If you'd rather place an order by talking to one of our cheerful order desk clerks, please call 1-888-232-4444 (USA and Canada only) or 250-383-6864. From Europe, ring our UK order desk clerk at local rate number 0845 230 9601 (UK only) or 44 (0)1865 722 113.

Watehica - That Which You Hold Dear...

by Eya Mani

180 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #02-0585; ISBN 1-55369-772-3; US$25.00, C$38.00, EUR24.70, £17.20

"Come with me...we will listen to the heart beat and we will soar with the eagles as we watch a young dancer perform...we will watch as a young cowgirl makes her early morning ride and leaves us breathless. We will make our first visit to church with 'The Deer Hunter...', and we will ride with a Lakota warrior as he rides into battle to 'save' the woman he loves. There is so much for you to experience and for me to share...come with me...I am Eya Mani...I will be your guide..."

Read more!

About the book      About the author      Sample excerpts      Catalogue info

About the Book ABOUT THE BOOK "WATEHICA..." is a book about life and death, a book of feelings and emotions...it is a book of wisdom shared by the elders of the author's youth. Some stories are very old...some are new...but all have insight into the Lakota soul...an insight that is not shown or shared by any writers...by any standards. Eya Mani will take you to the heights of your imagination. You will feel his pain and sorrow as he says goodbye to a nephew slain in the streets of Minneapolis by gang members...and you will laugh with him as he shares the humor of the Lakota people. You will learn many things unanswered before by any author...like the naming of persons and the songs of honor sung at pow wows and ceremonies, and you will learn the true meaning of love...and you will be kidnapped and abused. From the humor of grandma's dogs, the introduction of twins, and on to the slaying of a monster snake...you will want to share your adventures with those you love and care about...just as Eya Mani is sharing his experiences with you...after all...'we are all related...'"

---

About the Author Eya Mani says of himself... "I am the product of an alcoholic home, a broken home, I never knew my mother until I was 17 years old. I was always told that my mother was dead, until one day when I was in high school, she came to see me and my brother...then she died when I was 23 years old... But I was lucky, because my grandparents were there for me, as were my many aunts and uncles. Many were not as lucky as I am to have that experience...and that alone made me excel in everything I applied myself to... Everyone always told me I was the best of the best...and I believed them...I had too. Because being an American Indian is hard work, daily. I want to share that experience with you...as I share with my own children and grandchildren..."

---

Sample Excerpts

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

MITAKUYE OYASIN

(To All My Relatives)



Growing up in the early 50's and 60's on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in South Dakota I've had the opportunity to experience what is probably the very end of an era,an era where our people were still drug and alcohol free. Maybe not completely alcohol free but certainly there were no drugs available at that time for anyone's availability to abuse.

Because the Lakota people were a Warrior Society, it was natural for our young men to join the Armed Forces of the United States. One of the things our young men brought home was alcohol use and all its problems.

In my home community of Rock Creek (Bullhead, SD)there were only two people that had vehicles in them days .One was the storekeeper, Mr.Dempsey Harris and the other person was Mr. John Thompson, everyone else used teams of horses and wagons to get around.

Being raised by my Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles,we traveled from village to village by wagon, sometimes these trips took 2-3 days, depending on where it was we were going and who we were going to see. My Grandparents always carried a big square Army style tent in which we stayed during our visits. We always took our own food and water and sometimes spare horses which we kids sometimes rode around exploring while the Grandparents did their visiting.

These were very good times for us children and we had learning experiences that I often wish I could duplicate for my own children. When one of us boys did something that was not acceptable to the older folks, we were never corrected by physical punishment. My Grand mother would simply say, "Takoja, Lakota tuweni hecunsni", meaning "My grand child, the Lakota never do that, that is for the others to do!"

This would start a chain of events. First, depending on who did what?, one of the Aunts or the Uncles would take the offending party aside and they would do something together, something constructive and usually something that would benefit the family in its completion. This interactivity brought the relationships closer to one another and the learning experience that was shared was also life improving, so its benefits were both far reaching and instructional.....but one had to pay attention.

