"Diary of a Part Time Indian" Discussion Questions

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Class Discussion

by Anthony Licata, Abigail Maguire, Sarah Kelly

“I was that kid. It is a very autobiographical novel.”

Initial Impression Questions:

• Do you like the book so far?
• How does it compare to other pieces we have read?
• Common themes or ideas?

Discussion Questions:

• How did you feel about the way the narrator is treated within his own community?
• What do you think it means to Junior to be a “part-time” indian?
• What do you think of the quote “Who has the most hope?” “White people.”
• What is the significance of Junior asking Roger, “What are the rules?”

Reading and Interview with Sherman Alexie:

Themes:   

1. Alcoholism
2. Native American Authenticity and Identity
3. Reservation life and Poverty
4. Hope
5. Self-Esteem & Abuse

  Places from the Novel:

Map of the Reservation and Surrounding Area

Wellpinit School













Reardan School

Contemporary Connections: Trickster and Raccoons

After reading the stories in "Trickster" I loved the stories about the raccoon. I read an article all about the raccoon symbol in Native American stories/culture.

https://www.warpaths2peacepipes.com/native-american-symbols/raccoon-symbol.htm

After reading the article I learned new things about the Raccoon. The article says that the raccoon is an expert at disguise and secrecy. Abenaki say that the raccoon is always looking for food. We see this in the story about Azeban and the Crayfish when Azeban pretends to be dead, he's disguising himself as dead and keeping the secret that he's alive. The reason he does this is so that he can eat the crayfish so that also ties in them always looking for food. It says that the raccoon symbol is strongly used in the Mississippean culture. Many uses of the raccoon in symbolism also represent warfare. There are many paintings and drawings found at burial sites for the Missippeans, where the raccoon has knives and war axes. 

Injunuity Class Discussion- Alice Falco, Ann Coughlin, and Autumn Lancette

Initial Impression Questions:

1) Out of the three video clips you watched ("Buried," "Two Spirit," and "The Great Law"), which was your favorite? Why?
2) What are your thoughts about the topics covered in each video clip?
3) Do you think the topics discussed in each video should have more coverage?
4) Did you have any past knowledge or experience with the topics covered in the videos?
5) What was something you took away from the videos?
6) Was there a video that was confusing or you disliked? Why?
7) What was your impression of the illustration styles?

8) Were the voices in the videos authentic to indigenous people?

Background on the Injunuity Project 

• These video clips are reflections about the Native Americans' past, present, and future
• They bring to light the need for Native American wisdom is modern life
• Each video is spoken verbatim by a Native American
• The goal of Injunuity is to define the future and look at the future paths Native Americans have today

"Buried"

What are your thoughts about the monument? 

What did you feel when you watched the video and saw the picture of the monument?

The video portrayed White people as controlling and greedy. Do you think this could be seen as offensive or controversial?

"2005 'Shellmound' Documentary Exposes the Truth Behind, and Under, Bay Street Development:" https://evilleeye.com/history/2005-shellmound-documentary-exposes-the-truth-behind-and-under-bay-street-developement/ 

Key Points in Article:

• The documentary called "Shellmound" was filmed by the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism Alum Andrew Cedial and it aimed to reveal how the Bay Street development project disturbed and destroyed the Native American cemetery.
• The Ohlone Culture was established in 400 AD at the Temescal Creek near the San Francisco Bay. The Ohlone Shell mounds were composed of shells, tools, bowls, animal bones and human burials taht was created over thousands of years. The shell mounds served the Ohlone people as community cemeteries. 
• Before the mall was built, a pigment plant was built in the 1920s and then left abandoned in the 1990's. Because of this, toxic chemicals that contained arsenic and acid polluted the soil. 
  

"The Bay Street shopping mall on Shellmound Street draws hundreds of visitors every day, but few realize the cultural significance of the land that lies beneath it, or venture into the shellmound memorial park tucked into a corner of the mall, Cediel said."

"Two Spirit"

What are your thoughts on the term "Two Spirit?"

