Stories of Maasaw, A Hopi God by Ekkehart Malotki and Michael Lomatuway’ma (review)

92 Western American Literature Stories of Maasaw, A Hopi God. By Ekkehart Malotki and Michael Lomatuway ’ma. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1987. 347 pages, $24.95/ $14.95.) The most intriguing and multifaceted of the Hopi Indian deities, Maasaw touches upon the whole spectrum of Hopi spiritual beliefs. The sixteen tales collected in thisvolume portray the complex personality and power of Maasaw while faithfully representing the Hopi narrative form. Stories of Maasaw, A Hopi God, isvolume ten of theAmerican Tribal Religions monograph series. —from the book cover The Way To Independence: Memories of a Hidatsa Indian Family, 18401920 . By Gilbert L. Wilson. Edited by Carolyn Gilman and Mary Jane Schneider. (St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 1987. 371 pages, $40/$24.95.) In 1906 anthropologist Gilbert L. Wilson arrived at Independence, a small, isolated settlement on the Fort Berthold Reservation in western North Dakota. There he met three Hidatsa Indian people who would take him into their homes and tell him their stories. With Goodbird acting as interpreter, Wilson took notes as Wolf Chief and Buffalo Bird Woman recounted mem­ ories reaching back over 65 years. Wilson’spenciled notebooks, hisphotograph album, and the artifacts he collected form the basis for this book. Authors Gilman and Schneider use both text and illustrations to explore the material culture, spirituality, and adaptations of the Hidatsa people during a time of tremendous change. Four essays by Indian scholars discuss the tribe’s origins, religion, and natural environment as well as the anthropological studies of Gilbert Wilson and his brother Frederick. —from publisher’sfact sheet Life of Bishop Machebeuf. By W. J. Howlett. (Denver: Regis College, 1987. 462 pages, $24.95/$11.95.) This new edition of the 1908 biography of Bishop Machebeuf contains a new foreword, notes, bibliography and index, as well as a short essay on Cather’suse of the original text of her book, Death Comes for the Archbishop. Reprinted for the 100th Anniversary celebration of the Archdiocese ofDenver, the book is available through Ancient City Press / P. O. Box 5041 / Santa Fe, New Mexico. — from the press sheet ...