Going Native

"I wonder sometimes why you help me like this, when we're not related.", said Tom Harmer to his Salish mentor Clayton Woods. "I like you", replied Clayton. "You like they say, down to earth. Love our mother. Why not you instead of them `apples' runing around the tribal center, think they're in charge?" The contempt in Clayton' voice was not disguised. A new breed of Indian activists has arisen lately - fiercely promoting Indianesness through academia, internet and politics. These people are counting drops of Indian blood while running casinos and the Indian/Chicano `authenticity' racket, a lucrative business based on helping assuage white guilt over the injustices perpetrated over the years. But in reality, they are just pretend-Indians. Old style medicine people have no patience with these pretenders. Clayton despised the acculturated tribal office workers who aproached him with tobacco, calling on distant kinship ties to solicit his support, while flaunting their Native identity. These Indians behaved like White men, with brassyy, garrulous voices promoting the new plan to develop a huge molybdenum mine on Colville land. "They come out here [in the wilderness] and pretend", said Clayton. "Then they go back, wear it like a big reputation. They just showing off. They want to be the boss." "Being an Indian not about the color of your skin or how much Indian blood you got. It about what in your heart. That old-time way, we say, en'hwl'tils, want to live. To have that want to be here. I see you walk over the earth. You want this thing you are. You want to live." This is an absolutely wonderful book. Together with the sequel "Living in Full Awareness of the Earth" it is one of the few books that are an essential reading for anyone who isn't interested in theory, or philosophy, or religion of Native Americans, but in learning about the reverence, practicalness, and the unyielding sense of truth with which people who have never been apart from their natural environment, approach life., This are no pretend-Indians here that one meets in Castaneda's books, nor self-interested political activism of a Vine Deloria. Ultimately, Harmer writes about re-learning what is real, about what really maters. About awaraness that does not recognize the artificial boundary of Indians vs non-Indians promulgated by pseudo-Indian pretenders in NAFSP. Harmer was fortunate in being able to meet a real traditional medicine person, just as we are fortunate today to be able to participate in their meeting through his books. Harmer writes about the land, animals, spirits, traditional ceremonies, the beauty and mystery of nature, about living with dignity and humor. Cannot recommend his books highly enough.

If you are looking for Native American hype this book is not for you. It is an honest portrayal of one person's experience in honoring and learning about spirit. The passages in the book that discuss hunting are more easily understood if viewed in that context.I felt the author was generous in his willingness to share the knowledge he developed during his time with the Salish people. I felt that the descriptions of his experiences were given in a way that allow the reader to understand the pacing and etherial qualities of connecting with nature spirit.While the author does contrast the "white" way of living with the "indian" way of living, I felt this was not white bashing but a view of the conflict between a spiritual or capitalist way of life. I believe he makes this distinction in his writing.I felt that this book was full of insights. It deepened my understanding of the natural world. I recommend it without reservation.

Tom Harmer catches the 'Spirit' of writing as well as that of a White "Going Native". This book inspired me on a very deep level, I came out of dreaming and into a whole new world. He writes with a clear and concise voice with descriptions of the wilderness of the Okanogan people and the familiarity of 'the wild man of timber'. The sweatlodge experiences and conversations with the elder, Tommy Clayton, are deep philosophical explorations that lead us back to ourselves and we say, "Aaaa". I was listening Tom Harmer and I have heard what you said. This book sets well among those of Carlos Casteneda and describes the Indian Way magnificently. One of my favorite books! Read it.