Because the elderly chief wanted his visitor to understand the Ojibwe world, and because Hallowell was deeply interested in his subject matter and was such a good listener, Berens freely related his dreams and other stories about encounters with powerful beings. The fact that he also shared traditional myths in summer, when Ojibwe people thought it dangerous to discuss such things, shows the depth of his relationship with Hallowell. Berens' reminiscences and story and myth texts are unparalleled as sources for the life, experiences, and outlook of this important Ojibwe leader, and for the insights they provide into the history and culture of his people. Rooted in the collaboration between Berens as steward of his oral traditions and Hallowell as creator and guardian of their written versions, Memories, Myths, and Dreams of an Ojibwe Leader draws the reader into the world - and world view - of Chief Berens, showing how an Aboriginal Christian of the early twentieth century could simultaneously take part in "modern" and "traditional" Ojibwe life.

William Berens' profile page

A. Irving Hallowell (1892-1974) was an American anthropologist who taught for most of his life at the University of Pennsylvania.

A. Irving Hallowell's profile page

Jennifer Brown is a Fine-Arts graduate of Concordia University, Montreal. She taught art for 30 years, developing her love of children's creativity and for children's literature. She now makes her home in Prince Edward Island, where she creates handmade books and explores a wide range of media in her studio. Tallulah the Theatre Cat, her first children's book, has won the L. M. Montgomery Award for Children's literature.

Jennifer Brown's profile page