On the Rez

ON THE REZ will touch your heart with getting to know some of the Oglala Sioux who live on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. It will also make you angry with the cold, hard facts of what the U.S. Government did to an indigenous people and their lands, and open your eyes to what day-to-day life is really like for some of our Native American brothers. Ian Frazier's smooth writing style belies some of the stories that he relates, but, at the same time, he pulls you into Pine Ridge until you can taste the dust and feel its desolation. But so too can you learn about a proud people, and no amount of hard truth can erase their inherent dignity. A suggestion to all of our Junior and Senior High School teachers: buy Frazier's book, and read the story of SuAnne Big Crow to your students. Show them the likes of a true American hero, one who is their own age. We could, and should, all learn from her. Mitakuye Oyasin.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about Native Americans, their culture, history, and present day reservation life in general. He skillfully jumps from journalistic reporting to historical analysis; from personal reflections to objective discussion of present reservation issues; and from inspiring stories of pride and heroism to depressing looks at the plight of present-day Native society. He takes inspiration from the bravery of old and new Sioux heroes, some famous like Crazy Horse, and others who should be more famous like high school basketball star SuAnne Big Crow. Intertwined with this is a frank and gritty description of the death, poverty, alcoholism, despair, and political division which characterizes reservation life today. He uses both obvious and minute details of Pine Ridge Reservation to accurately convey these realities to the reader. I recently visited many of the places Frazier described last summer, but not until reading his book did I get real feel for the significance of what I was looking at. In other words, I looked at places like Wounded Knee, White Clay, NE, and Downtown Pine Ridge as I passed through with mixed emotions. Frazier SAW these same places with similar emotions, but added tremendously to the scope and magnitude of my emotions after I was back home. The mark of a truly great author if you asked me! I fully intend to go back to Pine Ridge with a more balanced, informed, and broader perspective thanks to Mr. Frazier, and I'm sure most other readers will be inspired to go there as well.

It's true this book has witty remarks, but humor is a very small part of this brilliant work. This book is very difficult to read without being deeply affected by Mr. Frazier's words.Mr. Frazier accomplishes what I find remarkable. He clearly is a great admirer of the tribes and individual members he writes of, but he also is brutally candid about these people who are his friends. The remarkable part is that you never sense he is judging their behavior, nor is he an apologist. He deftly mixes the history of this Country with a variety of Tribal Nations, and shows you the results. He destroys many misconceptions that exist, and makes very intuitive remarks about the future they may await these people.If you have not already done so, I believe this book will act as a catalyst to read more about the history of these remarkable people, the opportunities that were lost, the crimes that were committed and are being addressed in Congress right now.I live in the state that has the largest of the Casinos that many feel are providing all manner of solutions to a variety of tribes. The facts about these Casinos are a far cry from the perceptions that many people hold.Wounded Knee and The Trail of Tears are not just words that make up titles of books. These places and events, the Presidents that governed at the time, and the President who sanctioned the largest mass execution in this Country's History will, in at least one instance shock you. I say, at least one, as one President's attitude is in keeping with his life-long conduct.These Peoples were not exterminated, or to use the official Federal Government's word, "Terminated". They survived, and their numbers continue to grow, which alone is astonishing.Enjoy reading about what a hero/heroine really is? Mr. Frazier brings the story of SuAnne Marie Big Crow to the reader, and when he is finished, you will be emotionally drained. You will be challenged to read the story through to its end. The Author does not discuss this young woman until page 200 of a 279-page book, why? The answer is I don't know, my opinion is, the story was that difficult for him to relate to his readers. The story is powerful enough to have been it's own book, and it some day may be. He introduces the subject as follows "Reader, books are long, and I know that even the faithful reader tires. But I hope a few of you are still with me here. As much as I have wanted to tell anything, I wanted to tell you about SueAnne". The Author need not worry, I would imagine the few who do not complete this book would be small, and if they do cease, they will have denied themselves something very special.One of the most powerful books I have read.

This book centers in large part on the life and experiences of the author's friend Le War Lance. But I direct your attention to the story of SuAnne Big Crow, whose astonishingly creative act of heroism did better than defeat racism: it dissolved racism without a fight. You need to read this story; it more than justifies the book all by itself.

I always enjoy Ian Frazier's writing and On the Rez has him at the top of his form. This is a long, ruminative essay, really, on Mr Frazier's relationship with the Oglala Sioux and Le War Lance in particular. Along the way, he highlights some of the sorrowful history of Native Americans since contact with Europeans. By turns this book is informative, funny, tragic, and hopeful.Mr Frazier makes you care about the people in this book. As he comes to know them better, so do you, the reader. I was sorry when the story stopped, which appears to happen largely because Mr Frazier had to stop writing sooner or later. But I do need to know: what happened to Le War Lance after the last page?If you are a fan of Ian Frazier, or if you are interested in Native American issues, or history, or just like reading about interesting folks, you'll enjoy this book.