On The Rez

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Summary: On The Rez
Review: This is one of the greatest books about the Rez that I have ever read. His colorful discriptions took you with him on each and every road and to visit each person. I felt as if I was there with him. I am sending this book on to be shared with my family on a Rez and hope that they will feel the same pull that I did. I hope that all Indians of all Nations that read this book will take time out to remember and honor the SuAnne's of their tribe and to think about the changes that must take place inside us all so that we can move ahead. Thank you Ian Frazier for your words of wisdom.

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Summary: I miss John Attack Him.
Review: Like Frazier, I grew up in the Midwest and through books became fascinated with the Oglala Lakota (aka Sioux). In 1974, when I was 16, our church youth group spent two weeks at Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, the focal point of On the Rez. We walked the remnants of the burned church and collected shell casings - residue of the 1973 AIM occupation. Inasmuch as four of us were would-be Fancy Dancers, the Porcupine Drum carried us from place to place dancing one night (hauling us in our homemade dance regalia in the back of a pick up truck). People would emerge at each house and donate money and other items for an upcoming powwow. At that time and particularly due to those times, I failed to appreciate the significance of four very white boys dancing with and for the Indians on Pine Ridge. It continues to amaze me that so many non-Indians know so little about Indians. I applaud Frazier (and perhaps envy him) for being able to see, hear and smell some of the things that make up the intriguing, hard-scrabble and unique life of the Oglala. Mostly, however, I thank him for sharing his perceptions so brilliantly. It is incredibly hard to explain what Indians are about. This book does a stellar job of attempting that important task with regard to one such group. Because I identify so much with Frazier (I am not a "wannabe"--I just like learning about the Lakota and being around them) I found his personal involvement in the narrative to be one of the most interesting and insightful aspects of the book. I first read portions of On the Rez in the Atlantic Monthly. Tears welled up in my eyes when I read the inspiring story of SuAnne Big Crow. The same thing happened when I read the book. It is disappointing that more Americans will not be exposed to this well-written philosophical journey. Sadly, many people who would truly appreciate the literary quality of On the Rez will not consider reading it due to the subject matter. The book is extremely well written and entertaining. Reading On the Rez took me back to Pine Ridge. It reminded me of a well known traditional dancer and former Marine who graciously spent some time with us many years ago in Porcupine S.D answering our questions about dancing. Sadly, I never got to see that man again. I learned much later from other dancers on the powwow circuit that he had passed on. I think of him often and wish he could have known that he touched my life in a positive way. Frazier's book touched me. His stories need to be shared. I have told my daughters about SuAnne Big Crow and when they are old enough, I will urge them to read this book. Meanwhile, I hope others will do likewise. And, John Attack Him, wherever you are, thanks. Whenever I dance, you are there.

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Summary: Fabulous!
Review: I have never read a book by Ian Frazier before but I will definately read another one! I spent a lot of time reading this book aloud to my husband because I wanted somebody to discuss it with. I also sent it to my father-in-law. It really created a lot of interest in Native American issues for me. I have since researched some of the issues that Mr Frazier touched on.

If I had to say something negative, I would say that there should have been more information! I made a lot of notes about places and events that I wanted to know more about.

Overall, I loved it and am planning to read it again.

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Summary: On the Rez :Counting Coup
Review: After reading Ian Frazier's "On the Rez," I was left with a feeling of profound loss. Frazier admits he always wanted to be an Indian and takes us on a detailed journey through the Pine Ridge Reservation, Much of the work is about Le War Lance, tall-tale spinner, BS artist, and friend to Frazier, no matter what behavior or face he shows. Yet Frazier digs deeper, for a connecting passion and he thinks we are all Indians in spirit; we have taken to so much of their culture and not destroyed all of it but actually have tried to live up to its ideals. But the most moving section of the book was Frazier's vivid account of SuAnne Big Crow. It is a wonderful book with well drawn characters. It is a superb vision about an America few see and many cliches are still there but more are broken through Frazier's lucid writing, examining reservation life and spirit. END

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Summary: Charming
Review: Reading this book brings the Black Hills and Pine Ridge reservation to life. Ian Frazier does an excellent job describing his visits to the reservation and Le War Lance. (Although as another reviewer points out, being a human ATM machine doesn't hurt the friendship.) But the most enjoyable parts of this book are by far and away the sections pertaining to SuAnne Big Crow. Wait until you read about this modern day hero who was tucked away in Pine Ridge. What an amazing, uncommon girl. According to Mr. Frazier, to this day, her life still has an effect on those living at P.R., and I can't help but believe it. Pick up this book and read it. It's nearly a work of art.

