The Indian Boyhood by Dr. Charles Alexander Eastman (Sioux: Ohiyesa)
Dr. Charles Alexander Eastman (Sioux: Ohiyesa) (1858-1939) is an American-born writer, physician and a reformer. He helped to reform the Santee-Sioux as well as the Anglo-American society. He is known for his active role in politics and fight for rights of the American Indian. He took a major role in founding the Boy Scouts of America among others Societies. He received the first Indian Achievement Award in 1933. His book, The Indian Boyhood, was published first in 1902. His other major books are From the Deep Woods of Civilization (1916) and The Soul of the Indian (1911). This research paper seeks to analyse Eastman’s book, Indian Boyhood.
The Indian Boyhood derives from Ohiyesa’s boyhood experiences in North America. It is a recollection of his expressions and experiences form his early years up to 15 years (Eastman v). From this book, the reader discovers that Ohiyesa, being a motherless child, was raised by a grandmother, Uncheedah, who he describes as being savvy and very tough. From his birth, Ohiyesa was known by the name Hakadah. The young boy spent a considerable amount of his time relating and communicating with nature (Kidd 114). He particularly had an interest and related so well with birds and the red squirrel (Eastman 8). The grandmother always used to frighten him with stories of owls that abducted children. In the culture of the Sioux, human beings as well as certain animals were said to be helping in shaping the behaviour of native children. For instance, the animals were believed to be giving gifts to the unborn children or giving them some unfortunate characters. Boys were taught hunting from an early age. The hunted animals were said to be friends that offer their bodies kindly for people’s sustenance (Eastman 50). The boys were taught to saw respect to these animals and to be like them (Eastman 54). Many other stories follow this one, but most of them explore animal proximity. Then there comes a story of the boy and his dog. The boy,
The Indian Boyhood derives from Ohiyesa’s boyhood experiences in North America. It is a recollection of his expressions and experiences form his early years up to 15 years (Eastman v). From this book, the reader discovers that Ohiyesa, being a motherless child, was raised by a grandmother, Uncheedah, who he describes as being savvy and very tough. From his birth, Ohiyesa was known by the name Hakadah. The young boy spent a considerable amount of his time relating and communicating with nature (Kidd 114). He particularly had an interest and related so well with birds and the red squirrel (Eastman 8). The grandmother always used to frighten him with stories of owls that abducted children. In the culture of the Sioux, human beings as well as certain animals were said to be helping in shaping the behaviour of native children. For instance, the animals were believed to be giving gifts to the unborn children or giving them some unfortunate characters. Boys were taught hunting from an early age. The hunted animals were said to be friends that offer their bodies kindly for people’s sustenance (Eastman 50). The boys were taught to saw respect to these animals and to be like them (Eastman 54). Many other stories follow this one, but most of them explore animal proximity. Then there comes a story of the boy and his dog. The boy,