"As They Are: Two-Spirit People in the Modern World:" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYGxZL8

• 9:09- 12:09

"The Way of the Two Spirited People:" http://www.dancingtoeaglespiritsociety.org/twospirit.php

Two-Spirit people had various terms in the traditional language of different tribes;

• The Din éh, or the Navaho tribe, referred to "Two-Spirits" as "nàdleehé" or one who is '"transformed" 
• The Lakota, or Sioux tribe, referred to "Two-Spirits" as "winkte," 
• The Mohave referred to "Two-Spirits" as "alyha"
• The Zuni referred to "Two-Spirits" as "lhamana"
• The Omaha referred to "Two-Spirits" as "mexoga" 

The Red Circle Project is an HIV Prevention Project that provides services to Native Americans and the Alaska Native Community. They provide various services such as group interventions for gay or transgender Native American individuals and provide HIV testing at Native American events such as powwows.
http://redcircleproject.org/

"The Great Law"

Do you think this video eliminated the stigma of Native Americans being "savages?"

Did you know about Native American government before watching the video?

Was there any confusion on the topic of this video clip?

Contemporary Connections: Joy Harjo and Transitioning Worlds/ The Concept of Death

"A Map to the Next World"  

 Transitioning Worlds/The Concept of Death

In Joy Harjo's poem "A Map to the Next World" as a reader I interpreted this piece to be about a person's journey through life. In this text she writes of crossing over to different worlds during this journey and sheds importance on using a map to guide ourselves. Ultimately in the  end of the text she ends off with saying that  as a person, we are in control of making our own map through this journey and that there really is no beginning  or end. While reading this poem I was able find several lines that stood out to me. Below are a couple of lines, that made me raise a few questions and ideas in understanding the meaning behind them. 

"In the last days of the fourth world I wished to make a map for those who would climb through the hole in the sky." 

From reading these starting lines, I asked myself " What is this fourth world? Could it be some type of spirit world?" What I loved is that Harjo mentions making a map, for  who I assume are people  wanting to cross over from life to death. She wants to make it an easier transition, an easier journey for the ones who are passing on. 

"You will travel through the membrane  of death , smell cooking from the encampment where our relatives  make a feast of fresh deer meat and corn soup, in the Milky Way."

In these lines,  Harjo mentions traveling through death and talks of cooking native dishes during this time while passing through the Milky Way. What is Harjo trying to do by mentioning the Milky Way? What is the significance of this reference? 

"Crucial to finding the way is this: there is no beginning  or end. You  must  make  your own map."

 

Ending with these last two lines, Harjo leaves us as readers off with saying that it's up to us to make our own map through this journey. 

After reading the poem, I wanted to search more into this idea of different worlds that Harjo mentioned. I wanted to research this idea in regards to Native America culture and look at different concepts associated with these worlds such as death. From researching, I stumbled across a post that was about the Narragansett tribe in Rhode Island that connected to this idea of different worlds with the concept of death. Once a person passed on, they would transition between two different worlds; which is at the time of death, the soul leaves the body and joins with the souls of their family and friends in the the world of the dead, which lies somewhere to the southwest. After reading this post, it made me enjoy Harjo's poem  even more and helped me understand this concept and it's connection between different tribes in the Native American community.   

Contemporary Connections: Trickster and the Oral Tradition

                                                               The Oral Tradition

            Within the book "Trickster" there are many Native American stories. Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of compiling a novel like this is the factor of authenticity. The way that Matt Dembiki made sure to honor this was letting each tribal member tell their own story orally. This has been a part of the Native American lifestyle for as long as Natives have been around. It is important to share these stories in the way that they were meant to be shared. An interesting thing about telling every story orally is the minor differences between the lines of the story because every aspect of the plot line is not set in stone or down on paper some people may tell it a little differently. That could have been a concern in the creation of this book but people are used to hearing these stories a bit differently depending on who is telling them. Also as states in the back of the book Matt Dembiki took another step to make sure these stories where culturally sound because he even had the storytellers re-check the story boards just to make sure they were illustrated exactly appropriately. In todays world it is hard to make sure these stories continue to be shared because as we learned from the Ted Talk watched in class, these stories can be lost with each loss of an elder if not shared of if the next generation is not as passionate about sharing them. It was a great opportunity for each tribe involved in the creation of "Trickster" to be able to share their tales for years to come.

