Review by Alexander Ketzler

First Medicine Man
Arthur Wright
O.W. Frost, Publisher
Anchorage, Alaska 1977
Age range of readers: From the ages of three and up, but some stories may not be suitable until and older age.

Is this story fiction or a non-fiction story?
The stories were written around 1925 to 1925 while the author was working as an Episcopal priest at Tanana Crossing (Tannacross), Alaska. The stories are based on Athabaskan legends, so this Western society and it people would probably view this as fiction. But, the Indigenous peoples of the Interior of Alaska would consider these stories to be a part of our history in the time line of our creation stories.

Is this story based upon cultural, and/or Indigenous knowledge(s)?
Yes they are, the stories are somewhat different from our stories of the Traveling Man. In his case as he came from below Tanana, Alaska they have there own twists and takes on the story that differ from ours. However, the story line and the characters that he writes about parallel our creation story of the Traveling man.

Is this story an infringement on cultural intellectual knowledge(s)?
In this case I would say that it is not, and then again it is. These stories were written over seventy-five years ago as a supplement to the Episcopal Church issues of the Churchman. They were compiled at the request of his sons that these be put into a book format and published in a book form. The person that they employed for this task was Joan E. Wies, and after the stories were compiled they were sent to a publisher in Anchorage by the of O. W. Frost. The publisher took it upon himself to secure the copyright to the book. When the first publication sold out the sons then requested a second edition only to discover that they could not because it would be a copyright infringement to the copyright holder.

Who is the author?
The author of the story comes from somewhere around Kokrines, or Louden Alaska. He was born at Tanana, Alaska at Our Lady of Our Savior Mission. He was then raised and educated by an Episcopal Priest by the name of Prevost, and got a formal education in the U.S.. Upon his return he helped write the Denatla, and the Culic for the church and began traveling the Interior. He finally settled in Tanancross and then retired in 1935 in Nenana, Alaska.

What is the author's background, i.e.: reliability, credibility?
From what I have already mentioned I feel that he was well qualified and justified in writing The First Medicine Man as he wrote these stories well before the complicated issues of copyright and patent laws have surfaced, or come to light. I am sure this is an issue that his sons and heirs wish that they had been appraised of.

What are the character(s), theme(s), and plot(s) of the story?
The characters themes and plots of the story presented in this book reach to the farthest reaches of time and history that relates in detail the origins of our historical presence on this planet. The themes and plots with their characters that includes of course men and women, and also the vast diverse array of animals that are components of our human psyche.

What is the purpose of the story?
This answer can be found in the preface of the book, to cite it verbatim would be the right thing to do, but for the wrong purpose. I do not want to empower or enrich the copyright holder. The forward in the book states: "This is the tale of Yobaghu-Talyonunh as it is told during the long winter nights when the old men of the village feel disposed to entertain. The tale is hardly known nowadays by the youth of the tribes, who do not have much interest in it. But it is a story that has been handed down by word of mouth from generation to generation, told by the elders with the object of passing on to their successors the customs of the tribes and to explain many things-the natures of the different animals, how the canoe is made, the snowshoe fashioned; why silver-tip is dreaded, the wolverine outlawed. While the tale is not the same among all the tribes, it is told of the same hero among all the Indians of Alaska.
Yobaghu-Talyonunh was the first medicine man, and a good one. All that he did was in the welfare of man. With a few exceptions, he subdued all creatures to his will and those exceptions would have been overcome but for some trickery or conspiracy of the elements. Much of what follows is strange and cannot be explained, but what has been possible to piece together is given here. Arthur R. Wright"

Are the characters in the story real people?
Yes, I personally believe that they are.

Are the illustrations/photographs accurate and/or appropriate?
Yeas they are! They are illustrated by a well know Alaskan artist by the name of Bill Engles who had married a local Minto woman by the name of Betty Titus. Bill is a very well respected artist with many paintings in museums and local banks, and in local millionaire's homes.

Are there stereotypical and demeaning portrayals in the story?
No!

What was the overall feeling of this book? Did you like/dislike this story?
I feel that this book was well written, and the story line of The First Medicine Man is somewhat like the classics of Greek mythology. There are parables and life observations of both animals and humans that make up the components of their psyche.

How did this story make you feel?
I was somewhat surprised that some one from so long ago would take the time to sit down and write about Athabaskan legends. I was impressed at the quality of the work as he encompassed all of the major figures in the creation story that basically fits the story of our story The Traveling Man.

Was the story respectful of its subjects?
Yes the stories are very respectful.

Was the language, vocabulary, used correctly?
Yes, and one can tell that there is a hint of a village vernacular in his writings.

» HAIL Book Reviews