Taylor, Drew Hayden. “Why I Write Indigenous Sci-Fi.” CANADIAN ART.CA, Published on December 6, 2016. Taylor Drew Hayden briefly demonstrated the struggle that was faced by him in writing fiction. The idea of writing is Native science fiction was completely a foreign concept. Native people simply did not write science fiction. As a result, his first idea for tackling a sci-fi book was to compile and edit a collection of other Native writer sci-fi stories. He had been so excited and so struggled for this project for so long,. Technically observing, Taylor think one of the metaphors most likely to catch in the Native sci-fi writing community.
Traditionally, Native American Literature has been an oral genre. Although Native American Literature was the first American literature created, it has been the last to be recognized -and, to some extent, is still waiting for full recognition (www.usc.edu). With the Indian being forced to assimilate, their literature was forced to take on a written form. Although the traditional way of storytelling has changed, Native American Literature has survived. In it's written form, it is being shared with a larger population. Black Elk Speaks (Neihardt 1932) and The Lone Ranger and Tonto FistFight in Heaven (Alexie 1993) are two Native American works of
“We live the Old Way” are the words that author, Catherine Knutsson, uses to introduce readers to the fascinating culture of the Métis Indians in her intriguing book, Shadows Cast by Stars (1). Set in an unspecified future, sixteen year old protagonist, Cassandra Mercredi, finds herself and her family fleeing from the mainland of UA and going to find refuge on “The Island” (Knutsson 21). They have been targeted because they are “marked by the precious Plague antibodies in [their Native American] blood” (Knutsson 1). According to Essentials of Young Adult Literature, Knutsson’s book is categorized as American Indian and Indigenous Literature (Short, Tomlinson, Lynch-Brown, and Johnson 177). After analyzing the text, the categorization is correct because the story is told from the perspective of the protagonist, Cassandra, who provides readers are given insight into the cultural beliefs and values of the Métis tribe. Additionally, her character communicates the traditional roles of men and women within the tribe, while integrating cultural details that provide authenticity to the story.
Richard Wagamese, the award-winning author of the novel Keeper’n Me (2006) as well as various other literary pieces such as Dream Wheels (2006), Medicine Walk (2014), and Indian Horse (2012), was born in 1955 in Northwestern Ontario and is from the Wabaseemoong First Nation. Through the combination of Wagamese’s fictional writing blended with components of his personal life in Keeper’n Me specifically, the fifty-nine year old author has been recognized for this and other phenomenal works through a variety of diverse awards in his years of writing including being the recipient of the 2012 National Aboriginal Achievement Award for Media and Communications. His debut novel allows audiences to get a glimpse of what this writer is capable of and furthermore his personal life as he incorporates many fascinating concepts into it while keeping it a light read.
Alexie uses first hand experiences all throughout his article to depict the reality of American Indian’s lives. By appealing to the pathos, he gives his readers the ability to empathize with him, experiencing both the trials and triumphs. His use of analogies provides his audience with visuals that portray his experiences more accurately. When Alexie writes about himself in
Although stories are a universal art form, they hold a more significant role in Native American culture, and literature. This occurs due to the millennia spent in isolation from the rest of the world, and having stories as the main source of entertainment. Thomas King’s statement, “stories can control our lives,” is an important notion, because it embarks on the idea of molding the diseased into more interesting versions of themselves. The statement is prevalent in many pieces of literature which fuse reality into the imagination, and cause people to lose themselves in the fictitious realm. Native literature is all closely related, and they all hold messages within their stories that show their great culture; both the good and the bad. Story
Sinclair says, "We need to treat each other with respect, honesty, and care." Therefore, Kinew also emphasizes the need for mutual understanding. Both believe that talking and respecting each other are keys to making things better. Drew Hayden Taylor's novel Chasing Painted Horses gives us another view on Indigenous identity and resilience. Danielle talks about how her art tells her story and keeps her connected to who she is.
Author Deborah Miranda uses the form of a counter tale in her book "Bad Indians: A Tribal Memoir" to question the dominant narratives and prejudices that are associated with the lives of Native Americans. Miranda presents an alternate viewpoint that challenges the standard understandings of colonialism, cultural identity, and historical trauma. She does this by doing an intimate investigation into her family's history. The alternative narrative that is offered in "Bad Indians" functions as a potent criticism of the mainstream depictions of Native American life, prompting readers to reevaluate and challenge their previous beliefs about the experiences of Native Americans. There are three distinct storytelling types included in the loop.
