Tom Sandcrane must navigate the narrow path between his Cheyenne heritage and the white man’s world For generations, the Sandcrane men have served their tribe as the keepers of the Sacred Arrows. When the time comes for Seth Sandcrane to pass the responsibility on to his son Tom, he waits with pride for his son to assume his place among the elders of the tribe. But Tom wants nothing to do with Sacred Arrows, ancient traditions, and the mystical heritage of the Cheyenne. It is 1896; the nation is growing, and Tom wants a place in the white man’s world. He takes a job in the Bureau of Indian Affairs as a go-between for the government and the Cheyenne. When bureaucratic treachery forces Tom to become an outlaw, he must flee the land of his birth. As America teeters on the brink of the Spanish-American War, Tom Sandcrane will learn to fight—not with sacred arrows, but with a Colt .38.

"Volume Two records the contemporary Sacred Arrow and Sun Dance ceremonies in their entirety"--P. [4] of cover.

Distributed by Westview Press. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

This book provides a thorough and engaging study of Plains Indian life. It covers both historical and contemporary aspects and contains wide and balanced treatment of the many different tribal groups, including Canadian and southern populations. Daniel J. Gelo draws on years of ethnographic research and emphasizes that Plains societies and cultures are continuing, living entities. The second edition has been updated to take account of recent developments and current terminology. The chapters feature a range of illustrations, maps, and text boxes, as well as summaries, key terms, and questions to support teaching and learning. It is an essential text for courses on Indians of the Great Plains and relevant for students of anthropology, archaeology, history, and Indigenous studies.

Robin Ridington and Dennis Hastings ingeniously adopt the conventions of Omaha oral narratives to tell the story and convey the significance of the Sacred Pole. Portions of classic anthropological texts (particularly Fletcher and La Flesche?s The Omaha Tribe), Omaha narratives, and other historical and contemporary accounts are repeated?each time in a different, more enlightening context?in a circle of stories seamlessly woven around Umon?hon?ti. The result is an innovative account that effortlessly glides between past and present. This unique blend of Omaha poetics, ethnography, and ethnohistory is a significant contribution to our understanding of the religious life of Native Americans.