Algonquian Spirit: Contemporary Translations of the Algonquian Literatures of North America(Native Literatures of the Americas and Indigenous World Literatures)

When Europeans first arrived on this continent, Algonquian languages were spoken from the northeastern seaboard through the Great Lakes region, across much of Canada, and even in scattered communities of the American West. The rich and varied oral tradition of this Native language family, one of the farthest-flung in North America, comes brilliantly to life in this remarkably broad sampling of Algonquian songs and stories from across the centuries. Ranging from the speech of an early unknown Algonquian to the famous Walam Olum hoax, from retranslations of "classic" stories to texts appearing here for the first time, these are tales written or told by Native storytellers, today as in the past, as well as oratory, oral history, and songs sung to this day. An essential introduction and captivating guide to Native literary traditions still thriving in many parts of North America, Algonquian Spirit contains vital background information and new translations of songs and stories reaching back to the seventeenth century. Drawing from Arapaho, Blackfeet, Cheyenne, Cree, Delaware, Maliseet, Menominee, Meskwaki, Miami-Illinois, Mi'kmaq, Naskapi, Ojibwe, Passamaquoddy, Potawatomi, and Shawnee, the collection gathers a host of respected and talented singers, storytellers, historians, anthropologists, linguists, and tribal educators, both Native and non-Native, from the United States and Canada—all working together to orchestrate a single, complex performance of the Algonquian languages.

Table of Contents:
Part 1. East The Tale of a Hoax Translating the Walam Olum - David M. Oestreicher Eastern Seaboard Community Fair Warning - Alex MacKenzie Hargrave Lenape The Arrival of the Whites - Jim Rementer Told by Captain Pipe, Willie Longbone, Bessie Snake, and Nora Thompson Dean Munsee An Iroquoian-Algonquian Creation Story - John Bierhorst Told by John Armstrong Passamaquoddy Turtle and Raccoon - Robert M. Leavitt and Jennifer Andrews By Lewis Mitchell Translated by Robert M. Leavitt Social and Wampum Ceremonial Songs Ann Morrison Spinney, with David A. Francis Sung by Joseph A. Nicholas, Blanche Sockabason, Wayne Newell, and Lewis Mitchell Translated by David A. Francis Maliseet Traditions of Koluskap, the Culture Hero - Philip S. LeSourd Told by Peter Lewis Paul Translated by Philip S. LeSourd Mi'kmaq The Great Fire - Franziska von Rosen Told by Michael William Francis Translated by Lorne Simon Part 2. Central Naskapi Two Wolverine Stories - Julie Brittain and Marguerite MacKenzie Told by John Peastitute Translated by Julie Brittain and Marguerite MacKenzie, with Alma Chemaganish, Philip Einish, and Silas Nabinicaboo Ojibwe The Coming of the White Men - Jennifer S.H. Brown and Roger Roulette Told by Charlie George Owen (Omishoosh) Translated by Roger Roulette The Origin of War - Randolph Valentine Told by Waasaagoneshkang That Way We Should Be Walking - Mary Magoulick Told by Oogima Ikwe Potawatomi Three Legends - Laura Buszard-Welcher Told by Alice Spear and Jim Spear Translated by Laura Buszard-Welcher Eastern Cree Louse and Wide Lake Richard J. Preston Told by George Head Translated by Gerti Diamond Murdoch The Birds That Flew Off with People and How the Wolf Came to Be Susan M. Preston Told by John Blackned Translated by Anderson Jolly Swampy Cree Legend of Wissaakechaahk and Cannibal Exterminators - Paul W. DePasquale Told by Louis Bird (Pennishish) Transcribed by Paul W. DePasquale Miami-Illinois and Shawnee Culture-Hero and Trickster Stories - David J. Costa Told by George Finley and Elizabeth Vallier Translated by David J. Costa Meskwaki Two Winter Stories - Ives Goddard Told by Sakihtanohkweha and Charley H. Chuck Translated by Ives Goddard Three Winter Stories - Lucy G. Thomason By Maggie Morgan, Pearl Leaf, and Anonymous Translated by Lucy Thomason Menominee The Origin of the Spirit Rock - Marianne Milligan Told by Charles Dutchman (Naehciwetok) Translated by Marianne Milligan Part 3. West Plains Cree Pine Root - Stan Cuthand Written and Translated by Stan Cuthand Arapaho Ghost Dance Songs - Jeffrey D. Anderson Translation by Jeffrey D. Anderson Three Stories - Andrew Cowell Told by Richard Moss Translated by Andrew Cowell and Alonzo Moss Sr. Blackfeet Scarface - Theresa Schenck Told by John Little Blaze Written and Translated by Pauline Running Crane Cheyenne The Rolling Head - Wayne Leman Told by Laura Rockroads Translated by Wayne Leman and Josephine Stands In Timber Glenmore Contributors and Storytellers

About the Author :
Brian Swann is on the faculty of humanities and social sciences at the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. His many works include Voices from Four Directions: Contemporary Translations of the Native Literatures of North America and (with Arnold Krupat) I Tell You Now: Autobiographical Essays by Native American Writers, both available in Bison Books editions.

Review :
Praise for Swann's Voices from Four Directions: Contemporary Translations of the Native Literatures of North America: "A rich compilation of stories translated from the traditional literature of a variety of diverse cultures found throughout North America... Educational and enlightening." Library Journal "An excellent introduction to the current state of the translation of Native oral literature and the ethical considerations surrounding translation. The narratives are illuminating and the collection solidly advances understanding of a complex and energetic field." CHOICE