Drew Hayden Taylor’s Motorcycles and Sweetgrass is praised as the funniest piece of Native Literature in Canada, a stark comparison to many of the other pieces of Native literature which are often dark and filled with sadness. However, Taylor’s Motorcycles and Sweetgrass cannot be considered dark or filled with sadness as it follows the arrival of the Native trickster Nanabush to the Reserve of Otter Lake bringing with him a fresh new take on Native life in Canada through a light, almost comedic lens. It isn’t all jokes and humour, though. As the novel follows John/Nanabush and his mission to bring back Native culture in the sleepy reserve of Otter Lake. This can be seen by the change in Virgil and his new excitement in school. The passion
“The drink had me snared. I spoke less and drank more, and I became the Indian again; drunken and drooling and reeling, a caricature everyone sought to avoid,”(Wagamese,181). This stomach-turning quote displays what several First Nations thought their identity to be. With this in mind, to begin, “Indian Horse,” by Richard Wagamese is a somber and intriguing novel, with many thought-provoking points within the book. To illustrate this, the book follows a First Nations boy through his youth to adulthood. It is filled with traumatic events, depressing stories and even a few joyful moments. In addition, the novel takes place from around 1960-1980 throughout Ontario. Furthermore, this essay will explore several events and factors which impacted, Saul, the main character's identity.
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft is a book written by author Stephen King, published in 2000, which documents his experiences as a writer and also serves as a guide book for those who choose to enter the craft themselves. On Writing is both a textbook for writers and a memoir of Stephen King’s life and will, thus, appeal even to those that aren’t aspiring writers. If you’ve always wondered what led Steve to his career and how he became the success he is today, this will answer your questions. Not only does King give descriptive and rather humorous stories about his stages of writing but also gives power advice to the readers from the learning experiences he’s had both is success and failure. King reveals his
Native American authors often share common themes that stem from life on reservations; these include poverty, violence, abuse, and alcoholism. Sherman Alexie, a Native American from Spokane, Washington, is not only one of these authors, but she may be the most successful and well-known Native American writer who contributes these themes. Alexie often made strong attempts to portray life as a Native American in her short stories in novels. For her, it was about depicting the Native American experience. she does just that in her short story collection, “The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven.” Alexie uses literary elements, such as themes, symbolism, and imagery to further aid her overall message of what life is like growing up and living on a reservation. These experiences, as she demonstrates, contrast sharply with those of white society, as they cannot fathom a similar culture.
Marilyn Dumont, a successful Metis poet, is widely recognized for her powerful yet subtle approach to enlightening the history of shadowed civilization, nearly brought to the brink of extinction by ethnocentrism and injustice. Being raised in a town surrounded by reserves, with a father who speaks fluent Cree, allowed me to form an appreciation for the perseverant culture, many fail to recognize. In “The land she came from,” Dumont utilizes main character Betsy Brass, known as “shiny black bird woman” to represent the fearlessness, and determinant Indigenous peoples had been dealing with such mass tragedy. Concrete walls made of starvation, and injustice placed by European settlers “when it all went wrong,” forced Indigenous people to surrender everything they had, as a reminder that, the only power Indigenous people held at the time, was that of their mind (Dumont 43). Author Marilyn Dumont employs the use of literary
Native Americans express their voice in films by incorporating their history, culture and traditions for Indigenous purpose. These independent cinema efforts are produced by filmmakers who want to tell a story about their tribes around the world and educate the younger generations. Zacharias Kunuk, filmmaker of Antantarjuat; The Fast Runner and Journals of Knud Rasmussen, “compels non-Inuit spectators to think differently, not only about what constitutes indigenous content in films and more conventional representations of Native Americans in cinematic history, but also about indigenous visual Aesthetics” (Raheji 1168).
It is important to know what happens in the past and to celebrate what we have, and to acknowledge it. If we make the same mistakes again and again, people would be battling for everything. Almost no one would treat each other nicely. The traditions we do show us to remember what was important to others before us. Traditions let us know what was good to do in the past. Legends and stories help us remember the past and let us know who was important before, and where these stories came from.
Perpetuation of Native American Stereotypes in Children's Literature Caution should be used when selecting books including Native Americans, due to the lasting images that books and pictures provide to children. This paper will examine the portrayal of Native Americans in children's literature. I will discuss specific stereotypes that are present and should be avoided, as well as positive examples. I will also highlight evaluative criteria that will be useful in selecting appropriate materials for children and provide examples of good and bad books. Children will read many books as they grow up.