A Memoir of Chief Two White Feathers

Portrait of a Spiritual Practitioner (Cherokee Chapbooks) (Vol. 2)

By: Donald N. Panther-Yates

Narrated by: Richard V. Dalke

Length: 51 mins

Publisher's summary

This portrait of Paul Russell, a Tihanama spiritual practitioner also known as Chief Two White Feathers, is based on interviews by the author in Tennessee in 1996. It covers a wide range of topics, including seer tradition, herbal medicine and the ways of Tihanama spirituality.

Some of the lessons imparted are the three mountains, honoring, how to approach a medicine person, Indian sign talk and color symbolism. It's a one-on-one session with a personable teacher whose simple words you will never forget.

©2011 Donald N. Panther-Yates (P)2013 Donald N. Panther-Yates

This audio book fed my heart- thanks

I wish there are many, many more memoirs like this and even deeper would be great too. Well done! I’ll listen again.

Joy Riding with the Chief

“The Milky Way is the spirits of our people” is one of many teachings that Donald Panther-Yates wrote down in his composition note book told to him by Chief Two White Feathers.

The Author spent 4 months in 1996 interviewing the Chief on a wide range of topics, including herbal medicine, shamanism, ceremonies, visions and tribal affairs. Paul Russell aka Chief Two White Feathers of the Tihanama Nation, a Middle Tennessee spiritual practitioner, is a “spiritual healer, herbalist, principal chief, storyteller and teacher, ceremony chief, conjurer, traditional grass and straight dancer, keeper of seer traditions, amateur astronomer and geophysicist, painter, leather worker, jeweler, mechanical engineer, computer programmer, third-level Midewiwin Lodge priest, flute and drum maker, songwriter, singer, composer, recording artist, stone carver, potter, mask and mandala maker, knife maker and gunsmith, bow and arrow maker and woodworker/carpenter.”
(American Indian Religious Traditions: An Encyclopedia, ed. Suzanne J. Crawford and Dennis Francis Kelleyn (Santa Barbara:ABC-CLIO, 2005). Vol. III, p.1043)

Chief Two White Feathers is a multi-faceted individual, Shaman, Artisan, Musician. As an amateur astronomer and geophysicist, his views on Aliens and Orion will delight the fans of Ancient Aliens.

One interesting story is about a “joy ride” or road trip on the Natchez Trace with the Author late at night. A lot of storytelling can occur on road trips, and subject matter flows with the miles. This tale is interesting and lends itself to road trip entertainment.
There is truth in a lot of good stories. In particular there is one regarding how the politics of the AIFRA (American Indian Freedom of Religion Act) came about. I didn’t know that, but vaguely remember it from 1979. In my view One of the lesser known great accomplishments of President Jimmy Carter.

I enjoyed Richard’s Narration style. He lent inflection and personality, by distinguishing between the Author and Paul Russell.

The Book is Fascinating insight to native spiritual traditions!