<p>The poems in Why I Return to Makoce tell of the immense loss of land and life and language that American Indians have endured, but they ultimately assert a powerful call to action for tribal people to make some serious decisions and changes for the future of [our] children. These poems, which are steeped in Lakota cultural traditions, urge us to take a deep breath, to take initiative, and to not allow ourselves to drift back to the safety of chains. They encourage readers to believe that change is possible and that it is through our reconnection with the spirit realm, the real world that we can heal ourselves and our communities.-- Heather Cahoon author of Elk Medicine</p>

Why I Return to Makoce

Lois Red Elk

Many Voices Press

The poems in Our Blood Remembers by Lois Red Elk make a circle from the old days and old ways to the present where ghosts of the past walk with the living. These are honest poems from a grassroots Dakota woman. They offer brilliant and insightful portrayals of Native pain, hope, and joy. In the flickering campfires of these poems, the blood does remember. -- Adrian C. Louis  I have been waiting a long time -- perhaps even my whole lifetime -- for this collection of poems. It is as if we have all been given the gift of time and perspective, allowed to view our world, our lives, our strengths and shortcomings through a primeval and potent lens. If we are to endure, persist and thrive again, we need these words. As lucid as a spring thunderstorm on the high plains, Red Elk's candor, clarity and wisdom are imparted amongst and across generations. This collection is what we have all been waiting for. -- Mandy Smoker Broaddus  It is important that you write in our own Indigenous language when you compose your poetry: that is the genuine voice of our people. It is so important that our own people appreciate and use their own language; that, to me, is where the real poetry of Indigenous spirit, mind, hear, soul is. Our Indigenous language is the true voice of our land, culture, and community, and it is the voice of poetry truly. -- Simon J. Ortiz

Our Blood Remembers

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Lois Red Elk. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Lois Red Elk

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Lois Red Elk. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Why I Return to Makoce

Our Blood Remembers