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Red Thunder, by David Matheson, is a compelling cultural history of the Schee-tsu-umsh people, people now known as the Coeur d’Alene Tribe of Northern Idaho.  Presented as a memoir, the story provides insights into the organized and patterned behaviors based on oral traditions that three hundred years ago guided a society through the essential components of a complex culture.

 Sun Bear, the story’s narrator, introduces the integrated systems of learned behavior by beginning with a description of his early childhood, its events and its people.  Besides providing food, shelter, and clothing that Sun Boy (Sun Bear’s boyhood name), relished and appreciated, hunting and gathering expeditions provided practice in becoming one with nature.  Sun Boy was encouraged to “talk to the land, the forest, and the animals that have the power to camouflage and conceal.”  Leaving him feeling “tall and proud,” these outings also made clear to him how much he valued his family members.

 Besides providing their children with nourishing meals and beautiful handmade clothing, Sun Boy’s parents and grandparents entertained them with stories and songs.  They were viewed as kind and loving adults who used these fun activities to teach the children important life lessons, one of which was to have respect for animals as well as humans.

Horses were especially viewed as worthy of respect and a feeling of brotherhood.  Sun Boy came to appreciate this after an outing with his father and uncles.  A ferocious grizzly had lunged at them, putting Sun Boy’s father at great risk, but, fortunately, his horse provided a diversion and saved him by losing its own life.  Sun Boy’s intense need to protect his father eventually led to his new name, Sun Bear.

While still a young man, Sun Bear became a proven warrior.  During a buffalo hunt, his tribal members were accosted by cruel warriors of a different tribe.  Horses, once again, came to the rescue as they bravely rode their human brothers to victory.  And once again, Sun Bear demonstrated an intense need to save others from death.

 In another warlike encounter, Rainbow, Sun Bear’s sister, lost her beloved, a young man who had earned their father’s approval to ask for her hand in marriage.  Deer Hooves had established that he was honest, kind, and sincere.  A young man who truly respected women, he was more than willing to follow customs and traditions.  His unfortunate death brought deep grief to Rainbow and grave concern to her family.

Eventually, Rainbow overcame her grief and found another love.  As Sun Bear matured, he too found love and eventually married.  He describes his wedding as a beautiful moment, a moment that led to togetherness and devotion.  With the birth of his first child, “the realizations of true adult manhood” came to him as he acknowledged this “great wonder of life.”

The memoir ends after another enemy encounter, one that led to the kidnapping of sister Rainbow’s baby.  This moment of danger was overcome as Sun Bear felt strengthened and encouraged by the teachings of his elders.  Despite wounds, he achieved victory and deep happiness once he was reunited with his wife and family.  He concludes with an explanation that as one grows older making sense of life and giving thanks for its many joys creates an understanding that life is, indeed, precious.

This first novel is rich in story and cultural information.  Any reader who instinctively associates "Indian" with "savage" will definitely have a change of view.  Matheson makes it quite clear that his beloved ancestors lived cultivated lives framed by a spiritual awareness and a sense of oneness with nature.  It is a noteworthy addition to the genre of Indian tales.

With this in mind, I highly recommend Red Thunder for all Idaho public libraries as well as school libraries so that young people have the opportunity to read for enjoyment and learning.  To help readers become involved more easily, Matheson has provided a glossary of Salish vocabulary terms and a footnote that explains current names of the locations described in the book.  Should readers wish to learn more about the Coeur d’Alene tribe, they can go to their local library and borrow These are the Coeur d’Alene Tribe by professor of anthropology, Joseph J. S. Feathers, Ph.D.  Another book that focuses on the personal lives of Indians is Daughters of the Earth: The Lives and Legends of American Women by Carolyn Niethammer, writer and student of Native American life.  These books, however, are nonfiction. 

A member of the Coeur d’Alene Indian Tribe, David Matheson has been an involved leader who has promoted an awareness of tribal cultural traditions and practices.  Having earned an MBA from the University of Washington, he is currently the CEO of the highly successful Coeur d’Alene Casino.