May 2023 MBR The Native American Studies Shelf

The Native American Studies Shelf

Stands Before His People: Enmegahbowh and the Ojibwe
Verne Pickering, author
Stephen Schaitberger, author
Beaver's Pond Press
939 Seventh Street West, St. Paul, MN 55102
www.BeaversPondPress.com
9781643439303, $32.00, HC, 224pp

https://www.amazon.com/Stands-Before-His-People-Enmegahbowh/dp/1643439308

Synopsis: Enmegahbowh (c. 1820 - June 12, 1902) was an extraordinary American. He spoke both Ojibwe and English, lived among the Ojibwe, endeavored as a Christian missionary, and participated in the politics of relations and treaties between the Ojibwe, the US government, and the settlers who desired land to log and farm.

While Enmegahbowh's first mission was with the Methodists, he eventually connected with Reverend J. Lloyd Breck and was made an Episcopal priest by Bishop Henry Whipple, the first Episcopal bishop of Minnesota. Importantly, Enmegahbowh left a written record of his work, a plenitude of which is presented for the first time with the publication of "Stands Before His People: Enmegahbowh and the Ojibwe" which recreates the story of Enmegahbowh's life, from about 1813 to 1901.

Critique: Rescued from an undeserved obscurity and deftly co-authors by Verne Pickering and Stephen Schaitberger, with "Stands Before His People: Enmegahbowh and the Ojibwe", a new generation of readers will discover the life and legacy of Enmegahbowh, who was the first Ojibwe Episcopalian priest in the United States and who, during the turbulent frontier days of the 1800s, worked for peace, opportunity, and cooperation among all peoples. Impressively enhanced for the reader with numerous historical photos and illustrations, Simply stated, "Stands Before His People: Enmegahbowh and the Ojibwe " is an exceptional, informative, and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, community, college, and university library Native American Studies & Biography collections,

Editorial Note #1: Verne Pickering began his writing career creating engineering documents for an editor who demanded the three c's: completeness, conciseness, and clarity. The first book he published was Hatley: History of a Central Wisconsin Village, written in collaboration with his brother, Donald Pickering. Verne Pickering lives in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

Editorial Note #2: Stephen Schaitberger first encountered stories of Enmegahbowh as a youth at Cass Lake Episcopal Camp on the Leech Lake Reservation. In 1980 Schaitberger became the rector of St. Paul's Church in Brainerd, Minnesota, the same area where Enmegahbowh began his own ministry. Schaitberger served for over twenty years as a chaplain in the Minnesota National Guard and for ten years on the diocesan staff as a canon missioner for Northern Minnesota. He is a professed member of the Third Order of the Society of St. Francis. Now retired, he splits his time between Minnesota and Arizona.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review