The wisdom from these stories can become a
companion on your own spiritual journey.
Native American stories of the sacred are intended for more than entertainment:
they are teaching tales containing elegantly simple
illustrations of time-honored truths. From tales of Creation to
“Why?” stories that help explain the natural world
around us, these stories highlight the sacredness of all life
and affirm that we are each an integral part of all that is
holy.
Drawn from tribes across North America,
these are careful retellings of traditional stories such as Son
of Light’s quest to win back his captured wife from the
monstrous Man-Eagle; humble Muskrat’s noble
self-sacrifice to establish solid land so other beings might
live; Water Spider’s creative solution for retrieving
fire for all the animals; and White Buffalo Calf Woman’s
profound gift of the sacred pipe to the people. Each of the
compelling stories in this collection illustrates principles
that can guide you on your own spiritual quest.
Now you can experience the wisdom of these
teaching tales even if you have no previous knowledge of Native
American traditions. SkyLight Illuminations provides insightful
yet unobtrusive commentary that explains the cultural and
spiritual significance of the seemingly mundane objects found
in these stories—tobacco, gambling, even the exploits of
mischievous tricksters such as Coyote and Weasel—while
gracefully drawing comparisons to Christian, Jewish, Buddhist
and Hindu religious traditions, among others. Whatever your
spiritual heritage, these Native American stories of the sacred
are sure to delight and inspire you with the sacredness of all
Creation, and remind you that the earth does not belong to
us—we belong to the earth.
Praise for Evan T. Pritchard’s Work
“Superb … one of those rare
books that manages to give deep insight into the spiritual
dimensions of American Indian life while remaining respectful
and appropriate. Its selection of representative stories is
wide-ranging, well-told and carefully chosen.”
—Joseph
Bruchac, storyteller, author of Our Stories Remember
“Prepare to be intrigued, amused and
deeply moved. The tales and Pritchard’s fascinating
annotations are valuable additions to our understanding of
indigenous ways.”
—Cait
Johnson, author of Earth, Water, Fire, and Air: Essential Ways of
Connecting to Spirit and co-author
of Celebrating the Great Mother
Evan T. Pritchard, who is of Mi’kmaq and Celtic descent, is the
director of the Center for Algonquin Culture, based in
Woodstock, New York, and is professor of Native American
studies and philosophy at Marist College. A musician and
storyteller, he lectures frequently around the U.S. and Canada,
and is the author of Native New
Yorkers and No Word for Time.
