Council Decisions

“Yes, there still shines this indigenous spirit that continues on as much as the rivers and will never vanish.” How perfect that Ron dedicated Council Decisions to his mother, Jessie, and that his title poem refers to the Susquehanna as the path for escaping genocide. These poems are woven with rivers; their music, rhythms and chant effects flow as the rivers do on Mother Earth where Eastern Natives accord immense respect to girls and women. After reading Ron’s book, I realized he had canoed me home through the complexities of his personal and family history and the story of all of us Indian people. How to say this poetry broke my heart but in a beautiful way, brilliantly providing refuge from the loss and sadness it river-dances out of? Nya’weh. - Susan Deer Cloud(Mohawk/Blackfoot/Seneca)