Before the Great Spirit

By Julian Rice

Subjects: Myths, Plains Indians, Religion, American Indians, Lakota Indians, Nakota Indians, Oglala Indians, Santee Indians, Sioux Indian Theology, Sioux Indian Myths, Traditions, Native Americans, Indians of north america, religion, Indians of North America, Theology, Yankton Indians, Indians of north america, west (u.s.), Sioux Indian Philosophy, Dakota Indians, First Nations, Sioux Indians, Sioux Indian Traditions, Sioux Indian Religion, Philosophy

Description: In Before the Great Spirit Julian Rice explores the spiritual values that informed Sioux attitudes surrounding warriors, tricksters, spirits, games, and conflict. Countering the widespread myths that both denigrate and appropriate Indian spirituality, Rice examines accounts written in the 1830s by Congregationalist ministers Samuel and Gideon Pond and Stephen R. Riggs; Ella Deloria, a Yankton Nakota linguist; Wilson D. Wallis, a Canadian anthropologist; native Lakota George Bushotter; and physician James R. Walker in order to delineate clearly Sioux thought from the biases and perspectives of these observers.