NOBILITY AMID CHANGE

Press, 12 July 1980, Page 17

NOBILITY AMID CHANGE

Shaman's Daughter. By N. F. Salerno and R. M. Vanderburgh. Whitehall, 1980. 404 pp. $15.60. (Reviewed by Hugh Priest) Despite some notable handicaps, this book succeeds over-all. It tells the bitter-sweet story of an Indian woman in Canada whose life (1880’s to 1960’5) spans a period of rapid cultural change on the reservation. Throughout her life she clings defiantly to the old ■ways and values, while round her the clash of cultures pushes the tribe towards change. There is much to criticise, and much to praise in the way the story is written. The book opens with a pretentious dramatis personae listing some 70 names. It is quite unnecessary and can be ignored. The same goes for the prologue, which is an epilogue in

the wrong place. In the body of the story, Rousseau is übiquitous. The general rule is that Indians are naturally noble, virtuous and unselfish, except when corrupted by the whites. As a contrast, white males indulge in theft, incest, rape and murder. White females are timid, colourless and uninteresting. Indian religion ennobles, Christianity corrupts. And so on. But quite surprisingly, the story overcomes all the built-in bias and is very good reading. The central character comes believably alive and we rejoice and suffer with her. Indian religious beliefs and rituals are treated in detail and with sensitivity. Perhaps it is unfair to criticise a romantic novel for lacking in realism. I liked the book and my two teen-age daughters enjoyed it very much.