The Martin High Bear biography completed an unexpected fourth and final edit in April and May. The agreement had already been signed with the publisher and they have been waiting for it to be submitted with the photos. We are sending the final version and a number of photos before the end of this month so it can be released this fall. This document has been 30 years in the making. It’s about time.
It is no surprise that Martin’s biography will be released at the height of today’s conservative book ban. The growing effort to ban books in schools and libraries nationwide accelerated in 2022, and, with new laws restricting racial content, researchers expect to see more efforts to challenge books in 2023. In January, ABC News reported on research by PEN America, the free expression protection group: “There were at least 2,532 book challenges from July 2021 to June 2022, affecting 1,648 book titles.”
We realize Martin’s biography may be banned by political leaders in South Dakota, so we are planning a personal appeal to the Governor to accept it as a positive contribution to the literature since it involves restoration of Lakota cultural values. Bans and black balling is not new or unexpected to us. Martin was blackballed for doctoring non-Indians and including them in ceremony during his later years. He was punished for being “color blind”, but he did not retaliate. Instead, he remained quiet, and prayed that the injustices between races would be resolved and healed.
We feel the time is right for this book release. We feel optimistic and excited that The Seven Commandments will make its mark within Native American communities, and among the peoples of all colors in the world as it was prophesied. We are starting to make plans to thank those who helped us, and to hold book giveaways to those least likely to afford to buy the book. Primary focus will be upon schools and tribal colleges in the northern great plains. Any book sales will help Elderberry Wisdom Farm to purchase copies that we can gift among his Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota relatives.
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