In this collection of luminous vignettes, beloved inspirational writer Joyce Sequichie Hifler, author of A Cherokee Feast of Days and Think on These Things , tells for the first time the story of her own childhood spent in Cherokee Country. From a family so poor that an eight-dollar monthly check was a godsend, Hifler shares the profound lessons she learned from her elders and from the Great Spirit. A gracefully written story of contemporary Native American life and spirituality, When the Night Bird Sings soars with trademark Hifler insight, a poignant appreciation for nature, and the universal magic of childhood. Hifler, a syndicated columnist and the author of A Cherokee Feast of Days (Council Oak Dist., 1992), shares brief vignettes of her childhood in the Cherokee country of Oklahoma. These tales are interspersed with bits of inspirational wisdom on faith, prayer, and our relation to nature. The reader gets tantalizing glimpses of Hifler's youth, her many relatives and friends, and the countryside of rural Oklahoma. But the book is too short and scattered to provide detailed description, ultimately descending to a series of quick but thoughtful sketches, many of which began as newspaper columns. Light reading suitable for larger public libraries.AGwen Gregory, New Mexico State Univ. Lib., Las Cruces Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. In a charming collection of tiny essays, Cherokee writer Hifler captures the earth-based wisdom of her people and of the Christian tradition, as well. Each short piece, the length of one of her syndicated newspaper columns, reflects on an incident or a memory, then extracts a moral, though rarely moralistic, meaning from it. Planting beans leads to reflection on the continuing story of creation; gazing in a mirror elicits reflections on the mysteries of the body; a memory of mother love spurs meditation on the maternal spirit in all life. Hifler's prose has a deeply rooted sensuousness that transcends region, culture, and religion to express a generous human spirit and a soulful approach to life's joys and tribulations. Patricia Monaghan "A wonderful, enchanting book providing us a reflection on the life of a young Cherokee girl growing up in the hills of the Cherokee Nation. It is a must read for all who yearn for the past, but continue to be awakened to the beauty of the present. The Sounds and sights of nature come alive as Joyce tells us her story." -- Ross O. Swimmer, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation 1975-85 "Nothing is more important to our culture and history than recording family stories like this wonderful collection of vignettes about the Sequichie family." -- Wilma Mankiller, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, 1985-95 "The stories are poignant and humorous, the descriptions of summer, rocky hills, the seasons, and the sweetness of prairie grasses translucent - a wonderful reminder of how beautiful life really is." -- NAPRA May/June 1999 "When the Night Bird Sings is a delightful journey back to a simpler time in the Oklahoma hills. The author's loving portraits will make your heart sing." -- Jean Hager, Author of Bushyhead & Bearpaw Mysteries Related titles by Joyce Hifler A Cherokee Feast of Days Paperback ISBN: 0-933031-68-8 A Cherokee Feast of Days, Vol. II paperback ISBN:1-57178-053-X hardcover ISBN: 1-57178-025-4 Think on These Things paperback, ISBN: 0-933031-79-3 Joyce Sequichie Hifler tells the story of her own childhood in the Oklahoma hills of Cherokee Country. A gracefully written story of contemporary Native American life and spirituality, When the Night Bird Sings soars with deep feeling and trademark Hifler insight and compassion. From a family so poor that an eight-dollar monthly check was a godsend, Hifler shares the profound lessons she learned from her extended family of elders and from the Great Spirit. The richness of the landscape is woven through the book in a poignant tribute to nature and to the universal magic of childhood. Joyce Sequichie Hifler is a nationally syndicated columnist and best-selling author of inspirational books. Descended from the Sequichie family who emigrated to Oklahoma over the Trail of Tears, she grew up in Cherokee country in rural Oklahoma. In 1998, Hifler was inducted into the Indian Territory Hall of Fame. Our Cherokee allotment land lay in the crest of three hills. Almost everything that had anything to do with our lives was played out on those hills. Storms came from the west, the school bus came over the north road, and coyotes slipped over the east hill in sly effort to catch one of our hens. Other things happened over the east hill as well. British cadets were making training maneuvers there, diving and turning as though they were in combat. With Papa stationed in Virginia, Mama and I were on our own. Much of my time was spent riding my horse, Figger, over the east hill where everything could be observed. . . . The east hill was not hospitable to Figger because