Living Our Language: Ojibwe Tales & Oral Histories (Native Voices)
This substantial volume presents a rich and varied collection of  tales from the Ojibwe (Chippewa) tradition while also  integrating material from associated Algonquian tribes who  migrated westward for centuries before European contact. Ten  Indian elders from the northwestern United States and Canada  provide narratives in their native language, with English  translations appearing on the facing pages. Each participant is  profiled, and his contributions (assembled over several years)  follow in numbered paragraphs. These contributions present  various aspects of Ojibwe daily life, including fishing, maple  sugaring, ricing, devilish childhood tricks, religious  ceremonies, and more. Drawn from both printed and oral sources,  the stories are meticulously and sensitively translated and  annotated, giving shape, form, and nuance to a fragile, almost  extinct civilization. This preservation project will be a vital  addition to Native American lore and is certain to be treasured  by comprehensive collections in special and academic  libraries. Richard K. Burns, MSLS, Hatboro, PACopyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.