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Book Review: Mother Earth Spirituality: Native American Paths to Healing

Laurel Ridge Community College

Desiree L. Cripps

HUM 215: Native American Cultures

Professor Martin

July 14, 2023

Book Review: “Mother Earth Spirituality”

The book "Mother Earth Spirituality" by Native American Author, Ed McGaa, is a

collection of Native American history, visions, and sacred ceremonies. Readers find Mcgaa’s

book in the genre of religious studies and spirituality. The Author gives readers how-to

instructions on practicing traditional Native American ceremonies to build one's relationship with

the Great Spirit and Mother Earth.

About the Author

The Author shares his lineage to the Oglala tribe by storytelling his childhood growing up

on the Sioux reservation in the Black Hills of South Dakota. He speaks fondly of his mother and

father as very loving parents. As a child, he was given the Indian name Eagle Boy. He reminisces

about growing up in the natural landscape of the Black Hills. McGaa shares the difficulty of

older siblings sent off to boarding school, where they endured assimilation from Christian

Missionaries and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to white civilized and religious ways. He candidly

discusses how his siblings were taught to forsake their traditional Indian culture, ceremonies,

Sioux language, and family. McGaa’s older sister died at boarding school during an illness of

pneumonia. Because of her tragic death, the Author's mother would tell the priests that McGaa

would not attend boarding school because of his poor health. World War II also kept McGaa

from attending the missionaries' school. His family's land was near a practice fighting range, so

McGaa’s family moved off the reservation. This qualified McGaa to attend public schools, which

helped him feel a sense of belonging and purpose through sports. After graduating from public

education, McGaa attended the University of South Dakota, earning a Biology degree.
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Mcgaa decided to join the Marine Corps, where he would learn to be a fighter pilot and

serve in the Vietnam War, participating in 110 combat missions. Two Holy men remained true to

traditional Sioux ways and would foster his experiences in Native American ceremony- Eagle

Feather and Fools Crow. These respected elders led Sundance ceremonies; after participating,

Eagle Boy was renamed- Eagle Man. Mcgaa earned a law degree from the University of South

Dakota (McGaa,2023).

Intended Audience

Eagle Man writes for an inclined audience seeking healing and spiritual connection to the

Great Spirit or, in Sioux, Wakan Tanka. He shares his spiritual growth with the guidance of

elders who led him in the Sundance and Sweatlodge ceremonies. Additionally, he discusses the

history of visions given to the Sioux, first, by White Buffalo Calf Woman responsible for

introducing the Sacred Pipe used for ceremonies. Second, Black Elk prophesied of sickly Earth,

troubled animals, and polluted waterways. Black Elk's vision of the deteriorating Earth is

foundational in Eagle Man's purpose for promoting environmental conservation. He introduces

each chapter reflecting on the negative impact of air pollution, waterways, and global warming.

He calls on the ecologically concerned to incorporate respect for Mother Earth as the Natives

have for centuries. He disagrees that Native American rituals should be only for those with

Native blood lineage. However, he carefully discusses how the ceremony should be approached

with humility and reverence and how one should mimic the noble and clean ways of the

respected Holy Man. He rebukes alcohol and substance abuse as a downfall and says that

substances do not belong in the ceremony (McGaa,2023).

This book was written in the early 90s when the Earth Day celebration became a global

event. I skipped high school on Earth Day 1990 to volunteer at the Earth Day headquarters in
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DC. I did minimal secretarial tasks. Nevertheless, I remember this as a time when people were

concerned over rainforest deforestation, excess in landfills, and oil spills from large gas/oil

companies in the oceans. There was a global awareness and promotion to act responsibly as an

earth protector.

I chose this book on healing because I have reached the point where I have experienced

much grief over the passing of family members. I appreciate the respect Natives have for their

family and ancestors. If the reader is open to spiritual viewpoints and agrees with reverence to

nature, "Mother Earth Spirituality" can inform. Eagle Man announces that he faces critics that

would not agree with sharing traditional native ways with non-native peoples. However, he does

have the support of Native leaders that believe Native ceremonies can belong to anyone who

respects the ways of sacred ceremonies to bring healing to themselves and the planet we share

(McGaa,2023).

Authors Concerns

Eagle Man's book "Mother Earth Spirituality" aims to keep Native American ceremonies

alive and therefore informs the reader of the seven sacred ceremonies for personal and global

healing. Each sacred ceremony is given a chapter describing its purposeful significance to the

tribe or individual participating. Here are a few of the seven sacred ceremonies explained

(McGaa,2023).

The Sacred Pipe is a tool used for a person to connect their relationship to Earth and all

living beings. A person fills the Pipe with tobacco and acknowledges the four directions, Father

Sky, Mother Earth, and Wakan Tanka. The Pipe is held in the palm of a hand, as its stem faces

outward and then repositioned upward. The ceremony includes the four directions, beginning

with the person facing East, signified by red, and sunrise. The pipe stem will also face the
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direction acknowledged. Tobacco is offered back to the Earth by scattering tobacco to the

ground. The ceremony progresses to the South, signified by yellow, Mother Earth, and bounty.

Tobacco is added to the Pipe again. The ceremony moves West, signified by the color black,

protection, and the spirit world. Finally, North is signified by the snow's color, white, strength,

contemplation, and purity. Tobacco is scattered north and placed in the Pipe. The Pipe will be

lowered to touch Earth and then raised to the sky (McGaa,2023).

The Sweat Lodge ceremony is constructed of tree saplings formed to be a dome shape.

Blankets cover the dome to keep the steam in and light out. The sweat lodge floor contains cedar,

sage, grass, and flowers. The ceremony is described as a vastly deep and unique spiritual

experience. It proceeds with other ceremonies to prepare the participant for physical and spiritual

cleansing. Hot rocks topped with water create intense steam for the participants to contemplate

recognizing their interconnection to the creation of Wakan Tanka. A woman embodies White

Buffalo Calf Woman. She circles inside, scattering tobacco within the sweat lodge. The four

directions structure the prayer and level of steams of the sweat lodge ceremony. A sacred pipe

ceremony follows (McGaa,2023).

The Vision Quest differs because it is a ceremony of one person who seeks direction from

Wakan Tanka. A person finds an isolated spot in a natural landscape. Four twigs are chosen to tie

colored fabric to represent the four directions and mark ceremonial space. The participant intends

to forsake ego, making room for the Creator in prayer and introspection. The Vision Quest is for

those who seek growth within themselves and their spiritual life. The participant will

traditionally fast food and drink. The four directions will be an area of contemplation. One will

pray for a dream or vision from Wakan Tanka. The participant may give a personal service

offering in thanksgiving of their vision (McGaa,2023).

Eagle Man continues to share the additional sacred ceremonies: Sun Dance, Spirit

Calling, Making of Relatives, and Giveaway Ceremony to the receptive reader. Importantly he

emphasizes the concern over how the seven rites ceremonies were endangered by the adversity

of the US government's push on boarding schools to remove Indian culture and Christian

religious leaders by conversion, to eliminate Native American spirituality (McGaa,2023).

The first of Eagle Man's concerns is to inform the reader of the seven sacred ceremonies.

The second concern from Eagle Man is for the reader to take notice of an Earth compromised

from pollution by an industrialized society. Eagle Man regularly discusses the ecological

disasters of toxic contamination of soils and waterways, global warming, acid rain, deforestation,

and ozone layer depletion. He expresses that the Earth is giving these warnings as cries for help

for humanity to take action. However, Eagle Man had several references supporting the

authenticity of Native American spiritualism and history (McGaa,2023).. It could have benefited

a skeptical reader to provide credible studies or approval from leading conservation

organizations of the 1990s. Environmentalism is often a political issue. Affiliation with a

political party may sway or hinder the readers' stance toward claims of a compromised earth.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this book review supports the history of Sioux Native Americans and their

Seven Sacred Ceremonies, presented by Ed McGaa, and references from additional Native

American Authors. Advantageously the Author shares his experience growing up Native and

reflections on participating in the ceremony. He expresses his sorrow over a jeopardized

ecosystem and strives to encourage the reader to participate in the refining of self the Sacred

ceremonies provide. He represents His connection to the Great Spirit and protector of Mother

Earth (McGaa,2023).
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References

McGaa, E. (1990). Mother Earth Spirituality: Native American Paths to Healing Ourselves and

Our World. Harper San Francisco.