuquerque, Allen grew up in Cubero, New Mexico, a Spanish-Mexican land grant village bordering the Laguna Pueblo reservation. Of mixed Laguna, Sioux, Scottish, and Lebanese-American descent, Allen always identified most closely with the people among whom she spent her childhood and upbringing.

Having obtained a BA and MFA from the University of Oregon, Allen gained her PhD at the University of New Mexico, where she taught and where she began her research into various tribal religions.

Reviews

[Nadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

As long as the Rivers flow is about nine stories about the famous people that are Native Americans. The book explains chronological information about these people. For example, Maria TallCheief was born in Oklahoma in 1927. She was a ballerina. Like Maria, there are many other people who were born in the 1600´s like Weetamoo, she was a pocasset warrior born in Rhode Island in 1640.

I like this book because of it´s wide range of multiple people in the max of 313 pages. The author Paula Gunn Allen gave each character their own chapter about how they lived and the ups and downs by traveling throughout their victories along the way. Patrica Smith put in photos of these characters. Paula also included a Bibliography and the end of the book to give a quick reference of all the characters they wrote about.

I think people who love to read nonfiction would like to read this book. Also, people who are Native Americans also would like to see where their ancestors came from and how they became so important to the family.

[Anthony Benson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a glimpse into the lives of nine extraordinary Native Americans. Although it's written for younger readers, it is still enjoyable and informative for an adult. You learn about the courage and tenacity of the Native American people. It was said that the natives were savage and uncivilized. I don't think so. Savage and uncivilized behavior exist in every culture. I believe that the European settlers were viewed in the same way by the natives. Is it right for a people to visit another land that is not theirs, claim it for their own, and kick out the natives? Despite past and recent attempts to erase Native American heritage and fully integrate them into American society, it is quite clear that as long as the river flows and the grass grows, the culture of the remaining tribes will never be forgotten.

[Star Merrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was so much interesting detail, but some repetition about the tribal allotments. I liked every chapter except for Mankiller. I found that biography a little boring. I didn't realize that even if a person had as much as 1/8 of Native American heritage, he or she is considered part of the tribe.

[Gail Johnson, Ph.D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second book for this author, and it was great to read about nine Native American people and their contributions. But my favorite part was a brief mention of the Windigo, an icy flesh-eating demon. I had to reach for my Dictionary of Native American Mythology book. Loved it!

[LL · Rating 4 out of 5]

good

[Layla · Rating 4 out of 5]

“In spite of these ever-changing policies toward Native Americans, the unflagging strength of American Indians is indisputable.”

[S10_tommccormack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ages: 14 and up

"As Long As The Rivers Flow" contain biographies of nine Native Americans: Weetamoo, Geronimo, Will Rogers, Jim Thorpe, Maria Tallchief, Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Wilma Mankiller, Michael Naranjo, and Louise Erdrich.

Each biography highlights a unique contribution to American history and culture by an indigenous American.

This book would be a great resource for a student writing a paper on one of the people featured in the book or on the contributions of Native Americans to our country.

The stories are engaging and full of facts, but the biographical style might bore some readers after a while.

The prose is somewhat dense, so this book would be appropriate for high schoolers.

[Cws]

AI J970

[Chyna]

good

[Kari Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the way the profiles were written and definitely learned a lot. I'd suggest it for anyone interested.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that is better situated for an elementary school student who is interested in learning more about Native American history.