
audiobook
by James Mooney
A vivid mosaic of tribal memory unfolds through the Kiowa’s own yearly records, letting listeners trace the nation’s journey from its early migrations across the plains to its first contacts with neighboring peoples. The narrative weaves together stories of alliances with the Crows and Apache, the arrival of the horse, and the formative battles that shaped a warrior culture still rooted in the open sky.
Beyond the chronicles of war, the work offers intimate glimpses of Kiowa society—its councils, sun dances, and the intricate system of names and symbols that bound the community together. It also follows the profound changes brought by disease, trade, and treaties, highlighting moments such as the small‑pox outbreaks, the 1867 Medicine Lodge agreement, and the gradual shift toward reservation life. Listeners will gain a nuanced portrait of a people navigating both tradition and upheaval, all narrated through the rhythm of their own calendars.
Language
en
Duration
~15 hours (914K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by PM for Bureau of American Ethnology, The Internet Archive (American Libraries), Wayne Hammond and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF/Gallica) at http://gallica.bnf.fr)
Release date
2014-08-02
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1861–1921
Best known for his close, firsthand studies of Cherokee and Kiowa communities, this American ethnographer brought unusual depth and detail to the record of Native life and tradition. His work remains especially noted for its research on the Ghost Dance and on Cherokee history and sacred formulas.
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