A Sacred People: Indigenous Governance, Traditional Leadership, and the Warriors of the Cheyenne Nation by Leo K. Killsback (review)

Abstract

S p r i n g 2 0 2 1 W i C A Z O S A r E V i E W American society, where science is the dominant means of explaining life and where Christian stories and ideologies abound. It seems there will always be a mismatch in beliefs, but this does not mean we cannot live together and work to build and rebuild spiritually healthy societies. As modern Cheyenne begin to spiritually reawaken and decolonize their views of traditional Cheyenne spiritual practices and oral traditions, I believe they will be more inclined to rely on the old spiritual ways. Nothing fits a Cheyenne like Cheyenne spirituality. Killsback intentionally omits a lot of information for protection and out of respect for Cheyenne traditional ways. Unfortunately, simply reading and studying the rituals and principles described in his book cannot lead a person to gain a complete understanding of the Cheyenne ceremonial realm and concept of spirituality. Nor can such study generate worthy spiritual leaders. Those who wish to decolonize need a good place to start, and what better place than the origins of a nation and its sovereignty.