Stories from a gifted Native American author about going home — physically, emotionally, spiritually.
Synopsis
Stories from a gifted Native American author about going home physically, emotionally, spiritually.
Publishers Weekly
Most of these sensitive, engaging tales set in Canada explore the private tragedies and triumphs of Native Americans. The exception, ``This Is History,'' offers a woman-focused account of the origins of Turtle Island (the Earth) in which Sky Woman (the moon) and her daughter/companion First Woman share the ``naming'' tasks central to creation tales. In ``Wild Turkeys,'' a woman visiting her hometown is shaken when a chance encounter brings back vivid memories of an abusive relationship she fled. The title story tells of 80-year-old Elijah Powless, determined to see his twin granddaughters in the ``big city.'' Armed only with innocent charm and a bag of homemade fry bread, he travels to Detroit, making friends and allies of all whom he meets. Several of Brant's ( The Mohawk Trail ) stories consider the need to come to terms with death: in ``This Place,'' a medicine man whose ``good medicine'' ranges from butter tarts and old Hank Williams songs to a snakeskin and chanting helps a gay man afflicted with AIDS find the courage to ``see death coming and run to meet it.'' (June)
Most of these sensitive, engaging tales set in Canada explore the private tragedies and triumphs of Native Americans. The exception, ``This Is History,'' offers a woman-focused account of the origins of Turtle Island (the Earth) in which Sky Woman (the moon) and her daughter/companion First Woman share the ``naming'' tasks central to creation tales. In ``Wild Turkeys,'' a woman visiting her hometown is shaken when a chance encounter brings back vivid memories of an abusive relationship she fled. The title story tells of 80-year-old Elijah Powless, determined to see his twin granddaughters in the ``big city.'' Armed only with innocent charm and a bag of homemade fry bread, he travels to Detroit, making friends and allies of all whom he meets. Several of Brant's ( The Mohawk Trail ) stories consider the need to come to terms with death: in ``This Place,'' a medicine man whose ``good medicine'' ranges from butter tarts and old Hank Williams songs to a snakeskin and chanting helps a gay man afflicted with AIDS find the courage to ``see death coming and run to meet it.'' (June)