Native American Alcoholism

In House Made of Dawn by N. Scott Momaday, the protagonist Abel was a Native American war veteran. Similar to other veterans of war Abel turned to alcohol. Many veterans start heavily drinking because it helps them numb the pain that they feel from being in the crossfire of battle. Even though it helped numb Abel's pain for a little while he always returned to the harsh reality of dealing with post traumatic stress disorder. I found a blog titled "Alcohol: It's Different for Native Americans". In this article it discusses why alcoholism is one of the most prominent addictions within Native American cultures.

"Unlike other cultures that have ingested alcohol for thousands of years, the relationship between indigenous Americans and alcohol is relatively new. Native Americans have had fewer centuries to develop the tolerance to alcohol that is present in other ethnic groups. Mix in poverty and living with ongoing oppression, and alcohol contributes to a state of emergency on many reservations."

Reading this excerpt from the blog opened my eyes to how much different alcoholism is for Native Americans. Even though many people struggle with addictions to drugs or alcohol Native Americans struggle more severely. While living on a reservation things can be more intense because of the intimate closeness that Native Americans have. Domestic violence, health problems, rape or sexual assault, dropout, and suicide are all problems that occur on reservations that are usually fueled by alcohol. I felt that after reading this article, it made me better empathize with Abel because of the struggles he went through. Even though he made some malicious mistakes, he was preprogrammed to by war. He simply was using alcohol to forget about the pain he felt deep into his soul.
http://blog.nativepartnership.org/alcohol-its-different-for-native-americans/

Trickster relating to Columbus and the Immigration ban.

Tricksters contain a correlation between Coyote And The Pebbles, and with what Columbus did to the Native American People, and with the immigration ban. White Americans had enough to live off of when it came to food, and land, and many other things. But fought for more being unsatisfied with the amount they already contained. In Coyote And The Pebbles, the animals had light enough for them to see, and survive. But they requested more light, being unsatisfactory with what they had. 

One of the quotes that stood out to me was, "we need more light". The word that sticks out to me, is the word "more". It supports the fact that they had light and were not in need of more for any particular reason. The animals requested more because they were ungrateful with the amount that they received and provided a minor excuse to justify why they would need more light. 

 

This can relate to what Columbus had done to the Native American people. He wanted to be able to understand how the Native people farmed, and understand their survival techniques. Native Americans were kind enough to educate him on what Columbus requested. Having all the knowledge that Native Americans provided was simply not enough. Columbus did not only used them for their environmental strategies, but took their land. Simply because he wanted more. He had enough to live off of but was ungrateful with the amount he had already received.

 

This can also relate to the immigration ban.  Many Immigrants had fled their countries because of their difficult situations, causing them to move into the United States in hopes that it will reduce their problems. According to an article called, "Ten Ways Immigrants Help build and Strengthen Our Economy"; Immigrants had provided businesses allowing more jobs to American people. Immigrants also developed technologies and companies or contributed at least 25% to developing companies like Yahoo, and Google. Many immigrants are scientist, inventors and engineers, "foreign-born inventors were credited with contributing to more than 75 percent of patents". Immigrants had invented and CONTRIBUTED to making America great. They have helped the United States to make double in profit for their inventions that were made, or from businesses that were created. They have helped expand employment for  American people. And just like the animals in Tricksters that were unsatisfied with the amount of light, and just like Columbus that learning Native American techniques, and just like immigrants providing their techniques, and creativity it is just not enough to satisfy Most American people.

 

Native American people were kicked out of their home because it simply was not enough. Americans wanted more then what Native people provided. And just like how immigrants had incorporated so much into assisting America with the latest technologies, or developing businesses, or being apart of fashion in cultural references, it is simply not enough. They too are being kicked out of a land they have molded to feel and become home to them.

 

 This is a photo of Native American people getting kicked out from their land, (Trail Of Tears).

 (This is an image of immigrants being deported. Many of these people are fighting on the behalf of immigrants in hopes to stop the immigration ban from continuing.)

What Columbus did to Native Americans that soon resultted to the Trail of Tears along with Immigration ban  also shows how history repeated itself into the present times. And how we as people still haven't changed from the past.

 https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2012/07/12/ten-ways-immigrants-help-build-and-strengthen-our-economy 

This is an article of how immigrants help benefit the United States.

