Go-La'-ka Wa-Wal-sh (Raven Speaks): A collection of articles about the culture and history of the Colville Confederated Tribes (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781507751091)

This is my third book about the culture and history of the Colville Confederated Tribes. The intent is to continue publishing stories about the tribes. However, this book is unique because it isn't merely dates and a list of major events; instead it offers more of an in-depth discussion of the Indian Way. It applies the basic Indian philosophy to today's fast moving events with an eye on how to cope with our problems. These subjects are all tied together with a summary of what Indian culture has become over many generations. It is the accumulation of thoughtful considerations on how life has evolved. Since most tribes didn't have a written language these thoughts were handed down orally through animal stories of which the mythical Coyote was the most popular. Many Indian stories used animals to demonstrate the various concepts. Certain animals personified unique traits such as Group Spirit for the Eagle. The Eagle has become a powerful spiritual symbol for everyone in the United States. Included are such topics as the effect of the loss of salmon on our tribal members; how Indian people are invisible but not vanishing; the forced movement to the Reservation; what it means to be the First American; Indian Self-Determination; the mysteries of the Medicine Wheel; special respect Indians have for grave sites; and various philosophical topics such as balancing your Ego; Spirit Chief and the Mind; the concept of Indian time; how to perceive the world; real meaningful education using the Indian Way; Green, the healing color; our tie to nature through the Animal World and the Indian ten commandments. The material is presented in more of a random manner rather than in a logical text book approach. In fact, that issue is addressed in the July 15, 2014 article "Little Joe learns another way to perceive the world". The stories about Little Joe are the way I wound up presenting various aspects of the Indian Way. Little Joe is an Indian boy who was adopted out because his parents passed away and he had no other family. This is a typical story of many Indian families. Little Joe found out he was Indian and wanted to learn more about tribal history and culture so he came under the wing of a tribal elder he called Uncle or Twasen in the Salish language. Respected Elders in his tribe were called Aunt or Uncle. It is a continuing story with no conceivable end. The book concludes with a little background of the author and his family.

Author: Wendell George
ISBN-10: 1507751095
ISBN-13: 9781507751091
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Language: English
Published: 02/18/2015
Pages: 116
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.50lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.30d