Waterlily , finished in 1947 and not published during Deloria's life, is a novel, a life story of the Dakota people, as their lives were beginning to be disrupted by the wasichu. Told from a woman's viewpoint, it emphasizes the traditional network of obligations and relationships that formed cultural unity. As far back as they could remember they had been made to give or their elders gave in their name, honoring them, until they learned to feel a responsibility to do so. Furthermore, they found it pleasant to be thanked graciously and have their ceremonial names spoken aloud. For giving was basic to Dakota life.
Nothing is too good for giving away.
The children grew up hearing that, until it was a fixed notion. Jimmie Durham's rigorous and disciplined poetry is written with passion, about real things, real people. In this second part of his autobiography, Ohiyesa tells of his abrupt entry into the whitepeople world in 1873 at the age of 15. From his first job as physician at Pine Ridge Agency, where he witnessed the events that led up to the Wounded Knee massacre, Ohiyesa devoted his life to his people. In this first part of his autobiography, Ohiyesa recounts the story of his traditional Dakota childhood and youth.