Impressions of an Indian Childhood

by Zitkála-Šá, Gertrude Simmons Bonnin

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Classics, History, Indigenous, 19th Century, American

Paperback

Published June 17, 2004

About the author

Zitkála-Šá (Dakota: pronounced zitkála-ša, which translates to "Red Bird") also known by the missionary-given name Gertrude Simmons Bonnin, was a Sioux writer, editor, musician, teacher and political activist. She wrote several works chronicling her struggles in her youth as she was pulled back and forth between the influences of dominant American culture and her own Native American heritage, as well as books in English that brought traditional Native American stories to a widespread white readership for one of the first times. With William F. Hanson, Bonnin co-composed the first American Indian opera, The Sun Dance (composed in romantic style based on Ute and Sioux themes), which premiered in 1913. She founded the National Council of American Indians in 1926 to lobby for the rights of Native Americans to American citizenship, and served as its president until her death in 1938.

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zitkala Sa's autobiography was very simple and touching but the thing that blew me away was her short stories. They have a magical folksy charm about them that really surprised me.

[Vicki Tillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short book should be a must-read for young people learning American History.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this memior. Zitkala Sa, left a beautiful peice of writing. In previous classes the history of the Native American did not sink in deep enough, but when I read this memior I gained a pretty clear understanding of what it really may have been like. Actually seeing it from the point of view from childhood memories is significant. The way that she was treated is sad, she definitely used realism as an argument in terms of the way she was treated. Sa, makes the reader want to place actions into her/his own hands. I really wanted to yell at what she refers to as "the pale faces". So much was forced upon them, so sad. She's a beautiful writer though.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for 19th Century Hemispheric Literature class

[Zach Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fascinating autobiography that was written super super well. In most of the history classes I’ve been through, the Native American perspective never really dives deep into what it was like. To gain her POV during her childhood is something significant to read through because it goes into so much detail about the ways her and her peers were treated. Her narrative from this experience gives a great deal of realism to an issue that does not get enough attention in our history books.

[theinspirationtree · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a prescribed reading for one of my English courses. We only had to read three chapters, but I enjoyed them so much that I continued reading the whole text. Her anecdotes really did make me smile especially because they are real stories from her childhood.

[Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a required reading for my English course, but I quite enjoyed the stories told of the author's childhood. There were many moments where I found myself smiling at the way the author described her memories. The tales were impactfully described, and It felt relatable at times to the way I perceive my own childhood memories.

[Suchanda Mitra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant.Reading her account of the Red Indian Native life is like reading about another planet.The question I asked myself was why couldn't people like them be allowed to live freely?

[Max]

only read 4 chapters, gotta fully read one day

[Lena Kimura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly expressive stories of sadness, grief, and prejudice. Captivating.

[isz ✷ · Rating 5 out of 5]

dreamy memoir, superowy

[Mackenzie Frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

american lit giving me banger after banger

[Jessica Lowery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Regarding a childhood as a member of a Native American household experiencing the specific tense relationships with colonial settlers/ racism and the universal real bittersweet moments of growing up in any community.

[Kellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it!