Description
Empowerment of North American Indian Girls: Ritual Expressions at Puberty is a study by developmental psychologist Carol A. Markstrom of the ceremonial practices of specific Native American communities surrounding the coming-of-age of young women. She examines the anthropological, historical, and Indigenous literature on the subject and combines this data with ceremonies she attended specifically the Apache Sunrise Dance or Na'ii'ees at San Carlos. She also writes about the puberty ceremonies for of Navajo, Lakota, and Ojibwe girls. It is these traditional ceremonies that remain active in Indigenous communities and assist young women in their transition from childhood to adulthood. The ceremonies and kinship connections reinforce the Nation's values and affirm the young woman's identity. The book contains an extensive bibliography, index, and black and white photographs.