Our Stories Remember: American Indian History, Culture, and Values through Storytelling

Our Stories Remember: American Indian History, Culture and Values through Storytelling is an insightful look at Indigenous culture through the lens of Indigenous stories and how Indigenous culture has always fit so well into the natural world, spirituality, human nature and family. Through stories from a variety of Indigenous American groups, Joseph Bruchac relates Indigenous history and culture through a modern lens. I liked the pairing of personal and traditional stories along with the author's thoughts, research and history of Indigenous groups. Along with each story is an additional reading list that I found very interesting. One of the best insights I gleaned was in one of the first stories that advised not to keep carrying show more something that is of no use to anyone and that you can always learn from a fall as long as it isn't too far. Other favorite stories were that of Sky Woman and the circle of life. show less

Really interesting book. Lots of information about Indigenous lore and mythology. I wish that he had used the real names of Indigenous Peoples throughout instead of the European names for them (though he does provide a list of their real names).

The stories are really good though, and the context given for them is helpful. I was particularly interested in the information about Indigenous afterlife beliefs.

The residential school experience in the USA does not seem to have been quite as horrendous as in Canada (according to this book, at least) but I wonder how different it actually was.

Some might think the book is too pan-Indigenous but he gives the source of each story and which people it came from, plus a great further reading list. The show more book is an excellent primer for people who want a general introduction to the Indigenous cultures of Turtle Island (North America). show less