Red Record, The

Rating:
Summary: Self Hating Whites are a pain in the . . . .
Review: Read jessito's review. What is your problem dude? The book is interesting, the lenni lanape are interesting, but your white bashing is a bummer. Just because you have a problem with your own race doesn't mean you need to "share." Talk to a shrink.

The Delawares are a very interesting people, and their history, particularly their role in the early West of the 1830s and 1840s is not widely known. Its a great book. Ignore Jessitos "white business" and read the book. Dave

Rating:
Summary: This book is awesome.
Review: Scientists and Native Americans argue amongst themselves and each other about if/when/how the Indians reached North America. Much of the so-called debate in the popular press is shallow and insipid.

Here we have the written pictograph record, along with accompanying orally transmitted songs - and translation, of the Lenni Lenape people, known to us white folks as the Delaware (named for some dead white guy). The Lenni Lenape were acknowledged as "grandfathers" among the Lenape family of tribes, known to us white folks as the Algonquian language group, the largest language group of Native Americans in North America.

The Wallum Olum begins with the mythical creation of the world, the entry of evil and strife, and a great flood. Sound familiar?

Then, things get interesting, as the tale takes on a more historical character, discussing a migration, perhaps from somewhere near Lake Baikal, north, until the icy sea is reached.

Lacking a land bridge to "stumble" (as one white guy put it) across, the Lenape set out in boats and explore a beautiful country to the east. When the icy sea freezes over, 10,000 Lenape cross in an arctic night, after a debate on the subject.

They find a North America already populated by humans. They interact with these others as they migrate across the continent - Iroquois, Moundbuilders, others. And as they migrate, they leave a trail of splinter groups of Lenape peoples, Yurok, Wiyot, Salish, Blackfeet, Cree, Cheyenne, Shawnee, Nanticoke, etc.. Finally they reach Delaware and wait a few hundred years to get "discovered" by whites.

Well, I apologize for telling so much of the story, but it is really a fascinating story, and David McCutcheon does a much better job of telling it than I can, so go check it out. In addition to translating the Wallum Olum and including other stories of the Lenni Lenape and other Lenape tribes that illuminate their culture and migration, he also provides plenty of sound analysis tying the story to the various geographical locations I've hinted at.

This book blew my mind. I wonder what we'll learn when we take a serious look at the stories of other Native Americans.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome Story!
Review: Several years ago I was stuck working in an office, so for some relief after gulping down food at lunch, I retreated to the sanctuary of the local public library just down the street. To my amazement, I discovered a whole range of books on the Native people of the United States. Most of what I had read was negative in nature until finding this book.
I checked it out, brought it home and proceeded to absorb the whole essence of what the author was trying to say. Although it came from the perspective of a descendant of the most recent immigrants;Europeans; nevertheless, it was to me and eye-opening experience. The pictographs are wonderful, the story is magical. It is a pity that I hadn't found it sooner. The story of the Lenape sounds like the whole story of mankind, complete with Creation, floods and evil serpents like the account in Genesis and records of their leaders just as Kings and Chronicles contain in the Holy Bible. I felt a sort of kinship with these people, even though I have never met any Lenape personally and though I am a Christian, I sensed the presence of God in their tale as well.
I live in West Virginia and there is a Petroglyph near to my home that I have visited several times. A Petroglyph is a rock with carvings from some past culture chiseled upon it. The carvings are very similar in nature to the ones in the Red Record so it is quite possible that some of the Shaman of their tribe may have been in my area hundreds of years ago.
All I can say is this book will open your eyes to the rich history and culture of the Native people. I know it will make you want to beat the drums and sing their song.