"...Thomas Vennum captures the essence of one Ojibwe life. Through memories and letters, Bill Baker comes alive and teaches us what we have almost forgotten: the meaning and practice of Ojibwe tradition. The story unfolds in the context of many of the events and movements relevant to Indians in the 20th century: the boarding school disasters, allotment, the World Wars, AIM, the takeover of the Winter dam, the spear-fishing controversy, the reality of tribal factions. Woven throughout are essential native practices: wild ricing, sharing the fruits of the hunt, a naming ceremony, powwows. Especially poignant is the portrayal of reservation life, the reality of which many American cannot or never will see."--Theresa Schenk, cover, p. [4].