Contemporary Connections: Trickster and Tattoo taboo

There is a common expression that I'm sure most of us have heard since we were young, "Don't judge a book by its cover". The article I read was about taboo tattoo and how despite the lessons we were all taught since childhood, people are always going to judge you based on how you look. The article was written by an Indian woman and focused on how body art can affect how you are represented to others in the workplace, relationships, and by social stigmas. Many jobs will not hire you if you have body art, body art can be a turn off in relationships, and it has the stereotype that you are a rebel with looser morals. The picture shown above is a perfect example of how such stereotypes are often put into place in our culture.

In Trickster, we see in many stories such as Azban and the crayfish, the dangerous beaver, and Ishjinki and the buzzard that not everything is as it seems. Azban pretended to be dead, the beaver a friendly man, and Ishjinki as various animals. Judging others based on what we see before we know who they really are is such a common downfall not only in literature such as Trickster, but also in everyday life. For modern American Indians we have talked so much in class about their struggle with identity. Back in the day, if someone would see a Native American they were immediately labeled as "savage" or "brute". What have these judgmental stereotypes evolved to now? Not every Native American descendant lives in a tribe or reservation anymore, and those that still do do not live in tepees and  long houses anymore. Whether it be tattoos or our race, society always makes judgments based on how we look and will continue to until such stereotypes are overcome. 

Contemporary Connections: "Trickster" and Native American Superheros

Source: http://marvel.com/comics/issue/57075/red_wolf_2015_1

Trickster got me thinking about Native Americans in comic books, and all I could come up with was Apache Chief from "Super Friends". The sad part is that Apache Chief is usually associated or mentioned because of the parodies put on by multiple comedy shows, including "Family Guy" and "Robot Chicken". As of right now, Native Americans have mostly played sidekicks, one-off heroes/villains, or been ignored entirely in mainstream comics.

There is some good news:

Red Wolf, Marvel's first ever Native American hero (debuted in 1970) was given a limited series in 2015. While the writer was white (ugh) the artist, Jeffery Verege, is a Native American artist! While this is a small victory as of right now, indigenous nerds are just beginning to come together and show their pride.

Better news:

The first ever Indigenous Comic Con was held in Albuquerque in 2016, and plans for 2017's edition are already in motion! The convention featured a multitude of Native American artists, such as Arigon Starr and Jay Odjick and garnered a strong crowd from around the country.

Jeff Verege told VICE at the event, "We need to get Native characters and Native creators into the mainstream.That is what this event is all about"

Up until last year, the progress was slow. However, things are starting to look up for Native Americans and their voice within comics, and the growth of Indigenous Comic Con will only help

Contemporary Connections: Joy Harjo and The Ignorance of Diversity

"Everybody Has a Heartache: A Blues"
Invisible Diversity 

This poem by Joy Harjo talks about how everyone has their own problems. In the poem Harjo describes just what is everywhere in an airport alone.  This poem could be rewritten to describe the heartaches of those in a local grocery store, the bank, those sitting in traffic after work. Harjo's descriptions of the people they interact with or see in the poem are more in depth than a person could tell just by looking at any of the people. This could be referred to as invisible diversity. The struggles each individual faces are not often superficial. Those in the poem has unseen problems, like the loss of a mother, money problems, possible abuse,  health problems or even alcoholism.

"Nobody knows, nobody sees"

The poem points out that most only notice diversity when it fits their own stereotypes, when it's right in front of them, loud and different. Our world is and always has been incredibly diverse, both visibly and not. Usually, ethnic background is visible through skin color, as is disability, personal expression, and culture, but not always. Not everyone's background can be told by their appearance, many disabilities do not appear in the form of visible, physical handicaps, gender and sexuality are not discernible to a stranger. Religion, socio-economic status, mental health, physical health, and so much more are not visible to us. Not all diversity is noticeable, and it's still there. Each person that we pass in the hallways, see on the street, and interact with on a daily basis have a complexity to them that one cannot understand by simply looking. Diversity does not manifest itself  in the form of a stereotype.

