delightedly_reading's review

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.0

reikista's review

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4.0

Native women write about community and spirituality.

katscribefever's review

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3.0

This collection of dialogues by Indigenous women was an eye-opening read for me. I appreciate Wilma Mankiller for compiling them into a book.

morganashley121's review

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hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

kevinmccarrick's review

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challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

ed_w's review

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

wicketicons's review against another edition

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4.0

Equal parts enlightenment, sorrow, hope, and frustration. A wonderful discussion between various leaders of a few of the tribes native to North America (and Hawaii) who happen to be women.

jiujensu's review against another edition

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4.0

As a compilation, it has so many different points of view, so it's hard to speak generally.

What appealed to me beyond the opportunity to read so many native women at once on a variety of topics from government to love, was the view of religion incorporating all living things - that promotes inclusivity, equality and respect for the environment as integral parts of life. I was struck by the fact that most native cultures were quite equal before the imposition of male dominated European religion and government.

Two of the women expressed views that they needed to support men who have become vulnerable and that women shouldn't play sports because the muscles will be bad for childbirth. Maybe I didn't read that correctly. ..

Towards the beginning I was discouraged to read about the integration of Christianity in native life, though theirs appears to be a more forgiving version and makes room for their native ceremony and beliefs for the most part.

There is a lot to learn about the history - they only touch on it but it's so valuable to know about their struggle and survival and what it means today.

There is a current throughout of a well deserved critique of capitalist greed. This was satisfying to know that others share this view.

Some women seem to want to prove Christianity is compatible with native culture. The church did preserve some native languages in a way. But there are native stories, one of a creator asking for 30 deer and the man only conning up with 28 and the creator says that's fine. Compare that with Cain and Abel from the Bible with God accepting one brother's type of sacrifice over the other and murder results. Not exactly harmonious or forgiving...

There are so many contributors and sidebar perspectives. I can't begin to say all I got from this book. It was enlightening historically and heartbreaking to see how devastating colonisation has been.

mah_tilds's review against another edition

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challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

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