Book Review: Lost Bird of Wounded Knee
Lauren Mendoza
Women’s U.S. History
Cheryl Waite
May 1, 2018
Lost Bird of Wounded Knee, written by Renee Sansom Flood, brings focus on women’s suffrage and the poor treatment of Native Americans. The general area of concern in this novel is the treatment of Native Americans. The inspiration for this novel was found when Flood saw a photograph of L.W. Colby holding his adopted daughter, the Lost Bird, in 1891. Renee Sansom Flood was an educator; she taught reading at a Native American School. “She discovered that many of the children only knew a little bit about their tribal and cultural history and that they also had little to no interest in reading” . Flood was white and married to a Yankton …show more content…
The book was not an “easy” read. The structure of the novel seemed textbook-like. The intended audience includes anyone who feels like they don’t know where they fit in in this crazy world we live in. The book is academic in orientation for sure. This novel was based off a true story and included very real history. There is historical contribution in this book. It shined a light on a subject that can be sensitive for some people. Personally, I had never heard of the Wounded Knee Massacre and that disappoints me, but the fact that the author had taken 15 years to find out what happened to “Lost Bird” really spoke to me. Nobody asked her to dedicate herself, but she did it anyways to help all these people out there who are feeling like the Lost Bird. This book doesn’t merely clarify and simplify the standard point of view, it shows multiple points of view. Clara, Zintkala adopted mother was really highlighted through the book, more then the Lost Bird herself. The beginning of the book shows how the military would mock the Native Americans by disrespecting their traditions such as the Ghost Dance. One strength in book I noticed was how much it went into depth about the mistreatment towards the Natives, it was very clear that they were not treated they way they should have been …show more content…
I do not think there were any major methodological flaws or gaps in research. I say this because if the fact she spent 15 years exploring this topic. Plus, she had so many primary sources to back up her story. There are many interviews, newspaper articles and letters told from a woman's perspective. Violence, lack of education and healthcare are some of the issues Native Americans, especially women, are still facing in their communities today in 2018. “About 22% of our country’s 5.2 million Native Americans live on tribal lands (2010 U.S. Census). Living conditions on the reservations have been cited as “comparable to Third World,” (May 5, 2004, Gallup Independent)” . It is very upsetting to know that Native Americans are still struggling so much. This book shows how things haven’t changed much for women. Women face discrimination everyday particularly colored women, this has always been the case. The author is a white female and she experienced sexual harassment at work. This demonstrates that not any women are “safe”, not even in the work place. Clara Colby was involved in Women’s Suffrage, so it was refreshing to see a woman push so hard for the things she
Lauren Mendoza
Women’s U.S. History
Cheryl Waite
May 1, 2018
Lost Bird of Wounded Knee, written by Renee Sansom Flood, brings focus on women’s suffrage and the poor treatment of Native Americans. The general area of concern in this novel is the treatment of Native Americans. The inspiration for this novel was found when Flood saw a photograph of L.W. Colby holding his adopted daughter, the Lost Bird, in 1891. Renee Sansom Flood was an educator; she taught reading at a Native American School. “She discovered that many of the children only knew a little bit about their tribal and cultural history and that they also had little to no interest in reading” . Flood was white and married to a Yankton …show more content…
The book was not an “easy” read. The structure of the novel seemed textbook-like. The intended audience includes anyone who feels like they don’t know where they fit in in this crazy world we live in. The book is academic in orientation for sure. This novel was based off a true story and included very real history. There is historical contribution in this book. It shined a light on a subject that can be sensitive for some people. Personally, I had never heard of the Wounded Knee Massacre and that disappoints me, but the fact that the author had taken 15 years to find out what happened to “Lost Bird” really spoke to me. Nobody asked her to dedicate herself, but she did it anyways to help all these people out there who are feeling like the Lost Bird. This book doesn’t merely clarify and simplify the standard point of view, it shows multiple points of view. Clara, Zintkala adopted mother was really highlighted through the book, more then the Lost Bird herself. The beginning of the book shows how the military would mock the Native Americans by disrespecting their traditions such as the Ghost Dance. One strength in book I noticed was how much it went into depth about the mistreatment towards the Natives, it was very clear that they were not treated they way they should have been …show more content…
I do not think there were any major methodological flaws or gaps in research. I say this because if the fact she spent 15 years exploring this topic. Plus, she had so many primary sources to back up her story. There are many interviews, newspaper articles and letters told from a woman's perspective. Violence, lack of education and healthcare are some of the issues Native Americans, especially women, are still facing in their communities today in 2018. “About 22% of our country’s 5.2 million Native Americans live on tribal lands (2010 U.S. Census). Living conditions on the reservations have been cited as “comparable to Third World,” (May 5, 2004, Gallup Independent)” . It is very upsetting to know that Native Americans are still struggling so much. This book shows how things haven’t changed much for women. Women face discrimination everyday particularly colored women, this has always been the case. The author is a white female and she experienced sexual harassment at work. This demonstrates that not any women are “safe”, not even in the work place. Clara Colby was involved in Women’s Suffrage, so it was refreshing to see a woman push so hard for the things she