Contemporary Connections: "Trickster" and Native American Artists

Native American Artists Struggle to Find a Niche

The article above gives us an inside look of how Native American artists struggle within their own profession. The article shows us how Native American artists have to fight stereotypes and prove their authenticity, which appears to be a theme in Native American culture. The article also shows us how Natuve American artists face difficulty in regards to being accepted as "real" artists. As you read the article you learn about how the artists also have trouble being taken seriously. As shown in the article, Native American art is always being put in the simple category of arts and crafts, which isn't considered "real art." Another problem Native American artists have to face is the struggle of having tribes that continue to grow smaller; meaning fewer Indians, which ultimately leads to less Native American artists. In efforts to preserve and promote Native American artists and art, the article explores the possibilities of creating
 Native American art museums. However, inevitably there are also a list of struggles that go along with this possible solution.

While reading Trickster in class, it was common knowledge that the illustrators of the book are not Native American. The question was then raised, does this take away from the book being a true piece of Native American literature? Personally, I do not think it does. However, I believe there should have been a greater effort to find Native American artists to illustrate the book. I think that if Native American artists illustrated the book, so many controversial questions would not be raised about the book. It would have added to the whole "authenticity" of the book to the readers. There is this constant struggle of auhenticity in Native American culture (Native American literature Native American art, Native American people, etc...) So why not have the entire book be created by real Indian people that understand their own culture and can give first hand experiences? But even then, would the question of authenticity disappear? I'm not sure it would. I also think that if Indian artists were the illistrators, then there would have been no question of if the characters of each comic were depicted correctly (what clothes they were wearing, what their surroundings were...) In the article, it explains how Native American artists struggle to "find their niche." In my opinion, this book was a perfect opportunity to supply Native American artists with jobs that they would feel comfortable and confident in doing. Illistaring a book like Trickster could have boosted their esteem as artists and it truly could have given them a chance to feel like they truly belong as an artist. 

Contemporary Connections: "House Made of Dawn" and Native American English

YouTube personality Auntie Beachress, who "regularly

employs a particularly unique version of the [rez] accent for

jokes and monologues aimed squarely at Native viewers."

How "Rez Accents" Strengthen Native Identity

The above article describes a study done by Native college students on Native American English, or the "rez accent." This vernacular seems to appear consistently across reservations in the United States and Canada. It is speculated that it originated due to Native children being forced into white boarding schools during the 19th and 20th centuries, and the Relocation Act of 1956. Both caused an unprecedented increase in intertribal contact and communication across the continent, which may have resulted in a standardized Native American "accent." Today, a great many Native Americans do not speak their heritage language, and some, like the study's co-founder, Kalina Newmark, derive a sense of pride from their Native American vernacular. As the article says, "Native identity is being shaped not only by the loss — and revitalization — of heritage languages, but also by the repurposing and remixing of English." There are also those who, unfortunately, have been or are afraid they will be perceived as unintelligent due to their accent. The study's founders stress the importance for non-Natives to understand that Native American English does not reflect intelligence, and for Native Americans to understand that the way they speak is "perfectly fine."

This article reminded me very strongly of Abel in House Made of Dawn. At one point, Newmark poses the question, "how do you reconcile your identity with not being able to speak your indigenous language?" This same conflict appears on page 53, when Abel feels that without his language he is not "whole to himself." Throughout the whole novel, Abel's inability to remember his indigenous language strengthens his status as a constant outsider. It reaffirms his displacement in his own tribe because his father was "a Navajo, they said, or a Sia, or an Isleta, an outsider, anyway," and Abel has no way to combat the idea that he doesn't belong. When Tosamah pointedly starts talking about longhairs and trying to make Abel feel singled out, Abel can have no sense of assurance against what Tosamah is implying, and since fighting doesn't work, Abel is left powerless to defend himself. Ben says that after this incident Abel is "hurt inside somehow, and pretty bad."

Abel's language barrier also separates him from his grandfather. It is most likely part of the reason Abel and Francisco communicate so rarely, and cannot understand each other when they do. During Francisco's sickness, he sometimes speaks in the Kiowa language. Abel "[can] think of nothing to say," thus losing his last chance to connect with his grandfather.

