The Lakota Way: Stories and Lessons for Living (Compass)

Rich with storytelling, history, and folklore, The Lakota Way expresses the heart of Native American philosophy and imparts the path to a fulfilling and meaningful life. Joseph Marshall is a member of the Sicunga Lakota Sioux and has dedicated his entire life to the wisdom he learned from his elders. Here he focuses on the twelve core qualities that are crucial to the Lakota way of living-bravery, fortitude, generosity, wisdom, respect, honor, perseverance, love, humility, sacrifice, truth, and compassion. Whether teaching a lesson on respect imparted by the mythical Deer Woman or the humility embodied by the legendary Lakota leader Crazy Horse, The Lakota Way offers a fresh outlook on spirituality and ethical living.

 (38 customer reviews)

I bought this book because I was interested in the Lakota way of life, and their belief system. Not only was I enlightened in that aspect, but I gained some insight into the kind of life that I want to live, and the person I want to be. Joseph M. Marshall III, does more than simply list the qualities that are important to the Lakota people. He draws the reader a picture of each quality with stories that have been passed down to him through his family. Not only do these stories show that strength and tenacity of the Native American People through all their hardship at the hands of the whites, but they show people overcoming human weaknesses, and their lives being richer and happier for it. Marshall also describes the outcome of the Native American struggle against the whites differently than I've ever heard it described, that the Native people in this country were never defeated! Through everything the whites put them through, they emerged whith a strong sense of where they came...Read more

This book is an outstanding resource for parents of Lakota children and for teachers, teacher education professors, journalists, counselors, social workers, or anyone who works with Lakota people.Joseph Marshall is an authentic voice bringing back old stories and contemporizing them for his readers as a way of sharing and passing on Lakota wisdom and values for future generations. So many "experts" on the Lakota culture are really just scholars who cannot reach the true center of the culture because they haven't lived it. Joe is the real thing,and his voice is both humble and eloquent as he relates his life to the stories his grandparents told him.I used the book in my summer course for teachers and they have taken it back to their classrooms to use with their students as a way of encouraging Lakota children to write their own stories. I just can't say enough about how great this book is. There is also a CD of Joe reading some of the stories, which is extremely helpful...Read more

If I were still teaching my native language: Lakota, I would use this book in my classroom. I recommend this book to all of my family and friends. It is a must for all, especially to my people as a lot of us need to relearn these ways or to learn them new! I have read "Dance House" also and can only applaud Mr. Marshall for his great writing. Pilamayaye ksto!