Louise Erdrich "Four Souls"
I thought the ending of Four Souls was a happy ending. I don't think the ending could have been any better. Although she went through a lot to get her revenge, in the end, she seemed like she got what she wanted. Fleur came back and took her land. She reconnected with Margaret, bathed and received the medicine dress. I thought the way she took her land back was pretty awesome, because her son, the one that was thought to have no soul, was the one who actually beat the guy and got the land. It was really sweet and touching how Margaret bathed Fleur and gave her the medicine dress. I thought the bathing was really a spiritual cleansing. Maybe to wash away her sins and past and prepare her for a new better one. Her new name that no one knows yet signifies rebirth. I think she really needs it and it really foreshadows a new beginning. I wonder what's the next book and is it a continuation of Fleur's new life.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
"The Soft-Heared Sioux" Thoughts
"The Soft-Hearted Sioux" by Zitkala-Sa
It might just be me, but reading this story, I felt really emotional. I think I almost cried, or maybe I was just delirious because I was sleepy. The author really painted a picture in my head and I felt like I was watching a really sad movie. Anyway, here are my thoughts of the story.
The main character in this story was taught to hunt since he was little. Hunting is a part of the Sioux culture. But when he went to missionary school, they taught him that hunting/killing is wrong. Since he lost his hunting skills and didn't hunt anymore, he lost his culture. This is seen when he returns to his home and lost his native tongue. He is also dressed like a white man, with a bible and etc. On his father's death bed, his father says, "My son, your soft heart has unfitted you for everything! (409) My son, your soft heart will let me starve before you bring me meat! yet you will see me die before you bring me food" (410) I thought going out to hunt for meat symbolized finding your culture again. And it took a while before the son hunts and brings meat home for his father, though it was too late. To me, when he hunted and brought the meat home, he gained some part of his culture back. Which signifies the importance of preserving your culture.
It might just be me, but reading this story, I felt really emotional. I think I almost cried, or maybe I was just delirious because I was sleepy. The author really painted a picture in my head and I felt like I was watching a really sad movie. Anyway, here are my thoughts of the story.
The main character in this story was taught to hunt since he was little. Hunting is a part of the Sioux culture. But when he went to missionary school, they taught him that hunting/killing is wrong. Since he lost his hunting skills and didn't hunt anymore, he lost his culture. This is seen when he returns to his home and lost his native tongue. He is also dressed like a white man, with a bible and etc. On his father's death bed, his father says, "My son, your soft heart has unfitted you for everything! (409) My son, your soft heart will let me starve before you bring me meat! yet you will see me die before you bring me food" (410) I thought going out to hunt for meat symbolized finding your culture again. And it took a while before the son hunts and brings meat home for his father, though it was too late. To me, when he hunted and brought the meat home, he gained some part of his culture back. Which signifies the importance of preserving your culture.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Malintzin, Traitor or Victim?
Ines Hernandez Avila "An Open Letter to Chicanas: On the Power and Politics of Origin
Malintzin was an indigenous woman from the Mexican Coast, who played an active role in the Spanish conquest of Mexico , acting as an interpreter, advisor, mistress to Cortes and mother of his children. And according to the text, from the men's historical perspective, "the mother to be ashamed of, the arch-traitress, the one who opened her legs and in giving herself over, gave over the continent to foreign control". The author then talks about how Mexican men are outraged at their mother , woman because they don't see her as a victim, but a sell-out who gave herself. This really ties in nicely with what the author says, "In the Mestizo community we have internalized the Western European, and now White American, oppressor's mentality that turns us against our very selves".
I really feel sympathy and sad about how Malintzin or La Malinche is portrayed. They were victims all along and didn't have a say. The Indigenous community probably thought of her as a traitor also. Even her children is ashamed of her. Who does she have to turn to? And the last quote mentioned above is really significant because the Europeans really turned Indian people against themselves by having Mestizo children and telling them not to identify with their Indian blood.
Near the end of the text, the author talks about within a dance tradition that la Malinche is a path-opener and because of this dance tradition the positive image of la Malinche survives. The author says that she too is a Malinche and that it is a sense of being a path opener, a guide, a voice, a warrior, and an injustice fighter.
I really like the ending of her text because the author stands up for indigenous mothers and also keeps the positive image of Malintzin alive. I like her rhetorical strategy and how she explains what a malintzin is and how they were portrayed in the past, and then she contrasts them in a positive different view.
