Native Stories, Indigenous Voices

At a time when the Abenaki had little to no written documentation of their language, Joseph Laurent, Chief of the Abenaki reserve of Odanak, came forth to produce a translational dictionary, that was both the first>/i> of its kind and one of a kind. Unique in its approach to translation, New Familiar Abenakis and English Dialogues, is a linguistical journey intertwined with Abenaki culture that offers a study of Indigenous names and naming conventions, the Abenaki alphabet and modifications of verbs, as well as an essential key to understanding the pronunciations of the words therein.

"The practical necessity of being preserved and handed on by word of mouth only, must be constantly borne in mind in considering the development of Indian verse forms. It operated to keep poetry tied to its twin-born melody, which assisted in memory, and was constantly at work modifying the native tendency to adjust the rhythm to every changing movement of the story." Bringing together the chants, songs and oral legends of Native American tribes from around the country, The Path on the Rainbow: An Anthology of Songs and Chants from the Indians of North America functions as an authoritative guide to Indigenous verse as untouched and uninfluenced by European colonialism in the early nineteenth century.

"He was in many ways an unusual man. Very versatile and talented…he possessed literary ability and had written an interesting book on Tales of the Bark Lodges. A book of poems under the name of Hen-Toh." Comprising his short unpublished autobiography, his 1919 book of folklore, Tales of the Bark Lodges, and his 1924 volume of poetry, Yon-Doo-Shah-We-Ah (Nubbins), The Collected Folklore and Poetry of Hen-Toh is a celebration of the work of one of the most important Native voices of the nineteenth century. An important exploration of early Native American dialect literature, this edition of The Collected Folklore and Poetry of Hen-Toh is a classic of Indigenous American literature reimagined for the modern reader.

"We who lived the days of tribal life before our destruction began remember with gratefulness our storytellers and the delight and joy and richness which they imparted to our lives. We never tired of their tales, though told countless times. They will, forsooth, never grow old, for they have within them the essence of things that cannot grow old. These legends are of America, as are its mountains, rivers, and forests, and as are its people. They belong!" In the time of the Animal People (Chip-chap-tiqulk), follow the adventures of Coyote (Sin-ka-lip') the most important Animal Person that ever was. Put to work by the Spirit Chief, Coyote–despite his love for imitation and trickery–helps to make the world a good place to live for Animal People and New People alike while occasionally amusing himself with mischief. Containing over two dozen tales from, "The Spirit Chief Names the Animal People," to "Coyote Imitates Bear and Kingfisher," Coyote Stories is Mourning Dove's collections of legends recounting the history of the world in it's youth. Professionally typeset with a beautifully designed cover, this edition of Coyote Stories is a classic of Native and Indigenous literature reimagined for the modern reader.