The Sacred Hoop

Almost thirty years after its initial publication Paula Gunn Allens celebrated study of womens roles in Native American culture history and traditions continues to influence writers and scholars in Native American studies womens studies queer studies religion and spirituality and beyond. This groundbreaking collection of seventeen essays investigates and celebrates Native American traditions with special focus on the position of the American Indian woman within those customs. Divided into three sections the book discusses literature and authors history and historians sovereignty and revolution and social welfare and public policy especially as those subjects interact with the topic of Native American women.. Poet academic biographer critic activist and novelist Paula Gunn Allen was a leader and trailblazer in the field of womens and Native American spirituality. Her work is both universal and deeply personal examining heritage anger racism homophobia Eurocentrism and the enduring spirit of the American Indian.