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To the American Indian: the Unique Personal Account of a Yurok Native American Woman of Northern California
An important voice for her people by the first published Native American female author Lucy Thompson (or to give her the correct Yurok name Che-na-wah Weitch-ah-wah) was notable among authors since she was the first Native American woman ever to write a book and have it published in the English language. Although this book first appeared in 1916, it received ‘The American Book Award’ in 1992. Born in the Klamath River village of Pecwan, Northern California in the later 19th century as a member of the Yurok tribal elite, Lucy Thompson married Milton ‘Jim’ Thompson. Her original intention for the book was that it would record the traditional stories of the Yurok which were being lost to posterity though, perhaps inevitably, the book also brought attention to the injustices and violence that had been brought upon the indigenous peoples of her region by ‘white’ settlers in what she considered to be deliberate acts of attempted genocide. This is a remarkable book on many counts and is rightly considered outstanding as the voice of an early feminist and champion of Native American rights. Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.
204 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 20, 2021
Interesting ‘reminiscences’ from 1916. Make sure you read the Forward, Introduction, and Preface before diving into her story.
Read
February 3, 2020An enchanting book of historic import. I read this to learn more about West Coast Native Americans, particularly around the Redwood Forest. It's not an easy read, kind of dry. But short and enjoyable enough. I was surprised to see a number of things in it:
She talks about some of their myths and folklore, or religion if you will, somewhat sporadically. Some of these were rather typical Coyote stories. Others were stories that very closely resembled Biblical ones. Particularly an Indian flood narrative that followed step by step Noah's Ark in Genesis, well one version of it as Genesis is actually two tales mushed together. But all the names are switched out to Klamuth names. The old, Mormon me would've loved this as Mormons believe Native Americans descend from a lost tribe of Israelites and this would've been easy proof of that. But a far more likely explanation was that as Native cultures faded or shrank under the weight of colonial Christianity, they adapted and adopted.
Another surprise was the admission of some things that might make them look bad. Having read numerous books by/about Indigenous America, I've gotten accustomed to their bias, no less the colonial bias either. But here she lays out her position then also frank statements about how tribes enslave each other. Of course those would go on to be used as justifications for treating them the way they were, and still are. From an ethical standpoint there's no justification for what happened to the First Nations. The case doesn't need to be made, IMO, but somehow people still....
I think I would've liked more details about how they lived but it might've bored me as well. It's also very stuck in the specific time period when what I yearn for is more pre-columbian knowledge. You get very little about her life, and more about the general existence of the Klamuth first people, who they are, what they're about. She tells us because otherwise nobody would know. Thank you.
She talks about some of their myths and folklore, or religion if you will, somewhat sporadically. Some of these were rather typical Coyote stories. Others were stories that very closely resembled Biblical ones. Particularly an Indian flood narrative that followed step by step Noah's Ark in Genesis, well one version of it as Genesis is actually two tales mushed together. But all the names are switched out to Klamuth names. The old, Mormon me would've loved this as Mormons believe Native Americans descend from a lost tribe of Israelites and this would've been easy proof of that. But a far more likely explanation was that as Native cultures faded or shrank under the weight of colonial Christianity, they adapted and adopted.
Another surprise was the admission of some things that might make them look bad. Having read numerous books by/about Indigenous America, I've gotten accustomed to their bias, no less the colonial bias either. But here she lays out her position then also frank statements about how tribes enslave each other. Of course those would go on to be used as justifications for treating them the way they were, and still are. From an ethical standpoint there's no justification for what happened to the First Nations. The case doesn't need to be made, IMO, but somehow people still....
I think I would've liked more details about how they lived but it might've bored me as well. It's also very stuck in the specific time period when what I yearn for is more pre-columbian knowledge. You get very little about her life, and more about the general existence of the Klamuth first people, who they are, what they're about. She tells us because otherwise nobody would know. Thank you.
August 9, 2024
Otro libro al cual no sé ni cómo llegué a leerlo pero, me dejó ver uno de tantos potenciales encarnados en “el reino” en el cual “se le permite -ser y actuar- al humano” con todas sus creencias, miedos, logros y límites, todo eso se puede leer aquí, después, Che-na-wah Weitch-ah-wah (A.K.A. Lucy Thmpson) te dice indirectamente cómo, ese mismo potencial, regresó a su estado natural, La Nada, al no tener más cómo operar. Mientras lo leía, eso se sentía cada vez más raro.
