The book "Lakota Woman," is an autobiography that depicts Mary Crow Dog and Indians" Lives. Because I only had a limited knowledge on Indians, the book was full of surprising incidents after incidents. Moreover, she starts out her story by describing how her Indian friends died in miserable and unjustifiable ways. After reading first few pages, I was able to tell that Indians were mistreated in the same manners as African-Americans by whites. The only facts that make it look worse are, Indians got their land stolen and prejudice and inequality for them still exists. Just like other Indian kids on reservation, Crow Dog's childhood was poor in everyway; didn't have enough food, clothes, education, and parents" love. She was kidnapped to boarding school where Indian children are imprisoned: only allowed to go home one week every year. Because Indians have very strong family tide, such as tiyospaye, being taken away from family was very hard for Indian Children. Crow Dog tried to fight against the school system and published newspapers, explaining how school is treating them like slaves. She quit school but she somehow managed to get her diploma. Despite the fact that she earned her diploma, Crow Dog was living aimlessly; drinking, drugs, stealing, and running away from home. Many Indians spend their ADC check on those things because of the given situation they are in. However, not every Indian spends the day boozed and stoned; like people of AIM are trying to fight against the wrong system. She joins AIM where she finds Indians, living their lives to the fullest to fight for their right. AIM changed her life in two big ways; she learned to fight not only for herself but also for her own people and met her husband Leonard Crow Dog. As an AIM person and Indian, she participates in many Indian activities such as BIA take over, the siege at Wounded Knee, and many peyote meetings. She fights against dictator at Pine Ridge, which leads her and AIM people to Wounded Knee where they stayed and fought for 71days.