I wonder if this novel would have been different if the "rez accent" had played a role in the discussion of language. Perhaps it would have given Abel a better sense of belonging in his community. Of course, it would only have made him more of an "other" to the white people in the factory and the army who call him "chief" and compare him to Hollywood Indians. Perhaps he would even have been less desirable to Angela if she thought he was unintelligent and didn't fit her ideal of the romanticized Indian brave. But perhaps, within the Native community, Abel would have felt more confident in his identity, and more connected to the others within his tribe. Since Abel's feeling of exclusion adds so much to his inner turmoil, this may have given him some element of peace.

Contemporary Connections: "Horned Toad Lady and Coyote" and Cultural Appropriation

Hey You, in the Headdress, Know What it Means?

Native American headdresses have become a popular accessory in America. Often, these headdresses are worn by people attending festivals or by individuals in the media. These individuals view the headdresses as a fashion statement, but to Native Americans they are respected items with significant meaning. This article discusses that meaning and the disrespect a person shows by inappropriately wearing one. The author explains that the headdresses people wear as a fashion statement are modeled after those worn by various Plain nations. These headdresses are respected symbols of Native American culture that individuals, particularly men, must earn the right to wear. When non-natives wear these headdresses they are exploiting Native American culture and disrespecting their sacred objects. 

This article is directly addressing the issue of cultural appropriation. Cultural appropriation occurs when individuals who belong to a dominant group exploit the culture of less powerful groups. This is often done with little to no understanding of the non-dominant groups culture, history, traditions, etc.. 

The concept of cultural appropriation is clearly depicted in "Horned Toad Lady and Coyote." In this story, Coyote, a dominant species, forces the Horned Toad Lady, a less powerful animal, to teach him her song. The Horned Toad Lady's song is very significant to her and is specifically a pottery-making song. Coyote uses his dominance to force her to teach him this song, simply because he enjoys it. Ultimately, Coyotes want for this song leads him to his death. Just like the girls who wear Native American headdresses at festivals, Coyote is cultural appropriating aspects of another groups identity without respecting or considering their culture.  This story shows us the danger of cultural appropriation. Coyote is killed for his actions. While disrespectful headdress wearing may not lead to death, it is incredibly disrespectful to Native Americans. People who wear them are offending an entire culture and group of people. They are disregarding a sacred symbol and tradition in order to fulfill their own wants and desires. This story teaches us that cultural appropriation has significant consequences, and this is a lesson that many people today would benefit from learning. 

Contemporary Connections: "Trickster" and the Traditions of Native American Storytelling

Below is the link to the article "Storytelling Traditions of Native Americans:"
http://www.teachercertification.org/generalteaching/storytelling-traditions-of-native-americans.html

The article entitled "Storytelling Traditions of Native Americans" provided insight and knowledge about the common motifs of Native American storytelling as well as the inspiration tricksters have in Native American cultures. Storytelling has provided Native American tribes with the ability to pass along their history and traditions to their children and family members. One of the tales in "Trickster" entitled "The Yehasuri: The Little Wild Indians" told by Beckee Garris even illustrated an older woman telling her story to the young children sitting around her. This key component in the illustrations of the tale indicated the importance storytelling continues to have on younger generations of Native American tribes.

First off, the article began by speaking about the symbolism and importance of "trickster" tales. It stated that tricksters often fool others for a purpose, rather than having no justifiable reason for their actions. This relates to "Trickster" because many of the tricksters in the stories fooled someone to accomplish something to improve their life. For example, in the tale "Azban and the Crayfish" told by James and Joseph Bruchac showed Azban the Raccoon as a trickster who played dead to trick the crayfish. Although this is a trickster move, he did so for his own survival so he could have enough food to eat.

Azban plotting his "trick" to eat the crayfish

One key point the article made that sticks out in my mind was a quote that said, "By violating the rules and upsetting the old order, tricksters helped human beings see through their limited ways of thinking. Native Americans needed to use their imagination and their creativity to survive in a world where circumstance changed and the forces of nature could turn suddenly hostile, and the trickster helped show them how to be adaptable and flexible in all situations." Although tricksters often have a negative connotation surrounding them as being trouble-makers, the tricksters portrayed in Native American tales tend to inspire their listeners to become flexible and reliant on themselves. In modern day, there are many examples of various cultures and ethnicities in the United States, including Native Americans, that have adjusted to the modernization and industrialization surrounding them. When European settlers came to the United States and began interfering with Native American lives and traditions, many tribes had to become flexible and reliant on themselves to survive and keep their traditions alive, just like how a trickster would have to be flexible to the changing world around them. Being flexible and adaptable could have its disadvantages however, such as losing some traditions as the generations pass. This idea of flexibility and adaptability was also a motif in "Tracks," where Pauline decided to adapt to the White people who lived by her and become a nun. This is a sign of adapting to the world around her and becoming flexible for her own survival. 

