The Birch Bark Books of Simon Pokagon is a collection of articles
and legends written for and about the Potawatomi tribe by Simon
Pokagon. Originally printed on the bark of the white birch tree, a
gesture made "out of loyalty to [Pokagon's] own people, and
gratitude to the Great Spirit, who [...] provided for [their] use
[...] this most remarkable tree," these works paint a picture of
America's native people. "[On] behalf of my people, the American
Indians, I hereby declare to you, the pale-faced race that has
usurped our lands and homes, that we have no spirit to celebrate
with you the great Columbian Fair now being held in this Chicago
city, the wonder of the world. No; sooner would we hold high
joy-day over the graves of our departed fathers, than to celebrate
our own funeral, the discovery of America." Before Chicago was one
of the largest and most prosperous cities in the nation, it was
home to the Anishinaabe peoples, including the Potawatomi to whom
Simon Pokagon belonged. Angered with the erasure of his people and
the whitewashing of the history of violence against America's
indigenous tribes, Pokagon gave this opening speech, "The Red Man's
Rebuke," at the World's Columbia Exposition of 1893. A lifelong
activist, Pokagon dissects the false narrative of savagery and
civilization which justified the actions of European settlers while
vilifying those they displaced in their movement westward. During
the Exposition, Pokagon would speak to a crowd of 75,000 on his
hope for the future of his people. Including lesser known works,
such as, "Algonquin Legends of South Haven," "Algonquin Legends of
Paw Paw" and "The Pottawattomie Book of Genesis," this beautifully
designed edition of Simon Pokagon's work is a classic of Native
American literature reimagined for modern readers.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!