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A Warrior of the People: How Susan La Flesche Overcame Racial and Gender Inequality to Become America's First Indian Doctor Kindle Edition

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 407 ratings

"An important and riveting story of a 19th-century feminist and change agent. Starita successfully balances the many facts with vivid narrative passages that put the reader inside the very thoughts and emotions of La Flesche." —Chicago Tribune

On March 14, 1889, Susan La Flesche Picotte received her medical degree—becoming the first Native American doctor in U.S. history. She earned her degree thirty-one years before women could vote and thirty-five years before Indians could become citizens in their own country.

By age twenty-six, this fragile but indomitable Native woman became the doctor to her tribe. Overnight, she acquired 1,244 patients scattered across 1,350 square miles of rolling countryside with few roads. Her patients often were desperately poor and desperately sick—tuberculosis, small pox, measles, influenza—families scattered miles apart, whose last hope was a young woman who spoke their language and knew their customs.

This is the story of an Indian woman who effectively became the chief of an entrenched patriarchal tribe, the story of a woman who crashed through thick walls of ethnic, racial and gender prejudice, then spent the rest of her life using a unique bicultural identity to improve the lot of her people—physically, emotionally, politically, and spiritually.

Joe Starita's
A Warrior of the People is the moving biography of Susan La Flesche Picotte’s inspirational life and dedication to public health, and it will finally shine a light on her numerous accomplishments.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte rose to the level of near-sainthood in her dedication to medicine and her work among her Omaha tribe. Starita tells her fascinating story with a skill that kept me turning the pages. Dr. Picotte’s life of heroism against the toughest odds deserves to be more widely known; thanks to this fine and passionate book it will be."―Ian Frazier, author of Great Plains and On the Rez

"An important and riveting story of a 19th-century feminist and change agent. Starita successfully balances the many facts with vivid narrative passages that put the reader inside the very thoughts and emotions of La Flesche. This rebel's dogged determination is something of a roadmap and definitely an inspiration to those trying to break through 21st century glass ceilings."―
Chicagco Tribune

"A layered, nuanced portrait of this country's first American Indian doctor. Starita is a fine writer...and presents a layered portrait of her as a person with vulnerabilities and anxieties as well as dreams and determination. La Flesche’s story is moving and illuminating, and Starita has done it justice."―
Minneapolis Star Tribune

“Thoroughly researched… Starita’s biography of this remarkable woman is both heartening and enlightening."―
Booklist

"Rarely has biographer fallen more deeply in love with his subject. Starita’s admiration for Susan La Flesche shines through every story. As we read
A Warrior of the People, we also become enamored with this intelligent, determined and hard-working woman of the Omaha nation. La Flesche devoted her life to educating herself and helping her people. By telling this important story, Starita has assured her a prominent place in American history. Our citizens will remember her the way we remember Eleanor Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Mother Jones and Rosa Parks. Bravo, Joe. Thank you for introducing all of us to a new hero."―Mary Pipher, New York Times bestselling author of Reviving Ophelia

“In a literary landscape awash in portraits of Native Peoples from male perspectives ―from Custer to Sitting Bull, from Comanche Warriors to Buffalo Soldiers―this extraordinary story offers something else: What was it like to be an Omaha & Ponca woman in the late-1800s, navigating the collision between Manifest Destiny and Native nations and cultures? How do you become a doctor of Western medicine when white male America declares that the stress of college renders women infertile? How does it feel to be alone on the prairie, saving lives and wondering if you will die an old maid? If you’re looking for a taut, haunting, inspiring, honest narrative that answers these questions―and richly showcases a strong Native woman leaning in a century before that term existed―look no farther.” ―Dr. Suzan Shown Harjo (Cheyenne & Hodulgee Muscogee), President, The Morning Star Institute

"
A Warrior of the People recounts the life of Susan La Flesche with the esteem and honor she deserves as America's First Indian Doctor. Joe Starita weaves an intricate, in-depth look into the mind, heart, and soul of this indomitable true Medicine Woman and I would recommend this book to all for its integrity and delicate humanity."―Irene Bedard, actor, producer, and star of "Smoke Signals

About the Author

JOE STARITA was the New York Bureau Chief for Knight-Ridder newspapers and a veteran investigative reporter for The Miami Herald. His stories have won more than two dozen awards, one of which was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for local reporting. For the last nine years, he has held an endowed chair at the University of Nebraska’s College of Journalism. The Dull Knifes of Pine Ridge won the MPIBA Award and received a second Pulitzer nomination. He is also the author of “I am a Man.”

