Ishi Living the Way

A detailed Summary of Ishi Living the Way

Ishi has always strived to help his family; ingrained in him is a responsibility and desire to help protect and provide for them. Life for the remaining Yahi people becomes more and more complicated as their population decreases, and the saldu presence in the Yahi world increases. Ishi and his family are constantly adapting their lifestyle to survive in an ever-changing world. The one constant in Ishi's life, weather he is living in the Yahi world or the saldu world, is his endless quest to live in accordance with the way, or in harmony with nature.

Imbedded in Ishi is a respect for all the creatures around him. Ishi feels one with the world around him, the animals around him are not lesser beings, and they are an essential part of the world Kaltsuna and Jupka created thousands of years ago. "A small cotton-tail rabbit came out of the brush, hopping closer and closer to him...with a last hop, rabbit landed between Ishi's hands....I am hungry. My People are hungry. It is the duty of the hunter to take what he can. But this four-footer I shall not take. It came to me without fear, knowing I was not hunting."(Ishi last of his tribe Pg 46) How many could say truthfully, that near starving they would let an easy catch go? N

ot many. Ishi follows the way and does not take anything he doesn't need, or kill animals that come to him when he isn't hunting no matter how hungry he is. To Ishi what is one night of hunger for the life of a rabbit that trusted him?

After the death of Tushi, Elder Uncle and then his mother, Ishi relies on instinct to survive. His instincts lead Ishi to the saldu world and eventually to his new home in San Francisco. Instead of being consumed by grief for the tragedies he has survived, Ishi embraces is new home, making friends and a new life for himself. "Majapa motioned around the room. 'You like? Aizuna-It is your own..' Ishi smiled. Wowi aizuna, wowi aizuna. My own home.'"(Pg 163) On Ishi's first day at the museum he already feels it is his home. He knows the Yahi world is dead and he is able to adapt to his new life quickly because he lives in harmony with any situation. Ishi has the rare gift of being at peace with any situation or with any group of people.

Ishi thrives on helping others and, without people he has no reason to live; his new purpose is to help Maliwal learn to live in accordance with the way. "Elder Brother must stay near to Young Wolf. The wanasi is clear about the way now. He follows it. It is my wish he shall not loose or forget it; not be drawn into trouble and confusion by those who are themselves troubled and confused."(Pg 193) By passing on the knowledge of his culture to Maliwal and to Majapa, Ishi is insuring that his culture will never die. The way will live on in the memory of those who knew him.

While living in a completely new and foreign world, Ishi is able to pass on the wisdom of his people to Maliwal, and to the people who come to see him in the museum. He is able to do just as Jupka told the people to do long ago, pass on the stories and the knowledge just as his Grandfather and Grandmother

Some common words found in the essay are:
Kaltsuna Jupka, Oh One', Francisco Instead, Ishi Timawi, , Maliwal Ishi, Center World, Majapa Ishi, Ishi Tushi, Teaching Maliwal, yahi people, yahi world, live accordance, world ishi, wisdom people, saldu world, ishi family, ishi respect, cover traces, wowi aizuna,

Approximate Word count = 1262
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels