Reviews

Lame Deer Seeker of Visions by John Fire Lame Deer, Richard Erdoes

gohanian's review against another edition

4.0

A fascinating first hand account of life as a Lakota (Sioux) holy man navigating life in a country so diametrically at odds with his world perspective and values. Born in the early 20th century, Lame deer traveled the rodeo circuit as a rider and later as a rodeo clown. He was a member of the peyote church and tribal policeman as well. According to his own account, he drank, gambled, womanized, and once went on a several-day-long car theft and drinking binge. Also an activist, he marched with MLK, and fought hard for the preservation and integrity of the Black Hills mountain range (where Mt Rushmore sits today).

Really appreciated the beautiful descriptions of indigenous ceremonies, symbology, and mythology. Highly recommend to anyone curious about indigenous lifestyles/spirituality. Be warned the structure of the book jumps around a bit as it's told from different accounts, but still overall enjoyable and thought-provoking.

jwalkerskout's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

rissasreading's review against another edition

5.0

This book has made me feel so many things. From him talking about residential schools, to growing up in an indigenous family, and the important symbolism and ties to nature in the culture, he opens you up to his life and what it means to be Indigenous from his perspective. What makes me upset reading this is that he's recounting his life from the early 1900s & this book was written during 1971 and next to nothing has changed. Environmental discrimination still happens, Indigenous people are still being mistreated by the government and police, and land is still being destroyed and taken from indigenous people. Lame Deer's story is one that needs to be heard and told for generations.

bookdawg's review against another edition

3.25

A first-hand account of American Indian life from 1900-1970s, a snapshot of that place and time that I would have never otherwise encountered. 
Some beautiful stories, descriptions, and insights, interspersed with a lot of repetitive old-man ranting. Took me forever to get through, but ultimately I'm glad I made it till the end.

catladylover94's review against another edition

5.0

really very good

quitobowen's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative lighthearted reflective sad slow-paced

3.5

What it lacks in narrative it gives in long lost Sioux tradition. 

szeglin's review

4.0

Fascinating from a biographical and cultural standpoint (philosophical, too!).

pastaviking's review against another edition

5.0

Quietly powerful, meanders a long path, and with a clear voice. I’ve never read anything quite like this first hand perspective of a Sioux medicine man.

ifitsnotbaroque's review against another edition

4.0

“The bald eagle is your symbol. You see him on your money, but your money is killing him. When a people start killing off their own symbols they are in a bad way.”

audreybrown's review against another edition

funny reflective medium-paced

3.0