Short description:

This book presents a sociological analysis of death and bereavement practices of American Indians with oral histories from select tribes describing their practices.

Long description:

In Sociology of Death and the American Indian, Gerry R. Cox examines dying, death, disposal, and bereavement as well describes these practices in various American Indian tribes both historically and currently, supplemented with oral histories from select tribes. The book focuses on what can be learned from the practices of traditional cultures, showing that understanding the ways of other cultures can enhance the understanding of one?s own culture by comparing traditional and modern societies. Cox addresses that the centuries of injustices committed against American Indians have led to a neglect of learning about American Indian cultures and ways and attempts to fill the gaps in knowledge of American Indian dying, death, disposal, and bereavement practices.

"Sociology of Death and the American Indian is Gerry R. Cox's magnum opus?a book of both great depth and breadth. Cox is deeply sensitive and respectful to Native American cultures. This book will be of great value to counselors, death educators, those interested in or focused on Native-American life, sociologists, and the general public. It is destined to be the 'go-to' book for anyone interested in the ways that the diverse Native American communities handle death, dying, grief, and loss."

Table of Contents:

Contents

Foreword by Neil Thompson

Preface

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Part I. Sociology of Dying, Death, and the American Indian

Chapter 1: Sociology of Dying and Death

Chapter 2. Why a Sociology of Dying and Death?

Chapter 3.Sociology of the American Indian

Chapter 4. Burial and Mortuary Customs of American Indians

Chapter 5. Culture of American Indians

Chapter 6 American Indian Cultural Denigration

Chapter 7. Problems in Understanding Other Cultures

Part II. Sociology of the American Indian Spirituality, Dying, and Death

Chapter 8. Sociology of American Indian Religion

Chapter 9. American Indian Religion and Death

Chapter 10. The Sacred Way and Loss: American Indian Spirituality

Chapter 11. Death and Intimacy Impairment in Later Life

Chapter 12. American Indian Grief: The Healing Path

Part III. Tribal Practices in Dying, Death, Disposal and Bereavement

Chapter 13. Anasazi Disposal and Bereavement Practices

Chapter 14. Aztec Disposal and Bereavement Practices

Chapter 15. Maya Disposal and Bereavement Practices

Chapter 16. Mounds Builders Disposal and Bereavement Practices

Chapter 17. The Dine (Navajo) Disposal and Bereavement Practices

Chapter 18. The Inde (Apache) and Tohono O?odham Disposal and Bereavement Practices

Chapter 19. Hopi Disposal and Bereavement Practices

Chapter 20. Lakota and Blackfeet Disposal and Bereavement Practices

Chapter 21. Cheyenne, Shawnee, and the Potawatomi Disposal and Bereavement Practices

Chapter 22. Ojibwe/Anishinabe/Chippewa, Shoshone, and Stockbridge-Munsee Disposal and Bereavement Practices

Part IV. Understanding the Sociology of Dying, Death, and the American Indian

Chapter 23. Dying: What We Can Learn from American Indians

Conclusion

References

About the Author