So to that end, I wish to acknowledge my many relatives, Grandparents, Uncles and Aunts, Cousins, Nieces and Nephews, I hope that by my writings they will understand that although we are not allowed to teach many of the things that made our Society what it was ...some of us still know and we will not allow them to be forgotten. Special consideration is given to my Aunts; Mrs. Ella Mae Kills Pretty Enemy, Mrs. Rachel Otter Robe, Mrs. Ada Red Horse, Mrs. Johanna Flyinghorse, and Mrs. Ethel Long Elk, and so many others I have no room here to name...without them I would have been lost...thank you.

I can never repay the kindness or the love that you have shown me,my brothers and our other relatives.

It is with very special and fond memories that I mention my paternal grandmother Mrs. Bertha Little Eagle Mutchler and my grandfather, Mr. Charles William Mutchler. I have learned so many things from being in your presence, I wish you had a chance to meet my children and grandchildren, they would have loved you as I have. You have taught me well and I will do my best to make you proud of me.

Thank you.

Hau!


BLACKHORSE

From the Author

After the settling of the Reservations in the late 1800's the US Army authorized the Churches to enter the newly established territories and Reservations and "Educate" the inhabitants.

As Forts were established missionaries were encouraged to also come and help in the "assimilation" of these newly found heathen. Since many of the inhabitants lived in very rural areas,other means to achieve their ends had to be found to bring the word to the natives. Kidnapping was very common during this time and continued on into the 1900's and those kidnapped were sent away to Government Schools and Church Schools to be educated in the White Man's way of life.

Life in these "Boarding Schools" was a nightmare for these young Lakota children, their hair was cut, they were beaten, they were forbidden to speak their Native tongue, and they were humiliated in every manner imaginable, including "Sexual Rape" and continued "Sexual Molestation" by the Priests and the Nuns.

My Grandmother was one victim...

In many cases the kidnapped were kept away from their home for very long periods of time, as was my Grandmother. She was taken at 4 yrs and ran away and returned home when she was 13. To avoid being returned to the Boarding School system she got married and started a family.

Shortly before her death in 1987 my Grandmother came to our home and made her wishes known. She was going away to die and she wanted her clothing burned. But more than that, she wanted my family to stay at the family homestead and welcome all those who came to visit, just as she and my Grandfather had done during their time together... and she made me promise that I would not let anyone forget.

Although we were forced to leave the family homestead in 1989, in keeping with her other wish I am trying to tell the stories as they had occurred. Black Horse is her story...and my father's as well.

Hau!


INYAN MNI

From the Author

The Lakota believe that all life is a circle. The white mans says "dust to dust and ashes to ashes" and this is true, but he cuts it off there. It must be included that even as we die and return to mother earth, our passing brings new life to this earth and also to her inhabitants, and it must be explained that sometimes if we are lucky, good enjoyable experiences will reoccur in our own lifetimes.

Sometime in ones life,there is a time when that experience is brought out and an example is given, such as in "Inyan Mni". And the true station of man is shown, and if that man or woman is paying attention, the experience is truly humbling. The following story is about such an experience ...a passage from boyhood to manhood, and life after that...

But others also have a version of the so-called 'Indian test of manhood'...

A friend of mine once made a comment,that she would be afraid of allowing any of her sons to "go thru the ceremony."

Curious,I asked what ceremony? Her response was, "Why, making the children walk barefoot 50 miles through a desert, making them choose between a bowl of ashes and a bowl of food to teach them to fast, and the practice of making them run a gauntlet in order to teach them pain..."

I was shocked ...

I had no idea that 'true Indians' had to go through such rigorous treatment!!

Why ...even the Marines don't treat their own in such barbaric fashion!!!

But what surprised me was that this person was from California ...and these almost identical sentiments were echoed by another of my friends who lives on the east coast!!

I quickly told my friend that to be Lakota was a 'way of life'and not a test of pain, or hunger, or stamina ...but a way of life that included being grateful to the Almighty on a daily basis with a verbal address to him. And the Lakota in no way mistreated their children, and for that matter, I can say I know of no other Native American Tribe who mistreats their young ...only the white man.

This I have seen first hand and it is appalling to say the least!

There is more to being Lakota than most people realize...

Much thought is taken before decisions are made ...patience is taught at a very early age ...sharing, helping, being polite and respectful ...all these are just little parts of the whole.

