Chapter Two, Invisible Fathers Summary and Analysis

This chapter opens with a song sung at ritual Ghost Dances. Family ties have always been and remain important to the Indian people. The extended family group consists of grandparents, uncles, aunts, in-laws, and cousins, all living together to ensure that everyone is taken care of. Children are taught by several fathers and cared for by multiple mothers. Grandparents provide a large portion of the child care while parents are hunting. The white man purposely destroyed the tiyospaye (or circle of relatives). Each nuclear family was forced onto individual land allotments so the white man's individualistic values could be more easily imposed upon the Indians. Those who refused were pushed farther into isolation. The nuclear family concept does not work for the Sioux culture, as men spend time drinking and women become frustrated. Grandparents still...