[Review of] Stephen F. Feraca. Wakinyan: Lakota Religion in the Twentieth Century and Julian Rice. Before the Great Spirit: The Many Faces of Sioux Spirituality

Authors

Raymond A. Bucko

Orginal Publication Date

2003

Journal Title

Ethnic Studies Review

Volume

26

Issue

esr/vol26/iss2

First Page

86

Last Page

88

Comments

Fair Access

Abstract

Each of these authors provides unique approaches and insights concerning Lakota ritual and belief. Julian Rice, a prolific writer on Lakota Literature, attempts to reconstruct the essence of Lakota religion before European contact while Feraca, who logged long periods of interaction with Lakota people on the Pine Ridge Reservation as a government employee and field worker, provides an intricate portrait of Lakota ritual during his tenure on the Pine Ridge reservation. They reach similar basic understandings of Lakota religious practice: the importance of the acquisition of spiritual power, the primacy of kinship, the democratic and charismatic nature of individual religious practice that is balanced by communal responsibilities, and the heterogeneity of Lakota belief and practice itself.

Rights

​Copyright ©ESR, The National Association for Ethnic Studies, 2003