Living in Two Worlds: The American Indian Experience

by Charles Alexander Eastman, James Trosper (Foreword), Michael Oren Fitzgerald (Editor)

This beautifully illustrated book presents a vivid account of the American Indian experience as seen through the eyes of Charles Eastman (Ohiyesa), the first and greatest of the Native American authors. The importance of Eastman's life story was reiterated for a new generation when the 2007 HBO film entitled Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee used Eastman, played by Adam Beach, as its leading hero.

Genres: Native American, History, Native Americans

224 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2009

About the author

Charles Alexander Eastman is unique among Indian writers, whether storytellers or oral historians. He was raised traditionally, as a Woodland Sioux, by his grandmother, from 1858 - 1874, until he was 15. He thus gained a thorough first-hand knowledge of the lifeways, language, culture, and oral history.

His father (thought to have been hanged at Mankato, Minnesota) reappeared and insisted he receive the white man's education. Educated at Dartmouth and Boston University medical school, Eastman became a highly literate physician, who was the only doctor available to the victims of the Wounded Knee massacre in 1890 -- a major historical event, often described as "ending the Indian wars".

Other Indian writers of this period were either entirely acculturated -- had never lived the traditional life of their people or been educated out of their native knowledge -- or were not literate, and were able to provide only "as told to" materials, through the filters of interpreters and non-Indian writers. Eastman had the lifeways and historical events experiences, and he did not need the literary filters of translators and white anthropologists or collectors.

http://www.worldwisdom.com/public/aut...

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written book that explains the native american experience from many perspectives and viewpoints. The many photos that are included give a more visceral feel to the narrative. Sadly, it is too easy to get discouraged reading this book as it documents quite well the systematic and unforgiving extermination of peoples and their ways of life through the last 300 years. It does not make me proud to be an American. I wish we could have done better.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book. In reading this book, it makes you understand the words of what happened and what the American Indian really is and not the movie version, or for that matter, the government's words on what the American Indian is.
Charles Eastman has the amazing ability to talk to you in this book and make you understand what happened and his view on it all. He was there at Wounded Knee. He saw it all, saw the death of their way of life. But what I came away with is the wonder of his ability to hang on to his beliefs and seeing the good. I wish I could have met him.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a tribute edition of Eastman's work, and a sweet look at life among the American Indians before they were forced onto reservations. Once that happened Eastman was brave and determined to make his new life in among the whites something that was beneficial to his people. The book includes comments from several Native American leaders. Profusely illustrated.