Eastman, C: Memories of an Indian Boyhood

Memories of an Indian Boyhood (1902) is a memoir by Charles Eastman. Recognized for his achievements as a pioneering Native American physician, Eastman was also a prolific writer whose personal stories, powerful meditations, and in-depth studies of indigenous culture continue to be read and appreciated today. In this memoir, his debut literary work, he recalls a youth marked by tragedy and perseverance that earned him the name Ohíye S'a, Dakota for "always wins." "What boy would not be an Indian for a while when he thinks of the freest life in the world? This life was mine." Although his birth and youth were marked by tragedy-the death of his mother, his separation from his father and siblings during the Dakota War of 1862-Eastman was able to experience the joys of Dakota Sioux life with his maternal grandmother and her family. "Every day there was a real hunt. There was real game. Occasionally there was a medicine dance away off in the woods where no one could disturb us [...]" Immersed in the traditions of his people, Eastman-whose birthname was Hakadah-developed an identity grounded in the wisdom of his elders, yet open to the world outside. Nostalgic and full of gorgeous detail, Memories of an Indian Boyhood is a story of one boy's youth that resonates with all who read it. This edition of Charles Eastman's Memories of an Indian Boyhood is a classic work of Native American literature reimagined for modern readers.
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