mission statement
journey back to move forward
each one a food, medicine, or poison.
Every seed, a reason for living.”
— MAGGHIE
EMPOWERING WOMEN;
MOTHERS, DAUGHTERS, SISTERS, AUNTIES, GRANDMAS,
IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH EACHOTHER
AND WITH OUR MOTHER EARTH.
Women, mothers, daughters, are drawn to these strong female characters who take us on a Journey back, while leading us forward. The stories invite us to know and experience what it was to be a woman centuries ago, connected to each other, to their ancestry, to the living world around them, to the earth, before the influx of modern ways, and industry. These stories empower women, especially, to be the essence of their strong, healing selves.
Native teachings tell of choosing the Red Road or the Black Road: Red is spirituality, growth, connectedness. Black is greed, selfishness, bad intentions. These stories reflect that Red Road, and journey on the Green road, revealing answers along the path; the plant or tree, flower or root, always finding a medicine, for every illness, for every need. Plants grow alongside our needs, and the plants need us too. All those interested in earth ways, plant medicine, herbal healing, recovering the balance of health in our bodies, and the earth, will thrive on these stories.
Many of us feel weak and helpless due to health issues, loss of identity, connection, ancestry, culture. When we work with the plants, we gain autonomy in determining our own health and begin to heal the intense pain of isolation and feeling powerless. Our fascination with the smallest seed, grows with the sprouts, and continues towards blossoming and fruition. Relationships grow that are nurtured. Inspiration replaces tedium and boredom. Energy thrives where there is love and appreciation. Vibrancy, generosity, resilience, rejuvenation, growth, are all lessons we learn with the plants.
every disease an herb to cure it,
and every person a mission.
This is the Indian theory of existence.”
— MOURNING DOVE, SALISH (1888-1936)
“I truly found myself becoming Big Horse Woman— in a sense, I was her, feeling each of her emotions, thoughts, actions. Marvelously written! Such sensitivity and authenticity to the native culture... and the portrayal of relationship to Mother Earth, each other, to the medicines. The flow of Big Horse Woman is so real; I find myself rereading portions almost daily.”
— LEAH DROUBIE, Licensed Nurse, White Earth Nation, Anishinaabe, Minnesota
“I enjoyed the book very much. The Story was very good and kept me wanting to see what was next… The historical facts seem true and put myself in that time while I was reading. I liked how the use of Plants were included in so many various ways and it made me think of my grandmother and how she would tell me about her mother and some of the herbal medicines she would make to help cure her ever growing family. I am letting my daughters read this book and when they are done, I will send it on to my sister, as she wanted to read it too. I know this was an effort of love on your part. Thank you.”
— FAYTHE HURD, Elder, Ponca Tribe of Nebraska
“It was a voice on a journey, on the edge. It was riveting. The scenes have lingered. I don't think I will ever get the image of her out of my mind. Reading it has inspired me as a woman, a seeker, a healer, and as a writer.”
— VIRGINIA SCHWARTZ, Author, Send One Angel Down, Initiation, and If I Just had Two Wings
“I love how Barbara was able to weave in the educational aspects of the Ponca history and language, as well as showcasing her wisdom of plants, herbs, and horses. Salvatore shows such a humble and compassionate regard to the authenticity of the story and writes with care and respect towards the historicity of the people. She mastered a perfect blend of subtle nuance mixed with educational facets that show great equipoise in her writing style. Big Horse Woman is an amazing testament to Salvatore’s talent as a writer, linguist and herbalist. I finished the book having learned so much and at the same time yearning for more! I look forward to the next novel!”
— LEANDRA HALLOWELL NEPHIN, Omaha Tribe of Nebraska and Iowa, University of Oxford
“…it is always moving and amazing to see the ways our relatives in the Other World are ingeniously communicating their help and influence into our lives, giving us a bridge back, a pathway to the indigenous consciousness that unites us and that'll ultimately heal us, which I believe this book so magically and beautifully is. What a special book Barbara has crafted into being for all those who wish to visit the priceless depth and magnificence of those under-remembered and under-told stories and times. We Indians know of the healing that comes from hearing the stories of our ancestors. Here is a book that beautifully holds that healing in its pages for all sorts of readers. I would like to thank Barbara for her contribution to the people's bookshelf with Big Horse Woman. Thank you for receiving these seeds from the dream world and handing them out to us and all of our sons and daughters. And thank you, Big Horse Woman.”
— CLIFFORD TAYLOR III, Ponca Poet, Author, Storyteller, The Memory of Souls, Ponca Tribe of Nebraska
“Thank you! Your work is lovely…beautiful, and I’ve read and enjoyed it with appreciation and enthusiasm.”
— E. BARRIE KAVASCH, Herbalist, Ethno-Botanist, Author, Native Harvests: American Indian Wild Foods & Recipes, Equine Herbs & Healing
“I became engaged with Water Willow very early in the narrative. What I found particularly enjoyable was the way you used your protagonist’s growth, her passage through certain significant events in her life, to show your readers the way the tribe lived day to day in the 1830s and 40s. I felt that in reading this story I absorbed a great deal of information about the food and medicine the Ponca used, their methods of hunting, cooking and making war; also their social norms, their views of the seasons, flora, fauna, the cosmos, and their way of conducting inter-personal relations. An entertaining and hugely instructive story, one that reminds me most strongly of Mari Sandoz’ These Were the Sioux. That slim volume taught me things about Native ways that a score of anthropological tomes had failed to deliver… Written with calm authority.”
— ALAN WILKINSON, Author, The Red House on the Niobrara and Cody, the Medicine Man, and Me, Professor, American Studies, Durham, UK
“I enjoyed reading Big Horse Woman so much. I can’t wait to see the published version!”
— PAM MONTGOMERY, Herbalist, Author, Partner Earth, Plant Spirit Healing, Spiritual Ecology