Native American Healing: A Lakota Ritual

Native American Healing: A Lakota Ritual  is a first-person account of how a contemporary, conventionally western-educated, Lakota ceremonial leader (a 'medicine man' in plain English), developed the perspective that allows him to conduct each part of the ceremonies he performs. The perspective that emerges from the pages of the book is, perhaps surprisingly to some, universally well adapted to contented, peaceful living in contemporary times. The Dog Soldier Press edition of this unique book changed only the cover art, interior page design and appropriate changes on the title pages from the original 2001 McGraw-Hill publication.

Native American Healing takes the reader on a unique tour through a ceremony designed and used regularly for more than a decade by the author, a widely respected Lakota ceremonial and spiritual leader and healer. Hailing from the fourth generation of a family of singers and song keepers for the Rosebud (Sicangu) Sioux Tribe, the author has chosen a chapter format organized around the songs used in the ceremony. Readers unfamiliar with Native American spiritual traditions may be surprised to learn that these traditions are interwoven part and parcel with the music that accompanies them. No music, no ceremony.

After a preface and 2 chapters of introduction to ritual and ceremony and the role of music, 16 of the remaining 17 chapter divisions in this book are related to songs used in the ceremony. Each of these 16 chapters opens with the words to a song, in both Lakota and English. The words to each song serve to provide the focal point around which each chapter is organized.

There is a lively contemporary debate among Native American people in general, and Lakota people in particular, about whether spiritual traditions should be shared with outsiders, especially with non-Native Americans. One side of the debate has it that sharing these traditions gives away Native American's identity as a people. Another feels equally strongly that the spiritual traditions are a genuine expression of Native American life, and that sharing them is an affirmation of the dignity and unique character of native peoples.

The author chose to stay out of the debate by sharing those things which were uniquely his personal experiences that led him to develop the understanding that prepared him to function effectively as a spiritual leader and healer. These experiences are related Indian style, as stories about day-to-day experience, stories, for example, about digging turnips with his grandfather and conversations with his grandmother or about the experiences at an eastern prep school. Each chapter contains one or more stories whose lesson is focused by the words of the song that introduces the chapter. Non-native readers may be surprised to learn by book's end that becoming a healer is at least as much conditioned by developing a balanced understanding and state of mind as it is with acquiring technique and ritual.

Author - Howard P. Bad Hand

Howard P. Bad Hand is a Sicangu Lakota from Rosebud, South Dakota, and was educated at The Lenox School, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, and Sinte Gleska College. A 4th generation member of a family of singers known as song keepers for the Sicangu Lakota, he is a singer and composer of Lakota songs; he has functioned as the lead singer of the Heart Beat drum group and its predecessor, Red Leaf Takoja, for over 25 years. In his capacity as a ceremonial leader, he serves as the intercessor for the High Star Sun Eagle International Sun Dance For Peace (see https://www.highstarsuneagle.org for information) held annually during the third week of July in Red Valley, AZ from 2006 through 2022. He was a founder and co-owner of High Star Productions, Inc., which produced CDs and videos of Native American song and dance performances. He lectures and conducts workshops around the globe on Native American singing and the use of the I-Ching for personal character development. Widely known for his work as an intuitive consultant for spiritual approaches to life challenges, he also works with selected students on individually tailored step-by-step programs of character development using the I Ching as a guide.