American Indian Stories, Legends, and Other Writings

Writer, teacher, and activist Zitkala-Sa (1876-1938) championed Native American causes throughout her life. Born in the year of the Battle of Little Big Horn, raised on a Sioux reservation, educated at boarding schools that enforced assimilation, and witness to major events in white-Indian relations, Zitkala-Sa wrote stories, essays, and commentary that illuminate the tragedy and complexity of her people. In evocative prose laced with political savvy, she challenged traditional views of both Indian and white cultures. This original collection presents Zitkala-Sa's powerful autobiographical stories and retold tales, along with a selection of her poetry and incisive nonfiction writings - work as passionate, tender, bold, and expansive as its author.