De todo lo que pudo hacer esa cultura han de quedar nombres en los lugares que frecuentaban y sacralizaron, como ese río Klamath, o este libro lo cual nos deja conocer como algunos que ya no están, pensaban. Ehm, ehm, ehm... bueno, así es esto de existir :( pero no por eso deja de sentirse, por medio del libro, algo así como si hubiera asistido a un funeral de alguien conocido, dos hermanos, un sobrino, pocas o millones de almas cercanas a uno ya que, mediante lo que escribe Lucy conocí poquito de ella, después sobre lo que consideraba importante, luego sobre aquellos de los que habla y su percepción de esa cultura en que habitaba, la propia... o sea, aquí, en este texto, hay fantasmas que se fueron o que nunca nacieron o que esperan nacer en otro momento o que ya nunca serán, como sea fantasmas infinitos si es que hablamos de potenciales que acabaron por tal o cual razón… En fin, sigo…
Ha de ser difícil escribir sobre cualquier cosa pero, siento que es mucho más difícil si aquello sobre lo que estas escribiendo termina siendo, por azares del tiempo, el requiem de tu propio ethos.
No creo que Lucy Thompson hubiera estado escribiendo conscientemente el epitafio de su propia cultura... aunque si sí se dió cuenta de lo que hacía… hace que todo esto sea más fantasmagórico que nada, tal vez es por ello que detalló cómo todas aquellas acciones, comunes o sagradas, le daban sentido a toda una cultura. Es interesanantillo.
Los -usos y costumbres- que detalla súper bien, no me son tan extraños pues si leemos historia, en cierto punto todos se parecen dependiendo el nivel de tecnología y abstracciones mentales e ideológicas a las que podamos acceder habilitados mediante nuestra cultura pero, leer acerca de estos que ya no están, que ya ni existen en su potencial del que emergen o van creando, como decía antes, encarnados, se siente extraño porque mediante la lectura parece como si ahí estuvieran todos, ocupando todavía las mismas regiones. Siempre que hay periodos de reversión de las culturas que habitan el momento "vivo" (por así decirlo) a algo inferior (por guerras o pérdida de sentido o cambios tecnológicos), y casi siempre regresamos, más o menos, a estas propuestas de la vida tribales, por eso pienso que este potencial puede que aún esté ahí latente, operando en otras latitudes del planeta o de la consciencia.
Como punto final… fue una extraña lectura. Me recuerda mucho a lo que estudió y escribió Mircea Eliade acerca del Homo religiosus y cómo éste dió paso al Hombre moderno en donde, ahora, el Hombre moderno quiere olvidarse/sacudirse/zafarse/librarse/desprenderse/liberarse del Homo religiosus a como dé lugar, pero... ... .... ¡no se puede desterrar a la tierra de donde se emerge! ay-ay-ay-ay.... Todo lo que “modernamente” sacralizamos tiene naturaleza emergente psicológica, teológica, social, filosófica, económica, etc… con ésta naturaleza del Homo religiosus por la cual sacralizaba las “cosas”, los “fenómenos” y nuestras “acciones” en el pasado pero, ahora la sacralización la hacemos “desacralización” de todo. A ver a dónde nos lleva ello, no es lo mismo el Sol que la Luna pero, al ver a quién, en una cultura, se le otorgan más sacrificios revela no sólo quiénes son los chamanes, los políticos, los poderosos o la cultura potencialmente emergente de esos "diosoes (sol y luna)", no, no, no, no... te hacen ver ese espíritu inmortal el cual nos hace hacer las locuras que hacemos sobre lo que "comprendemos", le damos sentido a los astros y estrellas hasta la "planificación justificada" del comportamiento de los que aún no nacen”. Hahahahaha, "todo esta controlado, siempre".
------
Citas, no es que me interesen mucho, ni el libro en sí, pero históricamente, como hablan del ethos de una cultura tribal no tan desarrollada, se siente raro y me hace pensar:
1.