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01C2TAAOC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin's Press (November 1, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 1, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 6109 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 407 ratings

About the author

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Joe Starita
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Joe Starita holds an endowed professorship at the University of Nebraska College of Journalism and Mass Communications. Previously, he spent 14 years at The Miami Herald – four years as the newspaper’s New York Bureau Chief and four years on its Investigations Team, where he specialized in investigating the questionable practices of doctors, lawyers and judges. One of his stories was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in local reporting. Interested since his youth in Native American history and culture, he returned to his native Nebraska in 1992 and began work on a three-year writing project examining five generations of a Lakota-Northern Cheyenne family. The Dull Knifes of Pine Ridge – A Lakota Odyssey, published in 1995 by G.P. Putnam Sons (New York), won the Mountain and Plains Booksellers Award, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in history, has been translated into six languages and is the subject of an upcoming documentary. Starita’s most recent book – “I Am A Man” – Chief Standing Bear’s Journey for Justice – was published in January 2009 by St. Martin’s Press (New York) and has gone into a seventh printing. The book tells the story of a middle-aged chief who attempted to keep a death-bed promise to his only son by walking more than 500 miles in the dead of winter from Oklahoma to Nebraska to return the boy’s remains to the soil of their native homeland. En route, the father unwittingly ended up in the cross-hairs of a groundbreaking legal decision in which a federal judge in Omaha declared - for the first time in the nation’s 103-year history - that an Indian “is a person” within the meaning of the law and entitled to the same Constitutional protections as white citizens.

In the last 3 ½ years, Starita has given more than 150 talks on Chief Standing Bear, the legal significance of the landmark legal ruling for Native people and why this powerful story still resonates in the 21st century. Those talks have included invited appearances at the Miami International Book Fair, the Chicago Tribune Literary Festival, C-Span’s Book Talk, a joint appearance with Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor at the Smithsonian Institution, a presentation to 5,000 National Education Association members and a speech to more than 500 minority lawyers and judges at their 2011 annual conference. In July 2011, the NEA presented Starita with the Leo Reano Award – a national civil rights award for his long-standing work on behalf of Native people.

Recently, he has completed a new book project – a biography of Dr. Susan La Flesche, an Omaha Indian born in a buffalo hide tipi in 1865, who graduated as the valedictorian of her medical school class in 1889 at the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, becoming the first Native doctor in U.S. history. The book will be released by St. Martin’s Press in November 2016.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
407 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story fascinating and well-researched. They describe the writing style as engaging and enjoyable. The book is described as an excellent read that young women should consider. Readers appreciate the simple facts and pacing of the story.

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34 customers mention "Story quality"34 positive0 negative

Customers find the story engaging and interesting. They appreciate the well-researched account of the first Indian doctor in the US. The book is enlightening and thought-provoking, with an interesting perspective on Native American history. The storytelling brings Susan LaFlesche's struggles to life in a compelling way, inspiring readers.

"...From a woman's perspective, it is enlightening and thought provoking." Read more

"Engaging writing style and intriguing information about the life and work of Dr. Susan La Flesche who used her brilliance to uplift and help people..." Read more

"Excellent historical account of the first Indian doctor in the US. Starita has written several books about the Native Americans of the plains...." Read more

"...It is a true story and takes place in Nebraska. Not only was Susan a warrior doctor, her siblings were famous also. Great read!" Read more

22 customers mention "Writing style"17 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the writing style of the book. They find the descriptions vivid and the biography engaging.

"...The book is well written and the descriptions are vivid. From a woman's perspective, it is enlightening and thought provoking." Read more

"Engaging writing style and intriguing information about the life and work of Dr. Susan La Flesche who used her brilliance to uplift and help people..." Read more

"...Starita takes the factual accounts of her life and writes a very readable narrative." Read more

"...It is a great read and very informative and well written. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it." Read more

16 customers mention "Readability"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and a must-read for young women and men. They describe it as a wonderful account of a remarkable woman.

"...An inspirational true story and a 'must read' for all young women and men." Read more

"...It is an okay book, but there was too much repetition in many places, and other parts that seemed lacking in explanation...." Read more

"...Not only was Susan a warrior doctor, her siblings were famous also. Great read!" Read more

"...This was a book club choice and I tried three times to read it being a good participant but failed...." Read more

12 customers mention "Information quality"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and well-researched. They appreciate the simple facts and compelling story. The author writes an excellent biography of an intelligent and determined woman against all odds. They describe her as inspiring and radiating new light of hope.

"...Occasionally a person rises above these challenges and radiates new light of hope. Dr. Susan Flesche Picotte was a woman of distinction...." Read more

"A fascinating and fully researched chronicle of the first female American Indian doctor and the personal and professional struggles she faced as her..." Read more

"...The author sticks to simple facts but the story is compelling. Thoroughly researched...." Read more

"...What an inspiration Dr. Susan is. The book gives good insight on the view of women and minorities in the U.s. and the world." Read more

10 customers mention "Pacing"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging. They praise the remarkable career of Susan La Flèche, the first Indian physician to become regular. They also mention that the author has captured the area and its people well.

