Joseph Marshall III was born on the Rosebud Indian reservation in South Dakota and was raised by his maternal grandparents. He is an author, historian, educator, motivational speaker, Lakota craftsman, and has been both a technical advisor and an actor in television movies, including Return to Lonesome Dove. A recipient of the Wyoming Humanities Award, he is the author of four collections of essays and short stories.
On these four CDs running three and three-quarter hours, Marshall has a tribal elder named Old Hawk counsel a young man who is grieving for his father. He wants to know why life is so difficult and the wise one responds with a mix of stories, advice, and counsel that reveals the bounties of perseverance. "Adversity has much to teach us. But in order to learn we cannot turn away from it," Old Hawk says. Through other tales, he talks about facing our fears, the importance of laughter, and the need to keep the body, mind, and spirit strong.
