Postmodernism Native American
Style
Postmodern era in American
and English literature began around the 1960s; although postmodern elements
are present in much earlier literature, the degree to which they permeate
contemporary art sets this era apart from earlier ones.
Two aspects of
postmodernism influence many contemporary writers and artists. The first is
a set of themes common to many postmodern texts:
Ø
The lies of history, the revision
of history
Ø
The complexity of identity and the
deconstruction of stereotypes
Ø
Increasing ethnic heterogeneity
Ø
Holocaust and apocalypse
Ø
The cold war
Ø
The influence of television and
pop culture
Ø
The influence of computers and
other technologies
Which of these themes might
be of most concern to Native American writers?
Second aspect of
Postmodernism is aesthetics, a set of formal and stylistic elements
that generally include:
Ø
Experiments in form
Ø
Blurring of genres (blending
poetry, fiction and nonfiction in the same text, for example)
Ø
Use of pastiche (a kind of
cut-and-paste from other sources, such as other literary texts, songs,
advertisements)
Ø
Contradictory voices in a single
text (so that multiple perspectives complicate our search for any simple
“truth”)
Ø
Fragmentation (with the text
broken, disordered, and/or incomplete)
Ø
“Open” forms (that demand that the
reader actively work to construct meaning)
Ø
Playful irony
Ø
Overtly political intentions
Theme Studies of Alexie
Fathers
Sports and Dancing
Women
Alcohol
Crazy Horse and Buffalo Bill
Identity
Postmodern Aesthetics
Terms to Know in
Reading Alexie
BIA For nearly two
centuries the Bureau of Indian Affairs has had a major influence on the
lives of Native Americans. As early as 1775, the US government had
established department of Indian Affairs and in 1789 those departments were
consolidated under the War Department. In 1824 the BIA was established and
was responsible for accounts and expenditures related to the “civilizing” of
Indians, deciding claims between Indians and whites, and handling Indian
correspondence with the War Department. In 1849 the BIA was transferred to
the Dept. of the Interior. The BIA then took over more and more
responsibilities, including administering food and other supplies to offset
the inevitable starvation caused by reservation life. By the 1880s, the BIA
was responsible for schools, tribal justice, supplies, allotments, and the
management of tribal resources. In effect, the BIA became the tribal
government—a government without real representation of the Native peoples
themselves. Throughout its history the BIA has been rife with corruption and
incompetence. Early government agents stole food and supplies, aided white
settlers in “stealing” Indian allotted lands, and allowed the teachers at
Indian schools to punish children for speaking their own languages or
practicing traditional beliefs. Currently there is a billion dollar lawsuit
(“Cobell”) against the BIA currently for mismanagement of funds it was
supposed to be collecting for Indians (for leases, etc.). In the 1970s
tribal governments gained more control over the administration of their
natural resources and the policing of the reservations. Today the BIA is
trying to transform itself into an advisory agency.
Blood Quantum This is a term used to designate what percentage of
“Indian blood” is required to qualify an individual for tribal membership.
While the BIA has traditionally designated one-quarter as the amount
necessary for benefits, the individual tribes are the ones who actually set
the standard. As a result, the requirement varies widely, from 5/8 to none
at all. There is much debate in and out of the Native community about the
idea of blood quantum, ranging from its positive role in preserving the
integrity of tribal membership to its negative racist roots and its abuse by
the federal government in denying tribal membership for whimsical reasons.
Buffalo Bill (William Frederick Cody) (1846-1917) Born in Iowa and
raised on the prairies, William Cody was a man of many talents, taking turns
as a trapper, gold miner, Pony Express rider, and stagecoach driver and
supplier of buffalo meat for Kansas Pacific Railroad (For which he received
his nickname). Form 1869 to 1872 he served as a scout during the Indian
Wars. He was most famous, however, for his Wild West Show, with “real
Cowboys and Indians,” which he began in 1883. The show toured the United
States and Europe for thirty years.
Commodity food Surplus food distributed by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture to low-income people in the United States.
Crazy Horse (Ta-sunko-Uitco) (1842-1877): A visionary leader of the
Lakota Sioux, Crazy Horse was a ferocious and brilliant warrior who helped
to defeat Fetterman’s brigade at Fort Kearny and Custer at the Little
Bighorn. He resisted the enforced reservation life and its attack on Native
traditions, fighting the U.S. army until May 1877, when he finally
surrendered. A few months later, however, he attempted to leave the
reservation to take his sick wife to her parents, and the army, fearing the
possibility of another uprising, had him arrested. During his arrest, while
one soldier had Crazy Horse’s arm pinned behind his back, another soldier
killed him by running him through with a bayonet. Today Crazy Horse is often
seen as a symbol of Native American resistance and spiritual strength.
Fancydancing One of many dances performed at a powwow. The fancy
dance, invented in the 1950s, differs from most traditional dances in its
fast pace, intricate moves, and sheer athleticism. Dancers in elaborate,
colorful outfits compete for pride and prizes.
HUD The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is
responsible for helping low-income families find adequate housing and offers
special mortgage packages for qualified buyers. Native Americans are one of
many groups serve by HUD.
Powwow A Native American dance festival that includes dancing,
singing, socializing, contests, giveaways, food, and vendors. The powwows
serve as times of tribal and intertribal communal gathering, with family
members often returning year after year.