2007 Michigan Notable Book

edited by Lee Boisvert
In the captivating art of the oral traditionótold in the authorís own voiceKeewaydinoquay, Stories from My Youth brings to life the childhood years of a Michigan woman of both Native American and white descent. Presented here with the clarity and charm of a master storyteller, the words of Keewaydinoquay contain layers of understanding, conveyed by both what is said and how it is said. The values of the worldview that she shares with us are ones that resonate on far more than just an intellectual level.

The stories span generations and cultures and shed a rare light on the living conditions of Native Americans in Michigan in the early 1900s. They recount Keewaydinoquay's education in the public schools, illuminate the role Christianity played in traditional Native American culture, and reveal the importance of maintaining Native American customs.

Keewaydinoquay wove her native tradition and university learning together into a balanced view of life that helped people understand the importance of nature and the human spirit.

About the Author
Keewaydinoquay was Lecturer of Ethnobotany and Philosophy of the Western Great Lakes Indians at the University of Wisconsin. She is the author of several books, including Blue Berry: First Fruit of the Anishinaabeg. She died in 1999.

• paperback
• University of Michigan Press
• 184 pages