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Summary: Quite accurate, in fact...
Review: I found Mr. Frazier's book to be quite accurate. In fact, I heard the story about Sue Ann's dance told by Miss Decory with my own ears. It also appeared in the Lakota Times immediately after Sue Anne's tragic death. Mr. Frazier told it just as I heard it described and I'm sure just as it was told to him. After reading this book, I was impressed by all the research that did take place. The tone of the review submitted by a previous reviewer perhaps indicates the underlying feeling of some attitudes in South Dakota towards anything good and heroic existing on a reservation.

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Summary: Amazing piece of work.
Review: In On The Rez, Ian Frasier takes you along for a ride. He tells you of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, the history of it, and the present which entales things to come. He does this with a style that reminds me of sitting in a bar: talking fluently with someone you completely understand, in a boat: spinning a yarn about something that we should know from out past, or even driving down the cracked gravel roads of the rez and the steady bumping of the rocks against the tires. This book is moving in so many different ways. I don't want to say too much if you're considering buying this. I shall ruin nothing. Just buy it and see for yourself.

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Summary: Not quite accurate.
Review: It's an interesting view of the Pine Ridge reservation of South Dakota ... if you aren't concerned with accuracy. His account of Ms. Big Crow's shawl dance at the Lead Basketball game has been discounted by most attendants at the game, including her cousin that he quoted for most of the events. His scathing attack on Lead and its supposed racism seems all the more unwarranted when taken in the context that the story is untrue. His short, and inaccurate account, of the flood damage in Rapid City (Main Street was literally untouched by the 1972 flood) adds to the doubts of this reader on what information is or isn't on the money. It is interesting, but necessary to take with a grain of salt. I very much wanted to learn from this book, but was afraid of the inaccuracies I was learning.

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Summary: Says What Needs To Be Said
Review: After living in South Dakota for seven years, I have learned that almost everyone has a point of view about Native Amercians/Indians. I know I do, and so does Ian Frazier.

Ian Frazier's point of view is remarkably balanced considering the intensely polarized perspective regarding the Plight of the Natives. Way over on one side, there is picture of the Noble Native, a deeply spiritual being in harmony with nature and the deeper truths of mankind. And all the way over on the other side, there is the portrayal of the Drunk Red Man, a victim and willing perpetuator of a dysfunctional sub-culture.

Ian Frazier manages to avoid the paean and the denunciation by hanging his story on people rather than events. Le War Lance, the hook that draws Frazier onto Pine Ridge, is a study in contrasts. He's a world class b.s.er, has no compunction about repeatedly asking Frazier for significant sums of money that he has no intention of paying back, and drinks heavily.

At the same time, War Lance's personality engenders honest affection and regard. His life is fascinating by anyone's standards, especially when you have a meta-awareness of him as a central character in a book by a former writer for "The New Yorker". It's hard to write War Lance off as just another drunk.

Characterization is not the only thing Ian Frazier does well. The man has an aerodynamic writing style that carries you through the book at the proper pace; alternately zippy or deliberate, but never dragging. Even the background and historical information, the parts of a book where I get bogged down, didn't slow down the book.

After reading On The Rez, I feel I understand the Native American/Indian sub culture a little better and in time, I suppose I will find out if I really do or not. I am undecided as to whether or not I agree with Frazier's adamant refusal to consider the reservation bleak. I ran this by Jennifer, a Sioux friend of mine. "Ian Frazier doesn't think the reservation is a bleak place," I said. Jennifer looked at me as if she were trying to figure out what color crazy he was. Finally she said "Well, sure, that's easy for him to say."

But maybe someone should say it. And Ian Frazier does it better than most anyone else could.

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Summary: On the mind . . .
Review: Frazier travels continuosly through this book, the reservations and the history that creates the left and right turns of the lives of the people he encounters. A lot has been said about his book in very negative terms, he is blamed for being candid or not explaining alcoholism. The very first chapter states his feelings on this by discussing the word: Bleak, which is how most want to see it. Read page 262, where he discusses the faux pas created by Tom Brokaw and his writers with the "Carnival Week" incident that was aired on NBC. When you understand this better, there will be no need for the negativism.

I enjoyed this book immensely. The subject of Le War Lance comes to the question, was Le trying to immortalize himself through Frazier, like so many others have? I got that feeling for sure. ...