LaDonna Harris: A Comanche Life - proves to be an extraordinary quasi-autobiographical story - in many respects, this book pays tribute to the time-honored oral traditions of Native people. Harris works with Stockel and shares her story in a compassionate and compelling manner.

She amply demonstrates that you can become a global citizen by using your tribal values as a compass on the the local, national and international frontiers. This book documents her Comanche up-bringing and pays tribute to those values that prove to be essential to her life's triumphs.

Harris has proven herself in many sectors, though Stockel focuses primarily on her role in Indian Country, so the reader doesn't get to fully appreciate the impact she has had on the women's, environmental and third party political movements in America.

This is a compelling story that celebrates a life that touched several generations and societies. I strongly recommend this book, for it tells a story of an extraordinary life!

The content of this book reflects an important time in the history of the United States. "LaDonna Harris, A Comanche Life" discusses issues ranging from racism to the evolution of women through their emerging role in politics during the 1950's and 60's. LaDonna lends the reader an account of her involvement on paramount issues during a tumultuous time of change in American culture. As I read this book, I thought about Jonathan Kozol's book entitled "Savage Inequalities" only to contemplate the question, "Are minorities really better off now?"

As a university professor of multicultual education, I will definitely add "LaDonna Harris, A Comanche Life" to my book list for students to read.

This book is a fast read, probably even if the reader does not have a background in the history of the Apaches versus the US Military. Stockel's empathy for the plight of the Chiricahua Apache tribe rings true to me, especially in the last chapters that describe her participation in a puberty ceremonial on the Mescalero reservation in New Mexico and a celebration marking the 75th year of the end of captivity for the Ft Sill, Ok, Apache tribe. The author begins with an historical overview of the hostilities between the Apache tribes and the US government, focusing on what is known of women's role in the tribe and retelling the stories of Lozen, sister of Victorio and famous warrior and shaman in her own right, among others. She outlines Apache creation myths and how their belief system manifested itself in tribal customs and daily life.

The most compelling part of the book contains her interviews with four Apache women that took place around 1989. One of the women, Mildren Imach Cleghorn, was a Chiricahua Apache woman born into captivity at Ft Sill for the first four years of her life and whose family elected to stay in Oklahoma rather than be sent to the Mescalero reservation in New Mexico. The other three are no less compelling, but perhaps more revealing of the struggle of these women of Apache blood to live in the mainstream world and on the reservation, raise their children to survive in it, and still maintain and honor their ancient traditions.

After reading this book, which quotes extensively from Eve Ball, Dan Thrapp, Opler, Debo, and other chroniclers of Apache primary history, I think readers will be excited to learn more about the Apache people. Ms. Stockel is not complimentary toward certain New Mexican politicians and the US government's handling of this conquered people, which she readily admits in her preface. What shines through this book is the honoring of these women whose struggles in the face of near annihilation can inspire all of us.

Medicine Women, Curanderas, and Women Doctors makes for an interesting, enlightening read. It relates the personal philosophies of a handful of women-Native American Medicine Women, Hispanic curanderas, and female MD's-and delves into their motivations while examining their impact on the world around them. At the same time, it traces the journey-some might call it a spiritual quest-which the authors follow to ultimate, fulfilling enlightenment regarding the place of women in all aspects of life. A monument to the strength of women the world over, the authors have compiled an argument in favor of traditional and holistic medical science and the woman's place within that science.

However, in examining various points of view, the authors repeatedly commit several faults. One of them is continuous criticism of Christianity and the Anglo-European way of life in contrast to the sometimes pantheistic and often superstitious viewpoints held by folk healers. I believe that undeserved judgment is leveled on the American culture as a whole, when such judgment might be better and more fairly reserved for its abuses.

Another fault is that in presenting a wide assortment of individuals who believe strongly in differing aspects of healing, the focus of the book becomes too diffused and generalized to maintain truly profound significance. In detailing the beliefs of the pantheistic Indians, the fervently monotheistic Hispanics, and the skeptically religious women doctors of today, and by mustering these viewpoints against the errors and abuses of anti-traditionalism without allowing them to dialogue among themselves, the authors leave the reader with a sense of ideological dissonance and irrelevance.

However, on the positive side, the reader does come away with an appreciation for the strength and determination of women the world over in providing comfort and healing. Too, the obvious link between an individual's mental/psychological state and his physical well being cannot and should not be ignored. These two insights, as well as a clear look at the context and history of all the influences that have been brought to bear on the healing process, are very valuable. This book is not only an interesting journey, it is a very insightful, educational one, as well.

- Benjamin Gene Gardner