In the high marriage of the Talth the woman is most beautifully dressed on her wedding day. A buck-skin dress all strung with beads and shells that clink and rattle with her ever graceful step. Her hair is parted in the middle, brought down on each side and rolled with the skin of the otter. This skin is nicely dressed or tanned and then cut into about one inch strips, thus holding the hair so it hangs down to their hips or lower, according to its length. Around her neck are strings of most beautifully arranged beads and of high value among them; they hang down to her waist, almost completely covering her chest. A buck skin, dressed and made as white as it can be made, goes over the shoulders and fastens around the neck and hangs down covering the back. This makes her very beautiful. She is so quick in movement that one has to keep their eyes on her closely to see all of her actions, while she speaks low and softly. These high marriages are very few and this beautiful sight of the bride is seldom seen. The girls born of these marriages were always looked up to by the Indians. When these girls came along or were met by any children of other births, the latter would always get out of the trail and let them pass.
2.
Another system is the “half married” one, the woman taking her husband to her house to live with her. By this marriage she is the absolute boss of the man and has complete control of all the children. She has the power to correct her husband in all his actions and can send him out to hunt, fish or work just as she deems proper, he being a slave to her, as they usually both belong to the class that are slaves.
3.
I will say to the white race that my people, or any other Indian tribes as far as I know them, do not use the name of our Creator when using profane language, as we would feel it a disgrace to do so, even to think of such a thing. We never use the sacred name of God, only in our prayers.
4.
The first living thing placed upon the earth was the white deer (Moon-chay-poke).
5.
“The next living creature that Wah-pec-wah-mow placed upon the earth was the red eagle, Hay-wan-alth, who has ever since ruled as the monarch of the skies.”
6.
“After the white deer and red eagle was placed upon the earth, Wah-pec-wah-mow now created all the other animals of the earth.”
7.
“When Wah-pec-wah-mow had finished creating the plant and animal life of the earth, He then created the first real man. He made the first man of the soil of the earth, and placed him in the beautiful valley of Cheek-cheek-alth. This valley was located in a far off northern clime. When the first man was created and he became a living being upon the earth, Wah-pec-wah-mow said to him, “You are a living man.” God named this man He-quan-neck. Inspired with the breath of life, He-quan-neck first saw the light of day in this sweet valley of sunshine, flowers, fruits and herbs. Among the growing herbs was the herb walth-pay, which has a forked root. God saw that the man was lonely in this sunny valley, and he was not pleased with his work. Wah-pec-wah-mow now requested He-quan-neck to blow his nose, which he did, and immediately the forked root, or walth-pay turned into a living woman, Kay-y-yourn-nak. Man now became blessed with a living companion and for a time they dwelt together in the chaste life of peace and happiness.”
NOTA:
Los que no tuvieron "nada" de influencia Cristiana ehhh, hahahaha.
8.
From the land of Cheek-cheek-alth, the mystic Eden of long ago, came our wandering tribe of people who long since inhabited North and South America; for we are all one people. Among them were our leaders, the men who possessed in their secret breasts the true name of God. These men and women in our language we call Talth, and were the High Priests, and great rulers who ruled our people.
NOTA: ¿Serían Toltecas? Hmmmmmm...
9.
“WHEN the Indians first made their appearance on the Klamath river it was already inhabited by a white race of people known among us as the Wa-gas. These white people were found to inhabit the whole continent, and were a highly moral and civilized race. They heartily welcomed the Indians to their country and taught us all of their arts and sciences. The Indians recognized the rights of these ancient people as the first possessors of the soil and no difficulties ever arose between the two people. Their hospitality was exceedingly generous in the welfare of our people and all prospered together in peace and happiness, in their pursuit of human existence.”
“After we had lived with these ancient people so long, they suddenly called their hosts together and mysteriously disappeared for a distant land, we know not where. We have no memory of their reason or cause why they abandoned their ancient homes where they had dwelt for untold centuries. Wars did not drive them forth, for we loved them more than brothers, and difficulties were unknown between the two people. On leaving they went toward the North from whence we came, and disappeared from our land beyond the northern seas.”
