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brucefarrar's review
3.0
The answer to the book’s title is no. Most live in houses and apartments like their fellow citizens. The buffalo hide tipi was the traditional dwelling for only the Plains Indians. Other questions cannot be answered as succinctly, for example, there isn’t a single answer about correct terminology. Is it correct to say American Indian, Indian, Native American, or Native or is it correct to say tribe of nation? There is no clear consensus on this, so it’s best to ask, “how would you like to be referred to?” These and other questions are addressed in this series of two or three page essays about identity, origin, history, clothing, arts, crafts, ceremony and ritual, sovereignty, animal, language, education, marriage, dance, sports, land and popular misconceptions and stereotypes. And throughout the book are insights that are both surprising and profound.
“While most people believe that the ‘lowest person on the totem pole’ is the least esteemed, totem carvers [of the North Pacific Coast] know that the figure on the bottom of the pole, holds a position of great honor.”
“Jay Silverheels (Mohawk), the most famous of several actors who played Tonto [on The Lone Ranger] was born Harry Smith in 1912 on the Six Nations Indian Reserve in Ontario Canada.” Silverheels, which he uses as a stage name, was originally a nickname that he was given because of his speed and skill as a lacrosse player.
“The constitution of the Haudenosaunee [Iroquois] Confederacy made an indelible impression on the United States Founding Fathers, including Benjamin Franklin, who used it as one model for the Articles of Confederation, which later were incorporated into the U. S. Constitution…”
“While most people believe that the ‘lowest person on the totem pole’ is the least esteemed, totem carvers [of the North Pacific Coast] know that the figure on the bottom of the pole, holds a position of great honor.”
“Jay Silverheels (Mohawk), the most famous of several actors who played Tonto [on The Lone Ranger] was born Harry Smith in 1912 on the Six Nations Indian Reserve in Ontario Canada.” Silverheels, which he uses as a stage name, was originally a nickname that he was given because of his speed and skill as a lacrosse player.
“The constitution of the Haudenosaunee [Iroquois] Confederacy made an indelible impression on the United States Founding Fathers, including Benjamin Franklin, who used it as one model for the Articles of Confederation, which later were incorporated into the U. S. Constitution…”
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