Great Speeches by Native Americans

I love the Dover Thrift Editions - they are so affordable and comprise truly great classics of literature. I have been slowly collecting the series and "Great Speeches by Native Americans" is one of my favorites in the series. It contains about 82 speeches that cover approximately five centuries of history of the encounters between Native Americans and non-indigenous peoples. The collection of speeches here range from emotionally stirring speeches by great leaders of the Native Americans such as Red Cloud's "The Great Spirit Made Us Both" in 1870 and Sitting Bull's "The Life My People Want is a Life of Freedom" in 1882, to lesser known orators and even unnamed ones. Each speech is preceded by the context in which it was given, which provides valuable historical insight in and of itself. This is a must-read volume that will provide insights into the Native American culture and history. It should also be required reading in schools.

Most of the orators in this book have passed long ago. This volume keeps alive their thoughts and feelings, for others to share today. The original Americans, their words carry the weight of other great American speeches to follow, capturing a moment in time and making it palpable again. More than an historic record, many of these speeches are an inspiration. Indian Oratory: Famous Speeches by Noted Indian Chieftains (Civilization of the American Indian)

I can't recommend this book highly enough. Aside from being full of speeches and insights that belong in the Classics section of any decent library, the strong and concise way in which these speakers convey the greatness of Native American thought and culture is unlike anything you will ever get from your favorite writer of history books, or contemporary decendant of these great people. I will even go so far as to say that if you are moved by the great words of Winston Churchill and Martin Luther King Jr. it would be a horrible oversight not to have read this volume. Additionally, the book includes several short bits of historical background which are remarkable in themselves. Great words, great thought, unlike Western or Eastern thought or any philosophy you have ever read. You can only wish these cultures had survived the holocost that was inflicted on them better so that we could have benefited to a greater degree than was done by taking their gold, land, and lives. Credit must be also given to the Dover Thrift Edition series for not only making well known classics affordable and accessible to the average reader, but publishing such books as this which are lesser known yet of great importance to the reading and thinking public. BOTTOM LINE: Please read this book. It's that important.