NOTA:
Esos Wa-gas, todo un misterio eh. Además después dicen que esos Wa-gas “When the Wa-gas first arrived on this continent they handed down the traditions to us that it was inhabited by a giant race of people when they first came. These giants were represented by the Wa-gas as being very swarthy in complexion, and they used implements so large that no ordinary man could lift them. It was an age when large animals roamed the earth, and it seems the birds and fowls were all very large in size. It appeared to be the first age, and was the age of the giants. The recollections transmitted by the Wa-gas were that these giants were very cruel and wicked. It was said that God became displeased with them and destroyed them and they all perished from the earth. It was also said that God appeared to the High Priest of the Wa-gas and told them that he was going to destroy the giant race and that the Wa-gas themselves would survive upon the earth as a new people.”
-------
Como sea...
LOVE!
(El que emerge, no el que se ve como producto o meta comercial.)
De todo lo que pudo hacer esa cultura han de quedar nombres en los lugares que frecuentaban y sacralizaron, como ese río Klamath, o este libro lo cual nos deja conocer como algunos que ya no están, pensaban. Ehm, ehm, ehm... bueno, así es esto de existir :( pero no por eso deja de sentirse, por medio del libro, algo así como si hubiera asistido a un funeral de alguien conocido, dos hermanos, un sobrino, pocas o millones de almas cercanas a uno ya que, mediante lo que escribe Lucy conocí poquito de ella, después sobre lo que consideraba importante, luego sobre aquellos de los que habla y su percepción de esa cultura en que habitaba, la propia... o sea, aquí, en este texto, hay fantasmas que se fueron o que nunca nacieron o que esperan nacer en otro momento o que ya nunca serán, como sea fantasmas infinitos si es que hablamos de potenciales que acabaron por tal o cual razón… En fin, sigo…
Ha de ser difícil escribir sobre cualquier cosa pero, siento que es mucho más difícil si aquello sobre lo que estas escribiendo termina siendo, por azares del tiempo, el requiem de tu propio ethos.
No creo que Lucy Thompson hubiera estado escribiendo conscientemente el epitafio de su propia cultura... aunque si sí se dió cuenta de lo que hacía… hace que todo esto sea más fantasmagórico que nada, tal vez es por ello que detalló cómo todas aquellas acciones, comunes o sagradas, le daban sentido a toda una cultura. Es interesanantillo.
Los -usos y costumbres- que detalla súper bien, no me son tan extraños pues si leemos historia, en cierto punto todos se parecen dependiendo el nivel de tecnología y abstracciones mentales e ideológicas a las que podamos acceder habilitados mediante nuestra cultura pero, leer acerca de estos que ya no están, que ya ni existen en su potencial del que emergen o van creando, como decía antes, encarnados, se siente extraño porque mediante la lectura parece como si ahí estuvieran todos, ocupando todavía las mismas regiones. Siempre que hay periodos de reversión de las culturas que habitan el momento "vivo" (por así decirlo) a algo inferior (por guerras o pérdida de sentido o cambios tecnológicos), y casi siempre regresamos, más o menos, a estas propuestas de la vida tribales, por eso pienso que este potencial puede que aún esté ahí latente, operando en otras latitudes del planeta o de la consciencia.
Como punto final… fue una extraña lectura. Me recuerda mucho a lo que estudió y escribió Mircea Eliade acerca del Homo religiosus y cómo éste dió paso al Hombre moderno en donde, ahora, el Hombre moderno quiere olvidarse/sacudirse/zafarse/librarse/desprenderse/liberarse del Homo religiosus a como dé lugar, pero... ... .... ¡no se puede desterrar a la tierra de donde se emerge! ay-ay-ay-ay.... Todo lo que “modernamente” sacralizamos tiene naturaleza emergente psicológica, teológica, social, filosófica, económica, etc… con ésta naturaleza del Homo religiosus por la cual sacralizaba las “cosas”, los “fenómenos” y nuestras “acciones” en el pasado pero, ahora la sacralización la hacemos “desacralización” de todo. A ver a dónde nos lleva ello, no es lo mismo el Sol que la Luna pero, al ver a quién, en una cultura, se le otorgan más sacrificios revela no sólo quiénes son los chamanes, los políticos, los poderosos o la cultura potencialmente emergente de esos "diosoes (sol y luna)", no, no, no, no... te hacen ver ese espíritu inmortal el cual nos hace hacer las locuras que hacemos sobre lo que "comprendemos", le damos sentido a los astros y estrellas hasta la "planificación justificada" del comportamiento de los que aún no nacen”. Hahahahaha, "todo esta controlado, siempre".
