As we began the novel several students commented, "I don't understand this book." This is frequently a sign that we are going to get some fine work done! Sociology ought to be of some use for understanding the unexpected--and Harrell Clark has woven an intricate portrait of everyday life. We were much aided by the presence of a student from central Texas who asserted to the Minnesotans that these were familiar lives. The class eventually arrived at several key insights. "Where you grow up has to do with who you are." "Behavior alters behavior." And most helpful for our journey: "Two people witness an event, explain it completely and very differently."

Keepers of the Earth is the story of a Texas community, its local black conjurer and land-owning white family brought to confusion by oil-money greed, resurgent familial feelings and jealousy. The author leads readers throught the rituals of Uncle Cefus' "great hand" in reuniting the murdered coachwhip snakes with their rightful homeland, and in the process leads us to believe that doing right by others may do more for luck and success than any amount of hard work. Not only is the novel poetic, but passionate, clearly exhibiting the author's love of folklore. The ficticious account is equally instructive in the lost art of conjuring (which slipped away in the 1960's). An enjoyable and fun book to read.

Accompanied by in-depth captions, Mari Sandoz's Native Nebraska: The Plains Indian Country is a truly impressive compendium of period photography showcasing her life and work. Born on the Nebraska Panhandle in 1896, Mari Sandoz grew to become an outstanding American writer until her death in 1966. Her writing was profoundly influenced by the people who called at her homestead. Her acquaintances included Bad Arm, a Sioux Indian who fought at the little bighorn and was present at Wounded Knee; "Old Cheyenne Woman", a survivor of both the Oklahoma and Fort Robinson conflicts; and the legendary William "Buffalo Bill" Cody. Mari Sandoz's Native Nebraska will prove of profound interest to students of Native American studies, women's studies, and American history.

In a newly revised edition enhanced with a new epilogue and photographs, LaVerne Clark's They Sang For Horses: The Impact Of The Horse On Navajo & Apache Folklore, is a fascinating and informative study of how the acquisition of the horse transformed the mythology and cosmology of the southwestern Native American cultures of the Navajo and Apache. Chapters include: The Acquisition of the Horse; The Gift of the Gods; The Magic and Ritual of the Raid for Horses; The People's Ways for Keeping Horses Holy; The Horse's Powers Over the People's Health; The Horse's Role in Folk Customs and Other Ceremonies. A strongly recommended addition for any academic or community library Native American Studies reading list or reference collection, They Sang For Horses also features an extensive bibliography for further readings, as well as a "user friendly" index.