The article "Storytelling Traditions of Native Americans" has many important insights about Native American storytelling and the common motifs. These motifs of flexibility, adaptability, and creativity can still be seen resonating today in Native American culture.

Contemporary Connection #2: Joy Harjo and Celestial Night

Flying on an airplane can either be an annoyance, a stressor, neutral feeling, or an escape. Each person seems to have very specific opinions of flying, and they do not hesitate to let you know if they like it or not. While reading Joy Harjo's poem, Everybody has a Heartache: A Blues, I could not help but to connect this to sitting in an airport terminal taking in the surrounding area. The people waiting to move on with there lives, not taking time to enjoy the things around them. For Example:

"In the United terminal in Chicago at five on a Friday afternoon

The sky is breaking with rain and wind and all the flights

Are delayed forever. We will never get to where we are going

And there’s no way back to where we’ve been."

The only lines that present a little confusion are when it talks about having no way of returning to

where they have been. I chose to relate this to, a person is able to return to where they have been

before, however, they will most likely be on a different plane with a new set of strangers. I picture the

plane flying at night with its passengers and, if they wanted to they could look out the window and see a

spectacle above them:

"Just before dawn, you’re high again beneath a marbled sky."

On the orchestra concert last Saturday evening, the Symphony Orchestra performed Celestial Night by

Richard Danielpour. A YouTube video of the piece is provided for you to listen to. From the composer:

"Celestial Night is a piece about duality (yin and yang; heaven and earth)...the fundamentals of

life....thus, both movements are derived from the same material." In other words, heaven and earth are

derived from the same source just as the two movements of the composition use the same music

material. Danielpour explains the inspiration for the piece coming from stargazing on many evenings in

New Hampshire in 1996. Whenever I listen to this piece I think of the power and mightiness of the

marble night sky, as Harjo would describe.

Danielpour describes his piece as having a constant forward almost heavenward motion as if

preparing to depart from the earth:

"...there was something in the first movement that was continually moving upward in search of

transformation...at the start of the first movement you experience a kind of willfulness, but at the 

conclusion, it becomes apparent that...there has to be an intrusion of grace...this is accomplished by the

second movement."

This directly connects to Harjo's words about a airport terminal and being in a plane under the night's

sky. When a plane takes off, the passengers are, for a brief (sometimes not so brief) amount of time are

removed from the earth as if reaching towards the heavens. Nothing is there to distract them or keep

them tied down there crazy human lives. They are stuck cruising along in a marble abyss. Sadly, it is

easy for passengers to keep the window cover down and block out the beauty outside the aircraft. In

this day in age, we can get so wrapped up in deadlines and due dates, meetings, and commitments. We

do not take the time to listen or look at the things around us. I find that both Daneilpour and Harjo are

trying to tell us to look and listen around us to the natural wonders in life. They are precious and can

help us feel at peace, even when we don't think any peace is possible.     

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOUxnRklmcE&list=PL7JtfncqzcrRGPlcWLbMGgiuGoYhJ1hCs

Contemporary Connections: Joy Harjo and Human Disconnect from Nature

All photos in this blog post by Eric L. Hu (Instagram: @ericlhu)

In her poem, “When the World as We Knew It Ended,” Joy Harjo comments on the advancement of technology and how disconnected the human race has become from nature and the Earth. She immediately opens up with a vivid scene of industrialism: “Two towers rose up from the east island of commerce and touched the sky. Men walked on the moon. Oil was sucked dry by two brothers. Then it went down. Swallowed by a fire dragon, by oil and fear. Eaten whole.” She clearly and immediately expresses a disconcerting, troubled perception of the growth of industrialism, following up with the explanation of their culture watching industrialism progress right before their eyes, sometimes in places as close as from the kitchen window. Her people could tell that troubling times were coming in the flight patterns of the birds; they knew the dominance of industrialism was coming, but there was no way to prepare. The end of the world as they knew it had come — no longer was man as respectful and loving towards nature as before, building and expanding man-made structures at any cost to nature deemed necessary. Harjo notes the glimpses of inspiration that motivate her and her people to continue persisting, however: The seeds that still need planting, the babies that still need nurturing, the culture that still needs to be preserved and continue growing. 

