Bad Spirits: A Cultural Explanation for Intimate Family Violence, Inside One American Indian Family

Bad Spirits takes the reader inside one Native American Indian family to witness some of the violence and victimization that occurred in the privacy of their home. While the violence is graphic and disturbing, the effects of it on one victim made her much more resilient. The book begins with the suicide of one sibling and the homicides of two others. Because of the cultural beliefs held by this family one member was perceived to be a witch. In the paradigm of the Yaqui Indians, those perceived to be witches are often murdered. The author puts forth the theory that Bad Spirits are responsible for violence. Yaqui witchcraft and sorcery (often referred to as Bad Indian Medicine) are used within this family as a means of violence precipitation. The author then takes the reader out of the violence of the home and into the violence of homelessness on the streets of San Francisco. Finally, the author discusses the current research on violence and victimization occurring within Native American Indian communities to show that other Indian tribal groups hold similar views. The book ends with the two federal laws that were designed to address child abuse and family violence among Native American Indians who live on reservations.