Lame Deer, Seeker of Vision by Richard Erdoes, provides a definitive depiction of the American Indian through the eyes of a Sioux medicine man. The author is able to tell a story of the heritage of Indian culture, religious beliefs, rituals and ceremonies. It begins with explaining the life of young Indian boy, destined to become a revered medicine man. However, this book goes in debt about temporarly staying into a white society to explain their experience. Once the life story has been related, Lame Deer goes in detail about the traditional rituals and ceremonies that provide for the Sioux nation. Therefore the authors goal is to explain his audience that emerging from one culture to another is difficult. This book was similar to the history of “indian schools.” These students are removed from families and reeducated in colonizers culture that after graduation they have already adapted to a culture that they “don’t belong.” This situation causes broken identities so the author’s goal was to provide awarness and give its understanding that every living person has a purpose within the great spiritual and existence of the Great Spirit.
As a matter of fact, the main point of the story is to complete unification of the Indian with their spiritual beliefs. Disregarding their religion of being Christians, Jews, or Muslims profess their beliefs, many of which compare closely with those of the Indian, and yet they do not seem to be able to practice these beliefs in their contemporary lives the way in which the Indian does.The other key ingredient in this work is the historically accurate and shameful manner in which the Indian has been treated. While many other works with this theme exist, the injustices are thoroughly personalized when they are described through the eyes of a victim, as they are in this work. That Lame Deer can describe these injustices and lament their occurrence, moreover, and remain a peaceful man, not the angry, rebellious, revolutionary that many would be under similar circumstances is perhaps testament to his way of life. Perhaps Lame Deer knows what all would be wise to remember. This life, this short and fleeting existence on earth, should not be spent in the tasks of accumulating material wealth at all costs, in the desecration of others and the environment for earthly gain, and in the promotion of self at the expense of others. Human beings must return to their sense of oneness with the earth and all beings on it, because only in that lies salvation. Knowing this, and knowing that he has lived according to higher spiritual values, Lame Deer is perhaps at peace.
To the Indian, nature is a part of the Great Spirit, which dwells in every living and non-living thing. As such, nature is to be respected, loved, and protected. A rock has value and spirituality; every tree, bush, plant and flower is placed upon the earth for a purpose and is to be used with wisdom and thanksgiving. Animals, too, have purposes and value and are to be used only as necessary. If a buffalo is killed, every part of him must be used, in order to provide the spirit of that buffalo with proper respect and love. The environment is to be protected and preserved. To the Indian, we are all a part of each other and to defile any creation is to dishonor oneself in the process. For this reason, Indians cannot help condemn what white society has wrought since coming to..
Overall the book was well-written and very understandable. As a matter of fact, I learned about a culture I, myself did not know about. It brought to my attention how not only does this happen to one kind but various types of people especially know where there is still people who are trying to find themselves religiously and spiritually among their culture. It made me look in a macro perspective of the culture. I think that the audience would be more towards students because they are trying to find themselves as individuals and learn more about the different kinds of people who surround them. Nonetheless, this book explains in detail the kinds of questions that someone is not willing to talk about in person. Overall, individuals who would find this book intresting are sociologist or students who are looking into that field because focuses on a specific kind of culture and goes in debt about personal level in order to get to know the person. Overall, I would recommend any student to read it because its a way to learn more about somone that would have never cross your mind.