------
Citas, no es que me interesen mucho, ni el libro en sí, pero históricamente, como hablan del ethos de una cultura tribal no tan desarrollada, se siente raro y me hace pensar:
1.
In the high marriage of the Talth the woman is most beautifully dressed on her wedding day. A buck-skin dress all strung with beads and shells that clink and rattle with her ever graceful step. Her hair is parted in the middle, brought down on each side and rolled with the skin of the otter. This skin is nicely dressed or tanned and then cut into about one inch strips, thus holding the hair so it hangs down to their hips or lower, according to its length. Around her neck are strings of most beautifully arranged beads and of high value among them; they hang down to her waist, almost completely covering her chest. A buck skin, dressed and made as white as it can be made, goes over the shoulders and fastens around the neck and hangs down covering the back. This makes her very beautiful. She is so quick in movement that one has to keep their eyes on her closely to see all of her actions, while she speaks low and softly. These high marriages are very few and this beautiful sight of the bride is seldom seen. The girls born of these marriages were always looked up to by the Indians. When these girls came along or were met by any children of other births, the latter would always get out of the trail and let them pass.
2.
Another system is the “half married” one, the woman taking her husband to her house to live with her. By this marriage she is the absolute boss of the man and has complete control of all the children. She has the power to correct her husband in all his actions and can send him out to hunt, fish or work just as she deems proper, he being a slave to her, as they usually both belong to the class that are slaves.
3.
I will say to the white race that my people, or any other Indian tribes as far as I know them, do not use the name of our Creator when using profane language, as we would feel it a disgrace to do so, even to think of such a thing. We never use the sacred name of God, only in our prayers.
4.
The first living thing placed upon the earth was the white deer (Moon-chay-poke).
5.
“The next living creature that Wah-pec-wah-mow placed upon the earth was the red eagle, Hay-wan-alth, who has ever since ruled as the monarch of the skies.”
6.
“After the white deer and red eagle was placed upon the earth, Wah-pec-wah-mow now created all the other animals of the earth.”
7.
“When Wah-pec-wah-mow had finished creating the plant and animal life of the earth, He then created the first real man. He made the first man of the soil of the earth, and placed him in the beautiful valley of Cheek-cheek-alth. This valley was located in a far off northern clime. When the first man was created and he became a living being upon the earth, Wah-pec-wah-mow said to him, “You are a living man.” God named this man He-quan-neck. Inspired with the breath of life, He-quan-neck first saw the light of day in this sweet valley of sunshine, flowers, fruits and herbs. Among the growing herbs was the herb walth-pay, which has a forked root. God saw that the man was lonely in this sunny valley, and he was not pleased with his work. Wah-pec-wah-mow now requested He-quan-neck to blow his nose, which he did, and immediately the forked root, or walth-pay turned into a living woman, Kay-y-yourn-nak. Man now became blessed with a living companion and for a time they dwelt together in the chaste life of peace and happiness.”
NOTA:
Los que no tuvieron "nada" de influencia Cristiana ehhh, hahahaha.
8.
From the land of Cheek-cheek-alth, the mystic Eden of long ago, came our wandering tribe of people who long since inhabited North and South America; for we are all one people. Among them were our leaders, the men who possessed in their secret breasts the true name of God. These men and women in our language we call Talth, and were the High Priests, and great rulers who ruled our people.
NOTA: ¿Serían Toltecas? Hmmmmmm...
9.
“WHEN the Indians first made their appearance on the Klamath river it was already inhabited by a white race of people known among us as the Wa-gas. These white people were found to inhabit the whole continent, and were a highly moral and civilized race. They heartily welcomed the Indians to their country and taught us all of their arts and sciences. The Indians recognized the rights of these ancient people as the first possessors of the soil and no difficulties ever arose between the two people. Their hospitality was exceedingly generous in the welfare of our people and all prospered together in peace and happiness, in their pursuit of human existence.”
