Life Among the Piutes: Their Wrongs and Claims

By Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins

Book Overview

This autobiographical work was written by one of the country's most well-known Native American women, Sarah Winnemucca. She was a Paiute princess and a major figure in the history of Nevada; her tribe still resides primarily in the state. Life Among the Piutes deals with Winnemucca's life and the plight of the Paiute Indians. Life Among the Piutes is Winnemucca's powerful legacy to both white and Paiute cultures. Following the oral tradition of Native American people, she reaches out to readers with a deeply personal appeal for understanding. She also records historical events from a unique perspective. She managed to record the Native American viewpoint of whites settling the West, told in a language that was not her own and by a woman during the time when even white women were not allowed to vote. Sarah Winnemucca dedicated her life to improving the living and social conditions for her people. She gave more than 400 speeches across the United States and Europe to gain support for the Paiutes. She died of tuberculosis in 1891. Life Among the Piutes was originally published in 1883.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0874172527
• ISBN13: 9780874172522
• Release Date: November 1994
• Publisher: University of Nevada Press
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.0" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

Life Among The Piutes

The amazing story by an amazing woman. I hate to read but could hardly put it down. I wont read a "novel" there are books like this that have more adventure and they are true. The "errors" are totally forgivable, especially when you get to be my age, working on my eighth decade. You will understand that statement after you read the two books about this book. Read them last. Read about their survival customs first to really appreciate this book.

Life Among the Piutes: Their wrongs and claims.

The book was all there needed it for a class. It was readable and perfectly okay to read once.

typical expectations

Sarah Winnemucca's story is told with a dry edge. The sufferings she and the Paiutes endure draw the reader in, but at the same time, the author creates a distance between her identity and the rest of the worlds'. Many details of her life are left out, primarily focusing on tribal activity, government oppression, and her own diverse involvements between the two. The book leaves one feeling depressed, yet intrigued by a flourishing curiosity. One can only read about death, rape, disease, and war so often in one text before the "guilt" sets in. Life among the Piutes is exactly what anyone would expect given the history and culture. Part of what makes it such a good read is the initial expectation of readers from non-native or non-natively educated backgrounds. It provides a comfortable transition from stereotypical expectations to the deep truths, injustices, and cultures of American Indians. It's an easy read that tells the dark tale of one of many oppressed Native tribes and provokes a quest for knowledge thereafter; a vital tool for any person dealing with preconceived notions concerning an entire race of people with a thirst for truth.

From the True Perspective of a Native American

This book is a little difficult to read and understand at times due to the archaic language, but is definitely a worthy read. It tells the story you never learned in your history class in school. From the beginning legend of how the Native Americans became estranged from their White Brothers who were banished across the seas to the Paiute Elder telling everyone to rejoice in the return of the White Brothers is fascinating yet heartbreaking. We all know it didn't turn out so well for the Native Americans. In reading Sarah's story, which is written from the heart, it is easy to see how the Native Americans were exploited, treated as less than human and moved around like pawns to suit the white man's interest. I have the utmost respect for Sarah and her courage to speak up for her people. I also have the greatest respect for those who have followed, speaking her truths. Wake up people, we are on the wrong track. Bless you Sarah Winnemucca for your wonderful book and your attempts to make things right!

Life Among the Paiutes

I read Winnemucca's autobiography for a Native American History class at University and found it to be excellently written! She was such a powerful role model for Indian women during the time and was greatly respected for her role in the Indian community! Although some feminists may critique her for not standing up for her people at some points in her life, her contributions to the Paiutes have made her one of their most revered members over history. As I read this book I was in awe of how great of a woman Sarah must have been considering the time she lived and how priceless her stories are!