Take into thought modern American society as a whole: We, along with so many parts of the rest of the world, have made significant technological advancements in such a short period of time, regardless of whether you view it in comparison to the beginning of industrialization, the Medieval era, or even the very beginning of the Earth's existence. Technology is used to build and expand cities, assist us in our daily lives, communicate with others across the world, discover and travel extraterrestrial locations, and so much more. But to what degree have we as a collective society allowed technology and industrialization to desensitize our lives? The millenial generation, and even baby boomers,  have experienced a phenomenon that has never truly been realized in previous generations -- That is, the impact that modern technology can have on an individual right from the very moment they come out of the womb. Of course, technology has affected us even before childbirth in the circumstances of hospital equipment monitoring a fetus' growth and so forth, but I am specifically referring to the technology we personally use ourselves. So many of our parents watched us grow up with computers and TVs, often placing blame on them for "melting our brains" because they grew up playing outside with their friends, riding bikes, and so forth. Us millennials might disagree with the negative connotation our elders associate with computers and TVs, yet we ourselves are confounded when we see five-year-olds casually walking around with iPhones and iPads, their eyes glued to the screens. When they're old enough to understand the larger concept, what will today's five-year-olds think of the generation that follows them? Is technology really improving our lives as much as we think, or are we headed through a swift, debilitating downward spiral?

This is a piece like a fine wine; it'll only get stronger and better as it ages.

House Made of Dawn as a Bildungsroman

Bildungsroman - a special kind of novel that focuses on the psychological and moral growth of its main character from his or her youth to adulthood.

I decided to take a look at our culture, our youth, and other books I have read after reading House Made of Dawn by N. Scott Momaday. His book is like a lot of books that I have read in that it is absolutely a bildungsroman. Our main character Abel, isn't quite a child; however, must come of age during the novel and find out who he truly is. Abel does so while battling psychological demons and alcoholism, and who he was, a native american, was not an ideal identity during the book's time period. Historically we have seen books like Jane Eyre, show a young child completely transforming through education, art and religion. After the recent controversial election of Donald Trump, our youth finds themselves in a difficult situation somewhat similar to what our protagonist Abel went through. The article I have  cited at the bottom of the page tells some stories of people who's coming of age will be negatively effected by the Trump presidency. First, the story of an out of the closet 15 year old, Maddie. Who is in a school where many of her peers live in conservative families that voted for Trump. Post election bullying has already tormented Maddie and has questioned her decision on coming out of the closet. She has considered going "back into the closet" however that could be possible. The second story is about a young 18 year old Mexican-American male who voted for Trump while his entire family did not. Although it was his decision, he has faced serious backlash within his own family for his own beliefs on immigration reform. The third story tells the story of a Muslim-American girl who dreams of one day being president. It is hard to imagine achieving such a goal after the continued spread of hatred towards Muslims that surround the Trump administration. 

Although House Made of Dawn is set 60 years in the past, the struggles of people to find their own identity haven't changed. The struggle for someone to come of age, when that coming of age goes against the national norm were tough back then, which Momaday illustrates, and are just as tough today. I lived in Lancaster, Pennsylvania for the past two years. This county was extremely rural and religious -- Catholic, Christian and a heavy Mennonite presence. The mentality during the election campaign could only be summarized as a mob mentality. If you were not a Trump supporter, you did not mention your beliefs for fear of being scrutinized and possibly physically attacked. Luckily, I never switched official residences and came back to Chautauqua county to cast my vote. I knew Pennsylvania was going to swing red just from my countless trips across the state over the past two years. If I was afraid just to mention my political beliefs, imagine how our youth must feel now if they go against what Trump decides is normal and acceptable? Everyone has the right to find themselves, to be who they are, and to do so without fear. 

Our current youth having to have their own bildgunsroman in Trump's America