Reviewed Book: Ross, Rupert. Dancing with a Ghost: Exploring Indian Reality. Markham, Ont: Octopus Pub Group, 1992

Uitti, Roger W.

English

Wilfrid Laurier University

ConsensusVolume 19Issue 2 Liberation Theology Article 2211-1-1993Dancing with a Ghost: Exploring Indian RealityRoger W. UittiFollow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensusThis Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by anauthorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.Recommended CitationUitti, Roger W. (1993) "Dancing with a Ghost: Exploring Indian Reality," Consensus: Vol. 19 : Iss. 2 , Article 22.Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol19/iss2/22Book Reviews 159could treat Newman’s achievement in detail and Ker has no intention ofmaking such an attempt. One must take care, then, in wishing for morethan is possible or what is intended as a brief, readable, and useful guide,but the lack of any real discussion of the Apologia is surprising, particularlysince Ker insists regularly on Newman’s work as framed by “occasions” andas personalist. He is aware of the book’s problems in this regard, however,indicating in the opening lines, the omission of discussion of Newman’spoetry (although he might have commented on it at least briefly in his finalchapter), political thought, and historical studies.It is unfortunate that Ker felt constrained to omit the last two issuesin particular. It was the problem of the relationship of the EstablishedChurch with the State which first spurred members of the Oxford Movementto frame their theological principles, and if it was not history which ledNewman into the Catholic Church, at the least it can be said that he enteredin the context of his historical studies. This shortcoming is not as seriousas it initially appears however. Every reader of Newman’s historical workis immediately aware of how intimately that' author’s theological concernsare bound to his historical writing and it is therefore fitting that Newman’sArians of the Fourth Century and his Development of Christian Doctrineare treated under the section on Newman as theologian.Peter C. ErbWilfrid Laurier UniversityWaterloo, OntarioDancing with a Ghost: Exploring Indian RealityRupert RossMarkham, ON: Octopus Publishing Group, 1992xxvii + 195 pages $15.95Ross Rupert, a non-Native, writes with a sensitivity to his limitations asan “outsider” to native culture and reality. He is also well aware that whatis true of his experience with the Cree and Ojibway peoples of northwesternOntario may require some modification when applied to other aboriginalpeoples farther west or on the coasts. He notes, however, that reaction toan earlier, shorter version of this same book by Native peoples seems toconfirm the presence of a similar, common core among all Canadian Nativepeoples from Labrador to the Yukon.The author writes out of his experience as a fishing guide and as anassistant crown attorney from the District of Kenora, Ontario. The titleof this paperback reflects something of the challenge of his undertaking.One may indeed read too much into one or two local incidents when one islooking for cross-cultural differences. Attempting to bring together one’sobservations of Native habits and mindset is like “dancing with a ghost”: itrequires addressing things of which one has only caught a fleeting glimpse.160 ConsensusIn an early chapter devoted to the ethics or rules “glimpsed” as centralto traditional Native life and conduct, the author sets forth such basics asthe ethic of non-interference; the ethic of not showing anger; the ethic ofhow and how not to praise and show appreciation; the ethic of thinkingthings through thoroughly before actually trying them out; and the ethicof doing things only when the time is right. On the background of thisperspective the author shows how Native philosophy more often than notplaces Native people in direct conflict with the general Canadian culturalenvironment and especially with the Canadian justice system. In contrastto the Canadian court system which seeks to incarcerate, separate, and pre-vent the accused from causing society any further harm, the Native practiceis to utilize non-confrontative consultation and discussion aimed at reha-bilitating, reconciling, and restoring the accused to community. Whereastraditional Canadian culture might focus on the negative inevitabilities ofhuman nature, the writer observes how Native culture puts much more em-phasis on the positive and potential in Native men and women in keepingwith their “doctrine of original sanctity” (ch. 10).I enjoyed reading this book. I believe it helped me gain insight intothe mystery and otherness of Native culture and reality. The book does acredible job at explaining how the present dilemma and conflict betweennon-Native and Native cultures came to be. There are suggestions too asto how both sides might move forward from the present. In my mind,the writer has accomplished his objective: “If I have done nothing else inthis book, I hope to have established beyond controversy that there wasand still is a strong, complex, sophisticated and enduring Native culturewhich deserves our recognition and our study” (187). I wholeheartedlyrecommend the reading of this brief but engaging book, especially for ourclergy and students preparing for ministry in Canada.Roger W. UittiLutheran Theological Seminary, SaskatoonPassion for Justice: Retrieving the Legacies of WalterRauschenbusch, John A. Ryan and Remhold NiebuhrHarlan BeckleyLouisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1992391 pagesHarlan Beckley’s Passion for Justice is an important book in a numberof respects, both in its framework of social ethics and beyond. I electedto review this book because of my historical interests and my sympathieswith the three flgures under discussion. My awareness of Niebuhr involvesreading and study covering a thirty-year period, and I have been an ad-mirer of Rauschenbusch for over two decades. Like most Protestants my

Dancing with a Ghost: Exploring Indian Reality

Scholars Commons

Consensus
Volume 19
Issue 2 Liberation Theology Article 22
11-1-1993
Dancing with a Ghost: Exploring Indian Reality
Roger W. Uitti
Follow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus
This Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by an
authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.
Recommended Citation
Uitti, Roger W. (1993) "Dancing with a Ghost: Exploring Indian Reality," Consensus: Vol. 19 : Iss. 2 , Article 22.
Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol19/iss2/22
Book Reviews 159
could treat Newman’s achievement in detail and Ker has no intention of
making such an attempt. One must take care, then, in wishing for more
than is possible or what is intended as a brief, readable, and useful guide,
but the lack of any real discussion of the Apologia is surprising, particularly
since Ker insists regularly on Newman’s work as framed by “occasions” and
as personalist. He is aware of the book’s problems in this regard, however,
indicating in the opening lines, the omission of discussion of Newman’s
poetry (although he might have commented on it at least briefly in his final
chapter), political thought, and historical studies.
It is unfortunate that Ker felt constrained to omit the last two issues
in particular. It was the problem of the relationship of the Established
Church with the State which first spurred members of the Oxford Movement
to frame their theological principles, and if it was not history which led
Newman into the Catholic Church, at the least it can be said that he entered
in the context of his historical studies. This shortcoming is not as serious
as it initially appears however. Every reader of Newman’s historical work
is immediately aware of how intimately that' author’s theological concerns
are bound to his historical writing and it is therefore fitting that Newman’s
Arians of the Fourth Century and his Development of Christian Doctrine
are treated under the section on Newman as theologian.
Peter C. Erb
Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo, Ontario
Dancing with a Ghost: Exploring Indian Reality
Rupert Ross
Markham, ON: Octopus Publishing Group, 1992
xxvii + 195 pages $15.95
Ross Rupert, a non-Native, writes with a sensitivity to his limitations as
an “outsider” to native culture and reality. He is also well aware that what
is true of his experience with the Cree and Ojibway peoples of northwestern
Ontario may require some modification when applied to other aboriginal
peoples farther west or on the coasts. He notes, however, that reaction to
an earlier, shorter version of this same book by Native peoples seems to
confirm the presence of a similar, common core among all Canadian Native
peoples from Labrador to the Yukon.
The author writes out of his experience as a fishing guide and as an
assistant crown attorney from the District of Kenora, Ontario. The title
of this paperback reflects something of the challenge of his undertaking.
One may indeed read too much into one or two local incidents when one is
looking for cross-cultural differences. Attempting to bring together one’s
observations of Native habits and mindset is like “dancing with a ghost”: it
requires addressing things of which one has only caught a fleeting glimpse.
160 Consensus
In an early chapter devoted to the ethics or rules “glimpsed” as central
to traditional Native life and conduct, the author sets forth such basics as
the ethic of non-interference; the ethic of not showing anger; the ethic of
how and how not to praise and show appreciation; the ethic of thinking
things through thoroughly before actually trying them out; and the ethic
of doing things only when the time is right. On the background of this
perspective the author shows how Native philosophy more often than not
places Native people in direct conflict with the general Canadian cultural
environment and especially with the Canadian justice system. In contrast
to the Canadian court system which seeks to incarcerate, separate, and pre-
vent the accused from causing society any further harm, the Native practice
is to utilize non-confrontative consultation and discussion aimed at reha-
bilitating, reconciling, and restoring the accused to community. Whereas
traditional Canadian culture might focus on the negative inevitabilities of
human nature, the writer observes how Native culture puts much more em-
phasis on the positive and potential in Native men and women in keeping
with their “doctrine of original sanctity” (ch. 10).
I enjoyed reading this book. I believe it helped me gain insight into
the mystery and otherness of Native culture and reality. The book does a
credible job at explaining how the present dilemma and conflict between
non-Native and Native cultures came to be. There are suggestions too as
to how both sides might move forward from the present. In my mind,
the writer has accomplished his objective: “If I have done nothing else in
this book, I hope to have established beyond controversy that there was
and still is a strong, complex, sophisticated and enduring Native culture
which deserves our recognition and our study” (187). I wholeheartedly
recommend the reading of this brief but engaging book, especially for our
clergy and students preparing for ministry in Canada.
Roger W. Uitti
Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon
Passion for Justice: Retrieving the Legacies of Walter
Rauschenbusch, John A. Ryan and Remhold Niebuhr
Harlan Beckley
Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1992
391 pages
Harlan Beckley’s Passion for Justice is an important book in a number
of respects, both in its framework of social ethics and beyond. I elected
to review this book because of my historical interests and my sympathies
with the three flgures under discussion. My awareness of Niebuhr involves
reading and study covering a thirty-year period, and I have been an ad-
mirer of Rauschenbusch for over two decades. Like most Protestants my


https://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1808&amp;context=consensus

Dancing with a Ghost: Exploring Indian Reality

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Wilfrid Laurier University

Scholars Commons