This historical fiction novel is inspired by real people and events that were shaped by the land, animals, and plants of the Central Plains and by the long sweep of Indigenous history in the grasslands. Major events are presented from a Pawnee perspective to capture the outlook of the Echo-Hawk ancestors. The oral tradition from ten generations of Echo-Hawk's family tell the stories of the spiritual side of Native life, and give voice to the rich culture and cosmology of the Pawnee Nation. "The whole book is lyrical like a long song, both good, bad , happy, sad & insightful. Many things I never heard or knew before about the Pawnee. 5 Stars The Echo Hawk family is one talked of good as they have always been examples. People to emulate in decency, perseverance, traditional ways of their people, activism, the arts & all facets needed to both go ahead & remember & hold onto the past." --Kathleen Robertson Author, attorney and legal scholar Walter Echo-Hawk (www.walterechohawk.com) is a Pawnee Indian who practices law in Oklahoma. He was the inaugural "Walter R. Echo-Hawk Distinguished Visiting Scholar" at Lewis & Clark Law School for 2015. He authored In The Light Of Justice: The Rise of Human Rights in Native America and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2013); In the Courts of the Conqueror: The 10 Worst Indian Law Cases Ever Decided (2010); and Battlefields and Burial Grounds (1994). The Sea of Grass A Family Tale from the American Heartland By Walter R. Echo-Hawk Fulcrum Publishing Copyright © 2018 Walter R. Echo-Hawk All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-938486-75-3 Contents Preface, i, Acknowledgments, iii, Prologue, v, Indigenous Map — Pawnee Country, viii, PART I — THE AGE OF CALICO-CLOTH-WOMAN, Chapter 1 — Riders Are Approaching, 2, Chapter 2 — The Donkey Soldiers, 16, Chapter 3 — Big Knife Soldiers Come Calling, 33, Chapter 4 — The Buffalo Road, 52, Chapter 5 — Refugees, 75, Chapter 6 — The Turbulent Years, 80, Chapter 7 — Smallpox, 102, Chapter 8 — Stars-Fell-to-Earth, 112, Chapter 9 — The Hounds of War, 118, Chapter 10 — Blue Coat's Village, 124, Chapter 11 — The Creek of Souls, 130, Chapter 12 — The Eye of the Storm, 135, Chapter 13 — Big Soldier's Village, 142, Chapter 14 — The Starvation Years, 150, PART II — THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ECHO HAWK, Chapter 15 — My Early Days, 169, Chapter 16 — Male Horse Goes to War, 181, Chapter 17 — My Rite of Passage, 190, Chapter 18 — Aha! I Found You!, 201, Chapter 19 — I Go to the Circus, 216, Chapter 20 — The Covenant with Animals, 227, Chapter 21 — Exodus, 243, Chapter 22 — I Go to War, 259, Chapter 23 — The Powder River, 271, Chapter 24 — Ghost Dance Days, 283, Chapter 25 — Hell's Fringe, 299, Chapter 26 — A New Century Dawns, 309, Chapter 27 — World War I, 319, Chapter 28 — Big Crow Passes from the Earth, 332, PART III — THE GREATEST GENERATION, Chapter 29 — Elmer and George, 340, Chapter 30 — Band of Brothers, 354, PART IV — THE TENTH GENERATION, Chapter 31 — A Whirlwind Comes Calling, 374, Chapter 32 — The Eleventh Generation, 388, Afterword by Roger C. Echo-Hawk, 398, APPENDIX 1 — The Author's Relatives, 402, APPENDIX 2 — South Band Sound Key, 409, BIBLIOGRAPHY, 410, Discussion Questions, 420, CHAPTER 1 Riders Are Approaching On the trail in the Center-of-the-World, 1864 THE RIDERS ADVANCED across the meadow. Ascending the ridge, they were outlined against the blue sky. From this vista, endless rolling hills spread before them. Thanks to crisp weather, the snow resisted the sun's warmth. Nearly a hundred riders rode through the swells and knolls. Many led packhorses laden with dried meat and camping gear, so the group looked much larger than it really was. But the caravan made little noise — just muted conversation and an occasional whinny or cough from the horses. Otherwise, the prairie was silent. No life stirred. Chiitú (Calico-Cloth-Woman) deftly guided her spotted horse through the patches of snow. She glowed with anticipation in the bright afternoon sun. Today is special, she thought. We will camp at the place I was born — sixty-eight winters ago. A few wisps from her thick, loosely braided hair danced in the wind. The bony old lady enjoyed the breeze. The chill did not penetrate her buffalo robe. With the hair side in, the snug garment protected her against the lingering days of winter. Paintings on her spectacular robe depicted the daring deeds of her sons — seven proven warriors known to all as the "Seven Brothers." Calico-Cloth-Woman scanned the horizon. Her dark eyes peered over prominent cheekbones. Shell earrings lent an exotic appearance to the oval-faced woman. Sometimes this dark-eyed lady resembled a cougar, other times the big cheekbones gave her prairie-dog features. Either way, cragged lines etched a hard look in her proud face. It covered hidden scars carried inside an old woman hardened by war. Open life under the sun agreed with Calico-Cl