Although Todrys makes extensive use of sources and documents from both sides of the dispute, there is no doubt that her sympathies lie with the protestors ... Todrys, a former researcher at Human Rights Watch, clearly knows how to gather great quantities of information from a wide variety of sources. She also knows how to tell a good story ... The historical context and ground-level reportage on conditions on both the reservations and the oil fields add greatly to the power of the book. Todrys also does an excellent job of guiding the reader through the thicket of lawsuits, countersuits, court orders, injunctions, amicus briefs, motions for summary judgments, and other legal procedures ... Todrys blends wide-ranging research with solid on-the-ground reporting to tell a compelling and important story—one whose full impact is yet to be felt.
... a riveting account ... Black Snake offers a cast of thousands, but it also focuses on the lives of four Native American women: Lisa DeVille, Jasilyn Charger, LaDonna Brave Bull Allard, and Kandi White. The book deftly weaves their individual stories ... All Americans who care about the fate of Native Americans and about clean water, clean air, and a non-toxic earth will find Todrys' book inspiring.
Kathern Todrys really lays it on the line ... she doesn’t mince words. From the first page I was sorry I couldn’t read fast enough and it was hard to put it down as well. But I did because it’s hard to read and write through tears. As an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux this really hit me where it hurts ... I highly recommend this book.
Based on the stories and insights from LaDonna Allard, Jasilyn Charger, Lisa DeVille and Kandi White, Todrys paints a vivid portrait of daily life on the reservations and the protests against the broader backdrop of our nation’s history exploiting Native peoples. My one critique is the missed opportunity to innovate within the nonfiction form. Because Todrys conducted multiple long-form interviews with the four activists, I was hoping we would see more of their own words shine through the book, perhaps with the interview transcripts right alongside her analysis. Still, her book gives a voice to those who have long been silenced or misunderstood as they fight not just for their lands but for the health of everyone who lives in this nation.
Todrys skillfully explores the stories of four Indigenous women in the anti-DAPL movement: Lisa DeVille, Jasilyn Charger, LaDonna Allard, and Kandi (Mossett) White ... Chapters bring readers into the heart of the movement ... A humanistic investigative documentation of the legal and political battle of DAPL. It will appeal to readers interested in Indigenous movements, environmental movements, and the historical significance of this protest.