Malintzin was an indigenous woman from the Mexican Coast, who played an active role in the Spanish conquest of Mexico , acting as an interpreter, advisor, mistress to Cortes and mother of his children. And according to the text, from the men's historical perspective, "the mother to be ashamed of, the arch-traitress, the one who opened her legs and in giving herself over, gave over the continent to foreign control". The author then talks about how Mexican men are outraged at their mother , woman because they don't see her as a victim, but a sell-out who gave herself. This really ties in nicely with what the author says, "In the Mestizo community we have internalized the Western European, and now White American, oppressor's mentality that turns us against our very selves".
I really feel sympathy and sad about how Malintzin or La Malinche is portrayed. They were victims all along and didn't have a say. The Indigenous community probably thought of her as a traitor also. Even her children is ashamed of her. Who does she have to turn to? And the last quote mentioned above is really significant because the Europeans really turned Indian people against themselves by having Mestizo children and telling them not to identify with their Indian blood.
Near the end of the text, the author talks about within a dance tradition that la Malinche is a path-opener and because of this dance tradition the positive image of la Malinche survives. The author says that she too is a Malinche and that it is a sense of being a path opener, a guide, a voice, a warrior, and an injustice fighter.
I really like the ending of her text because the author stands up for indigenous mothers and also keeps the positive image of Malintzin alive. I like her rhetorical strategy and how she explains what a malintzin is and how they were portrayed in the past, and then she contrasts them in a positive different view.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Wounded Knee Movie Thoughts
The movie viewed on Thursday was about Wounded Knee. The movie was not as bloody or violent as I thought it would be. I think a part of this is because it is the Wounded Knee in 1973 instead of the one in 1890. I had no idea there were two Wounded Knee incidences. This may be because the Watergate Scandal was also unfolding.
In the 1973, the tribe Oglala, known as the Sioux, inhabitants of the Pine Ridge reservation, stood up to the government with the help of American Indian Movement (AIM) to impeach their tribal chairman Wilson. Wilson was unfair and neglected the people and favored others and himself. The Oglala were tired of it, and the government did not do anything about it so they took over the area in hopes of an agreement. Other Native Americans from all over came to support them also. At the end, they did not win and the impeachment failed. This event was really significant even though they did not come to the agreement they wanted because this started the Indian movement of preserving their culture and identity. Because of this event, today, we have the Native American Department in many or all colleges and etc.
There seem to be history in everything but we're just not aware of it. Because of this movie, I know the history behind the Native American Department. It took sacrifices and lives lost to make a statement. And in this case, the succeeded.
In the 1973, the tribe Oglala, known as the Sioux, inhabitants of the Pine Ridge reservation, stood up to the government with the help of American Indian Movement (AIM) to impeach their tribal chairman Wilson. Wilson was unfair and neglected the people and favored others and himself. The Oglala were tired of it, and the government did not do anything about it so they took over the area in hopes of an agreement. Other Native Americans from all over came to support them also. At the end, they did not win and the impeachment failed. This event was really significant even though they did not come to the agreement they wanted because this started the Indian movement of preserving their culture and identity. Because of this event, today, we have the Native American Department in many or all colleges and etc.
There seem to be history in everything but we're just not aware of it. Because of this movie, I know the history behind the Native American Department. It took sacrifices and lives lost to make a statement. And in this case, the succeeded.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Apess's Eulogy on King Philip
William Apess wrote a piece called, "Eulogy on King Philip". The definition of 'eulogy' according to the dictionary on my iPhone states that it is a formal expression or praise for someone who has died recently. I'm not sure if the name eulogy fits for his title because King Philip died many years like about 100-200 years before Apess wrote this piece. So, I'm kind of curious why Apess titles his piece 'Eulogy on King Philip". I wonder if the purpose of the title is to capture reader's attention.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
What Civilization?
"The Hidden Civilization" is the title of my blog website, which refers to Native Americans. I decided to choose this title because I feel that the Native American and its histories are very hidden from the world. This civilization is full of mysteries and interesting knowledgeable materials that has yet to be uncovered, revealed and learned.
Popol Vuh is the first Mayan thing that I have ever read about. I like how the book attempts to explain how man and things were created. I also really like the lessons taught in the book and how it is relevant to how people should behave in society. It really captured my attention and my curiosity. I am really looking forward to learning Native American Studies and as soon as I do learn more, I shall post them up.
Popol Vuh is the first Mayan thing that I have ever read about. I like how the book attempts to explain how man and things were created. I also really like the lessons taught in the book and how it is relevant to how people should behave in society. It really captured my attention and my curiosity. I am really looking forward to learning Native American Studies and as soon as I do learn more, I shall post them up.
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