The Way to Rainy Mountain, with illustrations by Al Momaday, serves as both a lament for the fading of a vibrant tribal identity and a tribute to the enduring potential within the individual consciousness of the tribe. It is structured into three main parts: "The Setting Out," "The Going On," and "The Closing In," featuring a total of twenty-four sections. This unique narrative layout guides the reader through a journey of cultural exploration and personal reflection.

Structure and Composition

Each section within the book is further divided into three distinct passages, each marked by different typescripts. Up to section 20, these passages are composed of a translation of Kiowa myth, a historical account of the Kiowa, and a personal narrative from the author’s perspective. Momaday draws the first two passages from his familial and tribal heritage, gradually weaving these pieces into his own mythic tapestry.

The Journey Begins and Ends with Poetry

The book opens and closes with poetry. The initial poem, "Headwater," lyrically captures the Kiowa's emergence into the world. The tribe became what they dreamed and embodied what they envisioned. Descending from the mountains and never an agrarian people, the Kiowa adapted as nomadic warriors and horsemen. They learned quickly from the Crow and were embraced by Tai-me, the heart of their Sun Dance culture. However, the Kiowa's prosperity was short-lived. Tribal divisions and a cascade of disasters in the 1800s severely impacted the tribe.

Challenges and Adaptations

This downfall was symbolized by a meteor shower that heralded the end of the old ways. Epidemics ravaged the people, and the massacre of buffalo and Kiowa horses further crippled them. Their gradual surrender to soldiers at Fort Sill marked a spiritual defeat, deeply affecting their collective consciousness.

The Myth of the Arrowmaker

Section 13 delves into the myth of the arrowmaker, a recurring theme in Momaday's work. Artistry and precision are not only vital for creating harmony with nature but are also crucial for survival. As a skilled craftsman, the arrowmaker ensures his arrows fly true, representing both physical and spiritual precision. His awareness, akin to the Native American tradition of dreaming, alerts him to an unseen presence. By taking "right action" and moving cautiously, he offers the stranger a chance to reveal his intentions. When the stranger remains silent, he becomes an enemy, highlighting the story’s exploration of ambiguity and the allure of the unknown.

Warrior Society and the Emphasis on Mastery

In section 3, the warrior society illustrates Momaday's emphasis on mastery and appropriate action. When individuals harmonize with their inner selves and their environment, their actions become natural and genuine. The narrative contrasts a dog, less attuned to its nature, with a dreamer who advises the animal to embrace its true essence.

Concluding Reflections

The final poem, "Rainy Mountain Cemetery," pays homage to the ancestors who have transcended earthly life. Their survival is not the focal point; instead, those left behind carry forward the collective memory, merging ancestral memories with their own identities to sustain tribal consciousness.