Land of Nakoda: The Story of the Assiniboine Indians

by James Long

Overview

“Land of Nakoda” is a vivid account of the history, legends, customs, crafts, and ceremonies of the Assiniboine Indians of the northern plains. First published in 1942, it was written and illustrated by tribal members who interviewed the Old Ones, the tribal elders, in their native language. Many of the stories predate Lewis and Clark and were passed down through a dynamic oral tradition. Using clear and precise writing, “Land of Nakoda” accurately describes tribal legends, daily life, lodging, food, courtship and marriage, children’s games, buffalo hunting, tools and weapons, religious ceremonies and secret societies, medicine men and spirits, and the coming of the white men. It features 84 original illustrations, and a list of Assiniboine bands, and biographies of the author, the illustrator, and the Old Ones who told the stories.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781931832359
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	03/01/2004
Series:	Western History Classics Series
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	1,137,624
Product dimensions:	5.47(w) x 8.57(h) x 0.63(d)

Table of Contents

	Foreword	iv
	Preface	1
	From Earliest Times to the Present	3
Part I	Tribal Legends
	How the Summer Season Came	10
	Moon Calendar	13
	Power of the Peace Pipe	17
Part II	Tribal Life
	The Tribe	24
	Camp Moving	29
	Courtship and Marriage	37
	Children	42
	Crazy Dog Stories	51
	War Parties	55
	Dances and Social Gatherings	65
Part III	Lodges, Food and Games
	Buffalo--Staff of Life	74
	Fire Making	86
	Foods	88
	The Old Woman Who Tricked Her Captors	94
	Lodges, Clothing and Ornaments	96
	Stone and Bone Articles	104
	Games	107
Part IV	Hunting
	Bow and Arrows	112
	The Tribal Hunt	116
	Traps and Snares	123
	The Chase	126
	Story of Fast Runner	133
	Hunting Deer	136
Part V	Ceremonies and Societies
	Social and Secret Organizations	140
	Women's Dances	143
	The Grass Dance	147
	Medicine Lodge Dance	169
Part VI	Medicine Men and Spirits
	Men With Magic	176
	Death and the Spirit Bundle	183
	The Spirit World	187
	Journey of the Spirit	190
Part VII	Coming of the White Men
	The Ones Who Paddle a Canoe	194
	Lone White Man	198
	Meeting With the Sioux	201
	Treaties and Reservation Life	204
Part VIII	Appendices
	The Author	213
	The Illustrator	217
	The Old Ones Who Told the Stories	221
	Assiniboine Bands	225
	Pronunciation Key	226
	Pronunciation Guide for Months and Seasons	227
	Reading List	228