So with that ...I hope you enjoy the following relation of a passage from boyhood to manhood...now my next offering..."INYAN MNI"...

Hau!


REACHOUT,AND TOUCH SOMEONE...

From the Author

My grandmother once said that being Lakota was much more than being different from anyone else...to be Lakota was to be aware.

One had to think all the time ...about what they were doing, things they had to do and how to do them properly, how to act and treat others, but most importantly, it was a way of life ...one had to pray in everything they did...

From the time of my earliest remembrances, until I lost both my grandparents in the mid 1980's, my time away from them was only a few years.

On my many journeys,when I returned home they were the first ones I would go and see. As they got older, I could feel their spirits growing stronger, and I wanted so, to be like them.

They knew things...I don't know how they knew, but they knew things...and I think it was their spirit.

Another quality I've observed in them, and one which I have not seen since, that was the ability to be discussing something important, then stop abruptly and discuss something else...then to come back days, weeks, or months later and continue that same conversation they had so abruptly left off earlier.

One day my brother and I were hunting and we shot a young doe. It was a mistake, but she was dead. Knowing that grandma would be angry with us for being so thoughtless, we cut off the head, the feet and the flanks, then we skinned it out. When we brought home the deer, my grandmother just sat and looked at it quietly. After a time she told grandpa to hitch up the team. Then she asked where had we killed this young mother and she had us show them. Then we had to scour the brush and find the day old fawn, which we brought home and raised ...

How did she know ...?

One summer it was time to can the wild fruit, so we went and picked what grandma needed. Everyone knew what to do so we all worked in silence. Then grandpa went to town and got the jars, lids, sugar, and jell.

On the first day,grandma sorted the fruit and boiled them,while grandpa boiled the jars and lids. When he had finished, he asked if that was enough, and grandma said, "yes", so grandpa filled the jars and put the lids on loose.

The second day,grandpa tightened all the lids and grandma inspected and labeled them.

All that was said was, "Is this good ...?" and grandma's reply ..."yes ..."

The third day grandma sorted them all out and packed them away. Then we loaded them into the wagon and we went around and gave everyone fresh jam and syrup. After we finished grandpa asked,"Did we get everyone ...?" and again grandma's reply, "yes", so we went back home.

That was the quietest three days I had ever spent with my grandparents,but I will always remember it...my next offering, "Reachout and Touch Someone ..."

Hau!


SAVING GEORGIA

From the Author

When I was a young man and I wanted to get married, my grandmother took me aside and said,"What you want is good, but you must now one thing. After you marry and have children, you will no longer have a life of your own. You must take care of your children, they come first in your life, all decisions must be made in consideration of your children." Sometimes being a parent is very trying,but my grandmother also let me know one of her secrets..."One of the things you must do everyday is to pray for your children's safety, and you must also help those less fortunate...this will ensure that your children will be safe... " In the summer of 1999 I took a group of Elders to LaFramboise Island in Pierre, SD for a meeting. I asked three elders about 'child rearing' and they all had the same answer although each was from a different band of the Lakota Nation.

I found this very interesting...

My question was: "What am I doing wrong in raising my kids? I provide for them well, my wife and I don't gamble or run around drinking, we don't use dope,and we raised our children to pray and to know the Creator, the culture, and to respect people. So what am I doing wrong?"

At this particular time it seemed that at any given time three of our six children were into some kind of trouble and we didn't know what to do...

One elder Yanktonai gentleman said, "You are not doing anything wrong.Everyone must experience life. How will they know good if they do not experience bad, or know cold if they do not touch the fire and know heat? Don't worry about your children, they have to experience these things, that is life, if you have raised them well they will experience the bad and they will let it go. Just continue the way you have been taught and they will be alright..."

An elderly lady from my community said the same thing,as did another elderly gentleman from the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Wisdom is sometimes so simple and obvious, but in our anxiety and confusion as parents, we tend to forget, as I had.

We have since returned to a more "normal" life again and all my children are doing well ...sometimes there is a slip but we recover and go on with our lives. With this, I wish all parents well and their children also...there is much wisdom in our elders ...we must never forget to ask them.

And now ...a tribute to our young people,and my beautiful daughter...

Hau!
(for Georgia True Love)

---

Catalogue Information

---