An Indian Boyhood Revisited
In 1902, Charles Eastman, or Ohiyessa, wrote an account, "Indian Boyhood" of his Dakota Sioux childhood. Eastman (1858 -- 1939) lived a remarkable life in two cultures. Up to the age of 15, he was raised in the Sioux culture he described in "Indian Boyhood". Eastman went on to graduate from Dartmouth College and from the medical school of Boston College. He had a career as a physician, worked as a field secretary for the YMCA, helped found the Boy Scouts, and wrote eleven books beginning with "Indian Boyhood". Eastman's life was featured in the 2007 HBO documentary, "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee", but he remains all-too-little remembered today.
This new book, "Indian Boyhood: The True Story Of A Sioux Upbringing" is an adaptation of Eastman's 1902 book for children between Kindergarten and third grade. Michael Fittzgerald, the author of two books about Eastman among other works, arranged Eastman's story for young readers while Heidi Rasch, an artist who has been adopted into the Crow Tribe, prepared the illustrations. Charles Trimble, an author, member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, and former Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians, wrote a short, elegant Foreword to the story.
Eastman's story introduces readers of all ages to a lost world of freedom and romance. "What boy would not be an Indian for a while when he thinks of the freest life in the world?", the book begins. "This life was mine".
Eastman describes how he was raised by his grandmother upon the death of his mother and how his father apparently died in 1862 during the Sioux uprising. Eastman describes what he calls his "wild life" which continued until the age of 15. At that time, his father who had been pardoned by President Lincoln, returned and the young boy began his education in the larger society. For a few years of childhood, Eastman hunted, told stories, prepared for war, crossed the Missouri River in buffalo-skinned boats, and lived what he remembered as a life of total freedom. It is a romantic story which children and grown-ups will find immediately appealing. Rasch's illustrations are lovely and include notes at the end of the book which readers may share with the children.
I loved this little children's book and wanted to learn more about Eastman. Children will love and learn from the book. The book is published by Wisdom Tales, which specializes in spiritually-themed books from around the world with an emphasis on Indian cultures. Wisdom Tales' parent company, World Wisdom, has published Fitzgerald's two other books about Eastman for interested readers. Wisdom Tales kindly sent me a copy of "Indian Boyhood" to review.
Robin Friedman
