Scan barcode
cbar397's review
4.0
I read this for a Native American literature graduate course this winter, and it was fascinating. Each chapter details a memory of La Flesche from his Omaha tribe and his Presbyterian boarding school nearby. It's short enough to enjoy over a weekend and it raised a lot of interesting questions and debates on the light-hearted language, the relationship between Christianity and Native Americans, who is the universal boy that this book is dedicated to, and La Flesche's experiences compared to others at mission and federal boarding schools. La Flesche wanted to humanize his tribe and culture so that non-natives could understand his stories. It's interesting to read some beautiful and happy memories alongside twisted moments such as punishments and education, the struggle to balance or even choose between two different cultures, and challenging topics like death. He descriptions are awesome and it gave me a new appreciation for Native American culture. It also challenged me to see that not everyone at these boarding schools had overwhelmingly negative experiences and see the many reasons for parents sending their children to school. This book is underrated and totally necessary.
More...