Ojibwe, Activist, Priest: The Life of Father Philip Bergin Gordon, Tibishkogijik is the first academic biography of an important figure whose fight against the Bureau of Indian Affairs and for Native rights was overshadowed by his Catholic proselytizing, his arrogant attitude and his controversial leadership, which led to the downfall of the Society of American Indians. Now, Tadeusz Lewandowski (Red Bird, Red Power: The Life and Legacy of Zitkala-Ša), scholar and head of the department of American literature and culture at the University of Opole in Poland, shines a spotlight on this flawed character who was ultimately driven by a dedication to the protection and improvement of circumstances for his people.
The first indigenous person to be ordained as a Catholic priest within the United States and who ministered primarily to Native peoples, Philip Bergin Gordon (1885-1948) was fiercely proud of his Ojibwe heritage. Nicknamed "Wisconsin's Fighting Priest," Gordon "spent much of his life fighting against the government institution he felt caused more pain to his people than any other: the Bureau of Indian Affairs." Sadly, Gordon's activist efforts resulted in more losses than wins. His contributions to the Progressive-era Native activism of the early 20th century have remained largely unrecognized due to his conviction that "religious and cultural assimilation were necessary for the salvation and survival of Indians within the United States." Yet by acknowledging that Gordon was a product of his time and upbringing, Lewandowski's biography restores Gordon's contributions to the fight for Native rights, a man who "stood up for his humanitarian beliefs without compromise." --BrocheAroe Fabian, owner, River Dog Book Co., Beaver Dam, Wis.