Brother Eagle, Sister Sky by Susan Jeffers

Brother Eagle, Sister Sky

Written and Illustrated by Susan Jeffers

Published 1991

This book was written to be based on a speech given by Chief Seattle at treaty negotiations in 1854.

The author however took liberties with the speech and misinterpreted the speech. 

The story is about Native Americans and portrays the people in a very stereotypical way. The author writes things like: 

"My father said to me, I know the sap that courses through the trees as I know the blood that flows in my veins, We are part of the earth and it is part of us. The perfumed flowers are our sisters."
(Jeffers, 9)

Chief Seattle was a well respected and peaceful leader of one of the Northwest Indian Nations there is much controversy about whether his speech was actually a speech or a letter. 

The earth does not belong to us Chief Seattle said, we belong to the earth and we must respect the earth. The books comes off as having a good message but to a Native American is the epitome of a stereotype of an Indian.

This books goes by the stereotype of what a Native American is. Page nine in the book depicts the Indians all dressed in standard buckskin and feathers and on the same page is a white family wearing modern day clothing. Another example is the book uses the term Red man when referring to the Native Americans.

Native Americans are always thought to be all natural and in tune with the earth this book focuses on that aspect.

In my opinion there are better books out that show a better, more well rounded portrayal of what being a Native American really is. Susan Jeffers the author is not of Native American descent.




Jeffers, Susan. Brother Eagle, Sister Sky. New York. Dial Books. 1991