“After we had lived with these ancient people so long, they suddenly called their hosts together and mysteriously disappeared for a distant land, we know not where. We have no memory of their reason or cause why they abandoned their ancient homes where they had dwelt for untold centuries. Wars did not drive them forth, for we loved them more than brothers, and difficulties were unknown between the two people. On leaving they went toward the North from whence we came, and disappeared from our land beyond the northern seas.”
NOTA:
Esos Wa-gas, todo un misterio eh. Además después dicen que esos Wa-gas “When the Wa-gas first arrived on this continent they handed down the traditions to us that it was inhabited by a giant race of people when they first came. These giants were represented by the Wa-gas as being very swarthy in complexion, and they used implements so large that no ordinary man could lift them. It was an age when large animals roamed the earth, and it seems the birds and fowls were all very large in size. It appeared to be the first age, and was the age of the giants. The recollections transmitted by the Wa-gas were that these giants were very cruel and wicked. It was said that God became displeased with them and destroyed them and they all perished from the earth. It was also said that God appeared to the High Priest of the Wa-gas and told them that he was going to destroy the giant race and that the Wa-gas themselves would survive upon the earth as a new people.”
-------
Como sea...
LOVE!
(El que emerge, no el que se ve como producto o meta comercial.)
March 25, 2014
This was a very very weird book. In a lot of ways, as the back cover promises, it is like sitting down with an old relative who wants to get all of the details about the past out into the open. Some of the information in the book is extremely interesting, but other chapters get extremely tedious. For example, there are a good 10-15 pages dedicated to the building of a fish dam. If you are not desperately interested in learning about a now deceased culture you will not enjoy this book at all. Of particular note is that the author really gets down on her kin for adopting white peoples' ways, yet she married a white man herself. Hmm....:)
April 2, 2021
Some amazing myths and legends that you won’t find elsewhere, in a detailed historical narrative.there are some really beautiful bits in here.
That said, I’m a little perplexed by how Christian-sounding some of the myths are, it seems that at the least the stories were re-worked to be more Christian to appeal to the audiences of 1916, and probably to engender sympathy among the whites, who were behaving in an awful way at the time. Reading other Yurok myths, they’re told in a much less “straightforward” and western way, though that in no way diminishes the content, which is largely consistent with other telling of the myths.
That said, I’m a little perplexed by how Christian-sounding some of the myths are, it seems that at the least the stories were re-worked to be more Christian to appeal to the audiences of 1916, and probably to engender sympathy among the whites, who were behaving in an awful way at the time. Reading other Yurok myths, they’re told in a much less “straightforward” and western way, though that in no way diminishes the content, which is largely consistent with other telling of the myths.
June 13, 2022
7.5/10
This isn't a perfect book way any means, especially the disjointed nature of the writing, it is a very interesting look into a nearly forgotten corner of the world. Everything Lucy Thompson writes is for her voice to be preserved less the genocide her people have faced take more away from the Yurok than what has been already taken. A lot of deeply intriguing knowledge here. In regards to the whole "she thinks her people the master race" I did not caught that many things that explicitly said that and a few that might be interpreted as that. My favorite was the retellings of myths and the stories of her people.
This isn't a perfect book way any means, especially the disjointed nature of the writing, it is a very interesting look into a nearly forgotten corner of the world. Everything Lucy Thompson writes is for her voice to be preserved less the genocide her people have faced take more away from the Yurok than what has been already taken. A lot of deeply intriguing knowledge here. In regards to the whole "she thinks her people the master race" I did not caught that many things that explicitly said that and a few that might be interpreted as that. My favorite was the retellings of myths and the stories of her people.
December 3, 2016
Very valuable collection of writings and stories gathered at a time when the information could easily have just disappeared. There are things that sound familiar, but the Yurok have their own history and ways, and this covers a lot, as well as giving some other local history.
The foreword and introduction really added some good context for the book, so I appreciated that.
The foreword and introduction really added some good context for the book, so I appreciated that.
