Seneca Chief, Army General (Creative Minds Biographies Series): A Story about Ely Parker Book

Ely Parker grew up on the Tonawanda Reservation in New York in the 1830s. There he learned the ways of his people, the Seneca Indians. Ely worked many years to save his reservation from a land company, and as a result, he was made a sachem, or chief, by his people. At the same time, he was working as a translator and ambassador to bridge the gap that divided his people from the white Americans. After serving in the Civil War, Ely went on to become a United States general and lead the agency in charge of Indian affairs. Author Elizabeth Van Steenwyk tells this inspiring, and surprising, story of a man who achieved amazing success in two very different worlds.

Children's Literature

Six informative chapters, enlivened with realistic black-and-white drawings, introduce young readers to the life and accomplishments of a remarkable, but often neglected person from U.S. history, Ely Parker. A Seneca sachem, U.S. Army General, Commissioner of Indian Affairs and friend of Ulysses S. Grant, Ely Parker often thought of himself as a "citizen of two worlds," as he struggled to help his people and be faithful to his heritage, while achieving success in the mainstream culture. Part of the "Creative Minds Biographies" series, the author tries to bring history to life by incorporating many quotes from primary sources into the text. An index and bibliography are included. 2000, Carolrhoda, Ages 9 to 14, $21.27. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan