Giving Voice to Bear: North American Indian Myths, Rituals, and Images of the Bear

by David Rockwell | History |
ISBN: 1879373483 Global Overview for this book
Registered by AlterEgoZoe of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania USA on 9/6/2017
Buy from one of these Booksellers:
Amazon.com | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT | Bol.com
3 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by AlterEgoZoe from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania USA on Wednesday, September 6, 2017
To share.

Journal Entry 2 by wingGoryDetailswing at Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Sunday, March 11, 2018
I found this softcover in the Indigenous Peoples bookbox, and read it while the box was still with me; will replace it in the box for someone else. It's a very impressive look at bear-related myths, rituals, artwork and more, from tribes all across North America - and with some compare-and-contrast segments from other places too. I was pleased to see such indegenous peoples as the Sámi of Lapland and the Ainu of Japan and eastern Russia mentioned, not least because they have their own bear-themed customs that often map closely to those of the Americas...

The book's full of photos of artifacts, from items made from bear hide, claws, or skulls to artwork depicting bears in many forms. Whether the bears are black bears, grizzlies, or polar bears, the prevalent views seem to include immense respect for their power and for their similarities to humans - indeed, in some tribes, it's forbidden to eat bear meat, as it would be too close to eating another human. [Most tribes relished bear meat, though they had their own rituals as to how to appease the spirit of the slain animal.]

Among my favorite bits: in some tribes, young women having their first periods are said to be "going to be a bear" - yep, that could explain a lot {wry grin}.

Excellent book!

Journal Entry 3 by wingerishkigalwing at Salt Lake City, Utah USA on Thursday, May 31, 2018
This book looks terrific-so looking forward to reading it!

Are you sure you want to delete this item? It cannot be undone.