The World We Used to Live in: Remembering the Powers of the Medicine Men

Vine Deloria

Fulcrum Publishing, 2006 - Social Science - 237 pages

One of the unfortunate byproducts of the recent renaissance in Native American spirituality has been the abuse and misuse of sacred ceremonies by Indians and non- Indians alike. In Vine Deloria's Jr.'s groundbreaking final work, the culmination of more than 30 years of research and scholarship, this great and beloved thinker reclaims the importance of these ceremonies for Native America. Through the collection of dozens of stories about medicine men, across tribes and time, Deloria displays the sense of humility, the reliance on spirits, and the immense powers that characterized Native people through history. Moreover, in a synthesis of many of his earlier writings, Deloria explores the relation of these powers to our current understanding of science and the cosmos.

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LibraryThing Review

User Review  - juniperSun - LibraryThing

Drawing heavily on examples in early writings from anthropologists and missionaraies, among others, Deloria builds his case for spiritual abilitie of 'medicine men' (and women) carefully, devoting ...

The world we used to live in: remembering the powers of the medicine men

User Review  - Not Available - Book Verdict

In his final book, Native American scholar and philosopher Deloria (1933-2005) presents engaging stories describing the exploits and skills of Native American medicine men (and a few women) drawn from ...

Contents

• Chapter: 1
• Shared Dreams: 8
• Mens Vision Quest Experiences: 16
• Womens Vision Quest Experiences: 31
• Visions in Transition: 39
• Navajo Diagnosticians: 45
• Omaha Buffalo Medicine: 57
• The Horse Doctor: 65
• Chapter Three: 83
• Chapter Four: 107
• Animals Admonishing Humans: 121
• Changes in the Weather: 135
• Enlisting the Weather as an Aid: 144
• The Picture Rocks: 150
• Buffalo Stones That Call the Blackfeet: 156
• Chapter Seven: 167
• Holding the Jar with Feathers: 173
• Powers of Animation: 179
• The Power of Invisibility: 185

About the author

Vine Deloria Jr. was named by TIME magazine as one of the greatest religious thinkers of the twentieth century. He was a leading Native American scholar whose research, writings, and teachings on history, law, religion, and political science have not only changed the face of Indian country, but stand to influence future generations of Native and non-Native Americans alike. He has authored many acclaimed books, including Evolution, Creationism, and Other Modern Myths; Red Earth, White Lies; God is Red; Spirit and Reason and Custer Died for Your Sins. Vine Deloria Jr. passed away on November 13, 2005.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The World We Used to Live in: Remembering the Powers of the Medicine Men
• Author: Vine Deloria
• Publisher: Fulcrum Publishing, 2006
• ISBN: 1555915647, 9781555915643
• Length: 237 pages
• Subjects: Social Science / Ethnic Studies / American / Native American Studies