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Dying in Indian Country: A Family Journey from Self-destruction to Opposing Tribal Sovereignty
Wilson grew up watching members of his family die of alcoholism, child abuse, suicide, and violence. Like many others, he blamed all the problems on "white people." Beth Ward grew up in a middle-class home in the suburbs. Raised in a politically left family, she also believed that all problems on the reservation originated with cruel treatment by settlers and the stealing of land. Meeting Wilson, her first close experience with a tribal member, she stepped out of the comfort of suburban life into a wholenew, frightening world. After almost ten years of living with Wilson's alcoholism and the terrible dangers that came with it, they both came to realize that individual behavior and personal decisions were at the root of a man's troubles, including their own. Further, corrupt tribal government, dishonest federal Indian policy, and the controlling reservation system had more to do with the current despair in his community than what had happened 150 years ago. Here is the plain truth in the eyes of one family, in the hope that at least some of the dying -- physical, emotional, and spiritual -- may be recognized and prevented. What cannot be denied is that a large number of Native Americans are dying from alcoholism, drug abuse, suicide, and violence. Popular belief is that the white culture and its past sins are to blame. However, tribal government as it behaves today, coupled with current federal Indian policy, may have more to do with the present condition. Unfortunately, persistent public misconceptionsabout Indian Country, misconceptions sometimes promoted by tribal government and other enjoying unaudited money and power, have worked to keep the situation just as it is.
502 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2012
About the author
Beth Ward
1 book14 followersPen name of Elizabeth Morris.
Elizabeth Morris was raised in the Twin Cities, lived on two reservations, a Bible College campus, and in three small towns. Elizabeth and her husband, a member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, raised their five children and four grandchildren. She has a B.A. in Christian Ministries, Diploma of Bible & Missions, is a Registered Nurse, Chairwoman of the Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare and author of the book, ‘Dying in Indian Country’
Although raised upper middle class, Elizabeth spent most of her adult life living within modern Indian Country, witnessing their extended family’s struggle with alcoholism, drug abuse and violence.
After a life changing experience, she and her husband, Roland, came to understand that a foundational tenet of federal Indian policy - that tribal members are incapable of taking care of themselves - is the inherent root of the pain, violence, and suicides destroying their extended family.
Roland rejected the mantle of victimhood and blame; became personally accountable, and led their family in a different direction. It is within the ability of every man to provide for the family without government assistance.
The book, “Dying in Indian Country,” relates the grim reality of family life, politics, and welfare on reservations where drug abuse and violence are epidemic.
Elizabeth Morris was raised in the Twin Cities, lived on two reservations, a Bible College campus, and in three small towns. Elizabeth and her husband, a member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, raised their five children and four grandchildren. She has a B.A. in Christian Ministries, Diploma of Bible & Missions, is a Registered Nurse, Chairwoman of the Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare and author of the book, ‘Dying in Indian Country’
Although raised upper middle class, Elizabeth spent most of her adult life living within modern Indian Country, witnessing their extended family’s struggle with alcoholism, drug abuse and violence.
After a life changing experience, she and her husband, Roland, came to understand that a foundational tenet of federal Indian policy - that tribal members are incapable of taking care of themselves - is the inherent root of the pain, violence, and suicides destroying their extended family.
Roland rejected the mantle of victimhood and blame; became personally accountable, and led their family in a different direction. It is within the ability of every man to provide for the family without government assistance.
The book, “Dying in Indian Country,” relates the grim reality of family life, politics, and welfare on reservations where drug abuse and violence are epidemic.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 26, 2012
This book is an absolute MUST-READ. It's hard reading and several times I had to put it down to go do something else but I always came back because I knew it was important for me to learn from reading this book.
March 2, 2015
Author mistakes assimilation for equality.
May 30, 2018
Going to keep this short. What they ware are not "costumes". He was a married man. I stopped reading on page 53 and skimmed the rest of the book. I could care less about what else the woman has to say.
September 7, 2014
This book is a must read! I originally picked up this book because I am a (white) social worker on a reservation and thought I'd get new insight, but it only took a few pages to realize that anyone and everyone should read this and can learn from the stories and experiences of the family. Our media, classrooms and legal/social services systems present ICWA as a positive law for the most part but the ideas presented in the book made me aware of how the act affects all involved in different ways, not always positive. Unfortunately, I see many clients, of all ages, deal with many of the circumstances described in this book on a regular basis (alcoholism, corruption with Tribal Council, babies born addicted to one or more substance, teenagers getting high to deal with abuse). And as I read the book I realized how "normalized" these hardships become for individuals and outsiders alike. That is not acceptable! We must all work towards bettering the present and future for everyone regardless of their race, heritage, etc. just yesterday I had a youth tell me she won't go to school past the age of 18 because she "lives on the res and that's how it is." These are beliefs that can be changed if we all work together.
February 15, 2020
Angrier & angrier I got as I read this book. I can't even express my rage at this bible-thumping non-Native "authority" on all things Native due to her expertise from pumping out Native children, whining to her U.S.government over perceived mistreatment of white folks under ICWA. Gross, gross, gross.
April 22, 2019
What a tough life to live. So many hardships.
April 4, 2020
LOVE THIS BOOK.
October 24, 2014
An interesting glimpse from the eyes of an outsider into the American Indian subculture of addiction, dependency and dysfunction. Heartfelt if roughly written, the book gets tedious in its detail and repetitive themes after awhile, but is nonetheless compelling for its story. I've known many people of Native American heritage who are sober, moral, productive and successful. But there is a minority who are reservation oriented who are anything but. This book tells their story from the viewpoint of a white European ancestry woman who for some inexplicable reason was the wife of such a man. Fascinating.
January 19, 2016
When I began this book, I had an outsider's impression of reservation life and indian sovereignty. I learned that those impressions were wrong. First, let me correct the listing by saying that the author of my revised version is Lisa Morris.
The author writes about reservation life and her families struggles to overcome tribal issues with power and eloquence. Honest, but never maudlin, she takes the reader through the alcoholism, abuse, and frustrations that hounded her family until they realized that to overcome these difficulties, they had to start with personal responsibility.
The author writes about reservation life and her families struggles to overcome tribal issues with power and eloquence. Honest, but never maudlin, she takes the reader through the alcoholism, abuse, and frustrations that hounded her family until they realized that to overcome these difficulties, they had to start with personal responsibility.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews