Turtle Island Alphabet: A Lexicon of Native American Symbols and Culture

by Gerald Hausman

Book Overview

Gerald Hausman has spent more than 20 years studying, collecting, and narrating Native American stories. In a collection of symbols and images central to Native American culture, he offers a lyrical, poetic work which reaffirms the view that Native Americans once held of the land. Illustrations.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312071035
• ISBN13: 9780312071035
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 204 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 7.8" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Reference Book

From Turtle Island Alphabet: "When medicine men share a story, an educational process begins that is a circle of sharing between teller and listener. The story is born so that the listener may, at some point, become the teller; and this is how history is written in the human mind." I've had this book on my shelf for a number of years and pull it out every once in a while to use as a reference for one or many of the symbols associated with Native American culture/s. Turtle Island Alphabet, available in paperback, contains a beautiful and informative introduction by the author. It's very thorough, with text, photos and illustrations, covering the symbolic meaning alphabetically from "arrow" to "zigzag." A vast number of tribes are included in the text, driving home the history of "the People." It includes an explanation of the geographic mistakes leading to the use of the word "Indian," and even more interesting and relevant to the book's name, "America" used in place of "Turtle Island." Recommend for any study of Native American culture/s. From the author of "A Line Between Friends," McKenna Publishing Group.

The Earth, aka 'Turtle Island'

Awesome storytelling, and delightful accounts that share the native american insights to common everyday experience. I own the cassette and especially enjoy listening to them in the tones and inflections of the indians. Whether you choose to believe them or not, (set yourself up for some disappointment if you are too literal), just enjoy the artful way things are presented.