The Lower Flathead River - A Cultural, Historical, and Scientific Resource (Rockwell/Swaney) draws the reader in instantly. The primary sources, narratives, history, illustrations, and photos bring the Flathead River alive.
The opening series of photos showing the seasons of the river and the poems by Vic Charlo appropriately set the stage for reading this text in a context of respect for the river and the region. Beautiful!
Chapter 1 is rich in photos and illustrations students will enjoy viewing to enhance their learning of traditional Native hunting/gathering traditions and Coyote stories. The overall objective of this chapter is that if only the country could or would have adapted the tribal Forest Plan we may not be in the situation we find ourselves in today. Meaning, the environmental and nonrenewable resource problems we are facing may have been lessened. I did find it fascinating that tribal legends parallel geographical descriptions of the end of the last ice age and the Coyote stories are related to countless landmarks. I will research these legends and stories to find their connections. I would like to have my students see these connections.
Chapter 2 revisited much of the information we have already gone over either in readings or videos during the course of Heartlines. Reading the information again helps one to synthesise the information.This chapter ends with a sense of hope for the tribes in gaining control of the Kerr Dam in a few years and the prospect of funds becoming available to buy back aboriginal lands. Thomas "Bearhead" Swaney's description of the river leaves you with a visual of the river being alive and having a heart and soul. His final words of caution shouldn't be taken lightly, "Once you destroy a river, that river is destroyed forever." An obvious statement, but one that seems to be ignored in the pursuit of "progress".
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