"...Susan LaFlesche was an amazing woman from the Omaha people who defied the odds of racism and gender to become a 'warrior' doctfor her people...." Read more

"...Doctor of Native American heritage who worked so hard and diligently for her people. It is a true story and takes place in Nebraska...." Read more

"...Northeast Nebraska, I can say that he has captured the area and its people very well...." Read more

"The remarkable career of Susan La Flèche, the first Indian to become a regular physician, and an important leader of the Omaha tribe...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2024
    I liked the history about the first indian doctor in United States. Omaha indians were very progressive. This book will give you insight into the struggles of the original people who settled in North America, and the struggles they incountered assimilating with emigrants.
    The book is well written and the descriptions are vivid. From a woman's perspective, it is enlightening and thought provoking.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2024
    Enjoyed reading about her.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2017
    Engaging writing style and intriguing information about the life and work of Dr. Susan La Flesche who used her brilliance to uplift and help people at a time in history when a woman had to overcome racial and gender inequality. An inspirational true story and a 'must read' for all young women and men.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2017
    Excellent historical account of the first Indian doctor in the US. Starita has written several books about the Native Americans of the plains. I Am a Man (2009) was critically acclaimed narrative about Chief Standing Bear who defied US government relocation to return his son's remains to be buried on Ponca sacred land. His subsequent arrest and trial resulted in the Court's recognition of Indians as having the same rights as other citizens. Susan LaFlesche was an amazing woman from the Omaha people who defied the odds of racism and gender to become a 'warrior' doctfor her people. Starita takes the factual accounts of her life and writes a very readable narrative.
    18 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2021
    I wish I could give this book more than three stars, as the story of this little known woman is just amazing. It is an okay book, but there was too much repetition in many places, and other parts that seemed lacking in explanation. The author also seemed to jump back and forth in time, when writing the story in a more linear fashion would have painted a clearer picture.
    As a descendant of European immigrants, who has lived the majority of her life within a couple hours of Dr. La Flesche Picotte’s home, this book stirred all kinds of emotion: why had I not heard of this story before, in school or at the local history museums I’ve been to so many times (as a child and an adult)? Was so little heed given to Native Americans because “we” did not identify them as people like ourselves? How could we have dismissed their culture and perspective so fully as “primitive”, rather than rich and layered? Why did we think we needed to help them become “white”? Did Susan realize what she had lost in an attempt to appease white people and become more like them — when it was clear that her status as an Indian would always be foremost in their minds?

    Despite its faults, this was more than a worthwhile read.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2019
    All about the Doctor of Native American heritage who worked so hard and diligently for her people. It is a true story and takes place in Nebraska. Not only was Susan a warrior doctor, her siblings were famous also. Great read!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2016
    Throughout time people have struggled in circumstances of quiet desperation. Occasionally a person rises above these challenges and radiates new light of hope. Dr. Susan Flesche Picotte was a woman of distinction. She became the first Native American woman doctor, married and raised two children, battled tuberculosis and alcoholism on the Omaha Indian reservation, testified before Congress for better health conditions, and started her own hospital.

    Joe Starita powerfully captures Dr. Susan’s warrior spirit in this non-fiction account. Her humility and implacable spirit led her to fight for right regardless of odds against her. Immersion in her story inspires the reader to try even when challenges seem insurmountable.
    17 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2016
    A fascinating and fully researched chronicle of the first female American Indian doctor and the personal and professional struggles she faced as her beloved frontier changed forever. Mr. Starita's scope of primary research sources is wide ranging and enlightening, including personal letters and papers culled from the collections of most of the story's principals. He is also adept at putting this woman's history into a wider social context that is both historical and referential to today. Having grown up on the Omaha reservation in Northeast Nebraska, I can say that he has captured the area and its people very well. The daughter of the last Chief of the Omahas, she was, in a way, a pioneer who went the other way--from the West to the East and back again--and made history on her long journey.
    21 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Kaye
    5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging book
    Reviewed in Germany on March 10, 2024
    Great book, prompt delivery. Item as described
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Pure dedication
    Reviewed in Canada on January 24, 2021
    The amazing story of a women who gave so much of herself for her people. She fought through with so many Government officials
    for all the human rights they deserved and was able to get many injustices rectified. She persevered in acquiring an education that was very dificult for her as an American women and became a Doctor, a dream she had for many years.
  • Bburton
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 21, 2021
    Brilliant read. I could hardly put it down. A must if you are interested in American Indian history.
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read
    Reviewed in Canada on January 30, 2021
    Well written informative book. Illustrates the injustices of indigenous peoples and the life of one very courageous woman
  • Mark Hooper
    5.0 out of 5 stars My wife loves the book! She found it to ...
    Reviewed in Canada on April 21, 2017
    My wife loves the book! She found it to be a true inspiration not just for women but women facing so many barriers. And what she had accomplished in such a short lifetime. And she was so truly dedicated to her people !

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