Lame Deer, Seeker of Visions

I loved the absolutely unique blend of history, culture, deep spirituality, practical philosophy, politics, humor, and memoir. I have read few books that ever became as personally meaningful as this one.

It was difficult not to recommend Black Elk Speaks or Fools Crow, two similar books, but Lame Deer was more provocative, and the direct introduction to Indigenous ritual, healing, and worldview was simple yet profound.

I loved the way Lame Deer shared stories that transported me into his world, his experience, and ceremonies and knowledge that are rare to learn about. It’s not exactly written in politically correct… show more.

Living two generations after Black Elk, Lame Deer begins his life story with a vivid description of his own vision quest—a rite of passage for Lakota youth.

After purification in the sweat lodge, alone on a hill in the darkness, he learned that his wish to become a medicine man was to be granted. While Black Elk’s story is solemn and tragic, Lame Deer’s is spiced with humor and humanity. He gets drunk and goes to jail. He climbs to the top of Mount Rushmore and sits on Teddy Roosevelt’s head.

But he explains, in all seriousness, the symbolism… show more.

John (Fire) Lame Deer gets right to the heart of modern rez life: the crazy humor, the quest to preserve culture, the bumbling government policies, and the chronic problems that beset Native people. An outspoken Lakota medicine man, Lame Deer’s story is more than just his own—it’s a ‘community autobiography’ that breaks the mold of American memoir. Call it what you will: reverent or profane, amusing or grim, tender or feisty, Lame Deer calls into question many of the upbeat assumptions so common in American life stories. There are more rags than riches in this story, and that suits… show more.