This is the astonishing story of a modern Native American and his journey from delinquency and crime to social work, activism and spirituality. It is also a fascinating and very honest account of Native American history and militancy during the nineteen seventies from the perspective of an activist. For James Robideau, prison became the place where he made his first steps towards committing himself to his people and on the Red Road. He became a leader in the American Indian Movement in the 70's, in these times were the Native American uprising for their rights was going alongside the remembering and revival of their ancestral traditions. James gives a vivid description of the events he was involved in, in this process of political and spiritual empowerment of the indigenous people of North America. His struggle for justice led him to discover the ancestral wisdom he thought had been lost and made him lay down arms in favor of what he discovered to be a more effective way to create positive change - ceremony and prayer. In time he would become a roadman for the Native American Church and a Vision Quest and Sun Dance leader. Man of action, he also has been supporting people as a dedicated social worker during all those years. This book is dedicated to Leonard Crow Dog, James' friend and teacher, spiritual leader of the AIM movement, and to Leonard Peltier, James' cousin, and his fight for freedom.
Born in the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation in North Dakota in 1942, James' life includes the key moments of modern Amerindian History; boarding schools, assimilation, the resettlement policy, injustice, racism, tribal politics, corruption, social work, militant activism, the American Indian Movement, the revival of Native American spiritual practices,...