Cry of the Eagle: Encounters with a Cree Healer

David E. Young, Grant Ingram, Lise Swartz

University of Toronto Press, Jan 1, 1990 - Social Science - 145 pages

After a vision in which he beheld himself as a leader in the revitalization of native medicine and culture, medicine man Russell WIllier began to share his healing practices and world view with three anthropologists. In this volume they describe how WIllier treats chronic, stress-related condition and physiological dysfunctions with herbal remedies, sweat-lodge therapy, religious ceremony, and other techniques.

Cry of the Eagle also discusses the process by which the anthropologists experienced the medicine man's work. That process required change in both Willier and his observers. One of the most powerful events in their three-year association occurred when David Young's wife suddenly became critically ill. In the hospital her condition quickly worsened, and doctors were unable to diagnose the problem. Young surreptitiously brought the medicine man to the hospital, where a combination of native remedies and Western medical techniques worked together to restore her health.

Young, Ingram, and Swartz describe a process of shared vision and mutual change. They provide a rare insight into an aspect of native culture little known to the outside world.

Contents

• The Spiritual World: 18
• Good and Bad Medicine: 40
• Natures Medicine Cabinet: 56
• Living with a Medicine Man: 78
• Native Medicine for NonNatives: 93
• Two Case Histories: 112
• Creative Encounters: 130

About the author

David Young is a respected writer, commentator, journalist, environmentalist, and historian. Working independently in the field of history and the environment he work explores the nature-culture relationship, including perspectives from indigenous nature and indigenous culture. Grant Ingram was a graduate student in anthropology at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Lisa Swartz has taught in the Department of Anthropology, University of Alberta.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Cry of the Eagle: Encounters with a Cree Healer; Heritage Series
• Authors: David E. Young, Grant Ingram, Lise Swartz
• Edition: reprint, revised
• Publisher: University of Toronto Press, 1990
• ISBN: 0802068200, 9780802068200
• Length: 145 pages
• Subjects: Social Science / Ethnic Studies / Native American Studies