Product Description

Called the Mvskoke in their language, the Creek Indians of Oklahoma continue to practice traditional medicine. In Creek Indian Medicine Ways, David Lewis, a full-blood Mvskoke and practicing medicine man, tells about the medicine tradition that has shaped his life. Born into a family of medicine people, he was chosen at birth to carry on the tradition. He shares his memories here about his childhood training and initiation as a medicine man as well as his remembrances about his father and grandmother, who trained him. Lewis reveals part of the sacred story of the origin of plants and he identifies some of the plants he uses in his cures. He also describes several of the ceremonies his teachers taught him, stressing throughout the sacredness and importance of Mvskoke medicine.

Ann T. Jordan, a Euroamerican anthropologist, documents the place of Lewis's medicine family in the written record. Lewis is the great grandson of Jackson Lewis, who was interviewed in 1910 by anthropologist John Swanton. Jackson Lewis is mentioned numerous times in Swanton's classic works on Mvskoke medicine and culture, published by the Bureau of American Ethnology in the 1920s. David Lewis is the direct inheritor of his great grandfather's medicine knowledge.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #793469 in Books
• Published on: 2008-08-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 216 pages

Review
"Creek Indian Medicine Ways is a carefully researched and nuanced work that makes a vital contribution to the scholarly discourse on Native American culture." - Journal of the West "Lewis... tells about the medicine tradition that has shaped his life. He reveals memories of his childhood training and initiation, remembrances about his father and grandmother, the sacred story of the origin of plants he uses in his cures, and details about some of the ceremonies. Anthropologist Jordan (University of North Texas) documents the place of Lewis's medicine family in the written record and traces the accounts of Mvskoke religion from the 18th century to the present." - Book News, Inc."

About the Author
David Lewis Jr. is a Mvskoke Indian traditional medicine man and lives in Henryetta, Oklahoma.

Ann T. Jordan is professor of anthropology and associate dean in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service, University of North Texas, Denton.

Customer Reviews

The last of the initiates...
If you are descended from any of the Nations that are from the SE of the US, you should read this book. It is a great book that gives a first person account of traditional Mvskogi medicine traditions passed through a particular family of the bird clan. Ok, there was an anthropologist involved...but he keeps his distance and admits his shortcomings. I really commend him for that. The account is what the medicine person himself wanted to say...

I really liked this book
I thought this was a good book. My son who is more educated in Creek Indian culture differs in opinion. He felt that it wasn't authentic enough. My personal feelings are that it held plenty of knowledge for my interest level. It was a quick and fun read. I leave it in the guest room for visitors to browse. I had a few visitors who have stayed up too late because they got caught up in reading it. I would classify this as a book that might get you interested in knowing more. The author doesn't claim to be the last and only expert in this area.