Description
Book SynopsisTrade Review“
The Life and Traditions of the Red Man is an extraordinary rendering of Eastern Algonquian history, story, and prophecy, self-published in the nineteenth century by a native writer from the northeast coast of the United States. As remarkable as the text was Joseph Nicolar himself, a brilliant and largely self-educated member of the Penobscot tribe who fervently wished to pass on what he could to the younger generations.”—Patricia Clark Smith, coauthor of
On the Trail of Elder Brother: Glous’gap Stories of the Micmac Indians“Joseph Nicolar’s
The Life and Traditions of the Red Man is surely a landmark text, and Annette Kolodny’s framing helps make the narrative come alive.”—Philip Deloria, author of
Indians in Unexpected Places“Joseph Nicolar’s
The Life and Traditions of the Red Man, reissued with Annette Kolodny’s excellent prefatory material, provides students and scholars of American Indian literatures with a valuable text in a reader-friendly edition, which is, crucially, endorsed by the Penobscot Nation.”— Eric Cheyfitz, editor of
The Columbia Guide to American Indian Literatures of the United States since 1945Table of ContentsIllustrations vii
Preface / Charles Norman Shay ix
Acknowledgments xiii
A Summary History of the Penobscot Nation / Annette Kolodny 1
Introduction to Joseph Nicolar's 1893
The Life and Traditions of the Red Man / Annette Kolodny 35
A Note on Nicolar's Text 89
Joseph Nicolar's
The Life and Traditions of the Red Man Preface 95
1. The Creation.—Klose-kur-beh's Journey.—Meeting his Companions.—The Marriage 97
2. With the aid of May May, Klose-kur-beh destroyed the Serpent.—The Sea Voyage. 114
3. Klose-kur-beh's hunting.—The first mother changed into corn and tobacco. 130
4. The winter and the seven years famine.—The discovery of the frist white man's track. 142
5. The fish famine.—The capture of the white swan and the white spiritual men driven away. 161
6. The winding up the war with the May-Quays.—The grand council established—The arrival and settlement of the white man. 184
Conclusion 195
Notes to the Nicolar Text 201
Afterword / Bonnie D. Newsom 213
Works Consulted and Recommendations for Further Reading 215
Illustration Credits 221