July 24, 2009
An odd, heterogenous book, with folk tales, historical incidents, and Yurok traditions. I've heard this is a controversial book, since the author talks about the peoples of NW California "yielding to a superior race." But it's still valuable reading.
April 3, 2023
i think my copy of the book isn’t complete lol
but definitely worth the read, especially if you’re Yurok or from another Klamath River tribe. it also makes me wanna look more into some aspects, like the creation stories and gender roles and other possible impacts of colonization on Yurok culture
but definitely worth the read, especially if you’re Yurok or from another Klamath River tribe. it also makes me wanna look more into some aspects, like the creation stories and gender roles and other possible impacts of colonization on Yurok culture
August 21, 2024
Five stars for cultural preservation and interpretation. Certain flaws in writing style or editing just don’t matter when it’s the first book ever written by a Native American woman and when said book offers an insiders account of the pre-20th Century life of the Yurok Indians of Northern California. This book is invaluable, and the controversies surrounding it are unwarranted.
One of the controversies concerns the author’s description of her people "yielding to a superior race," but the statement can easily be interpreted to simply mean a technologically superior race. It's clear that Lucy believes her own people are superior to whites in many ways, and nobody should mistake her as an apologist for whites or a shrinking violet. She calls out injustices and atrocities perpetrated by whites and she is a strong advocate for Native Americans.
White people who have a political interest in romanticizing or infantilizing Native Americans might be disturbed to discover that the author speaks frankly about how the Yuroks practiced slavery and had a rigidly stratified class structure. But anyone who shuns this book because it’s politically incorrect is perpetrating yet another injustice. The Yuroks are no different than any other group of people in all parts of the world whose evolution includes similar practices.
I noticed that this book is not available in the bookstores of Redwood National and State Parks. Before I read it, I was puzzled as to how a book that is so essential to the cultural history of the redwood region could be omitted from their shelves, even when less pertinent volumes are available. I’m only speculating, but my hunch is that they don’t carry it because of the unfashionable truths contained within it. If so, it’s a shame, because there’s a lot more to this book than slavery and class, and the government owes it to the Yuroks and to park visitors to interpret Yurok history as told by Yuroks themselves. I purchased my copy at the Yurok Tribal Visitor Center in Klamath, CA., which has an array of exhibits and an excellent selection of the exquisite arts and crafts the Yuroks are known for. If the Yuroks themselves endorse the book enough to sell it at their own tribal facility, then certainly bookstores in U.S. government facilities can do so as well.
One of the controversies concerns the author’s description of her people "yielding to a superior race," but the statement can easily be interpreted to simply mean a technologically superior race. It's clear that Lucy believes her own people are superior to whites in many ways, and nobody should mistake her as an apologist for whites or a shrinking violet. She calls out injustices and atrocities perpetrated by whites and she is a strong advocate for Native Americans.
White people who have a political interest in romanticizing or infantilizing Native Americans might be disturbed to discover that the author speaks frankly about how the Yuroks practiced slavery and had a rigidly stratified class structure. But anyone who shuns this book because it’s politically incorrect is perpetrating yet another injustice. The Yuroks are no different than any other group of people in all parts of the world whose evolution includes similar practices.
I noticed that this book is not available in the bookstores of Redwood National and State Parks. Before I read it, I was puzzled as to how a book that is so essential to the cultural history of the redwood region could be omitted from their shelves, even when less pertinent volumes are available. I’m only speculating, but my hunch is that they don’t carry it because of the unfashionable truths contained within it. If so, it’s a shame, because there’s a lot more to this book than slavery and class, and the government owes it to the Yuroks and to park visitors to interpret Yurok history as told by Yuroks themselves. I purchased my copy at the Yurok Tribal Visitor Center in Klamath, CA., which has an array of exhibits and an excellent selection of the exquisite arts and crafts the Yuroks are known for. If the Yuroks themselves endorse the book enough to sell it at their own tribal facility, then certainly bookstores in U.S. government facilities can do so as well.
December 27, 2023
Moving and very informative on a beautiful way of life far too often overlooked.
April 14, 2025
The author, Lucy Thompson gives us a detailed look into the culture & ways of her people, a rich, long standing way of life that was not respected by white settlers!
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