Literature heals the mind and helps retain ancient cultures, specifically the Indigenous communities. Despite this, Indigenous literature is an ongoing controversial debate; weather it has done more harm than good is questionable for many people. Many Canadian’s claim that Indigenous literature is stuck in the past, which hinders the progress of the Indigenous community. They state that in order to move on into a successful future, one needs to let go of the past. However, the Indigenous community believes otherwise. It is through literature that the pain inflicted in the past is resolved. Literature has restorative powers; it keeps the past alive and helps the Indigenous community reach a sense of achievement, individualism, and an overall feeling of empowerment. Studying Indigenous history through literature has brought a feeling of progress over the years. A look into the past has been crucial to improve the future. Indigenous literature has pointed out the flaws of the past so it can be used to redefine our rules and values to do justice to Indigenous people. Indigenous literature not only helps heal indigenous writers, but also helps the Indigenous readers free themselves from the pain constructed upon them. It shows the effects that residential schools have had on their ancestors’ and their future (Episkenew 16). Indigenous literature works as a medicine for the damages caused by widespread colonialism and its policies on Indigenous communities. According to Episkenew, Indigenous literature provides relief to these ongoing issues (2). Moreover, Bev Sellars in her memoir “They called Me Number One,” uninhibitedly shares her experiences with the world. Her motive to writing the memoir is to reach out to ot... ... middle of paper ... ...ions. The power of literature and the impact it has on people’s thoughts is inevitable, especially on the Indigenous people. Indigenous literature has helped the Indigenous people in their healing process. As discussed above, literature does not only have restorative powers, but it has helped the Indigenous community create an identity for themselves. It is a medium that has helped many Indigenous people be heard and recognized. The stories and the truth represented in Indigenous literature act as a basis for change and improvement for those that have suffered through colonization. It is through words and stories that the Indigenous community heals their wounds from the past and protect their future generations. In other words, lndigenous literature has helped towards progression, individuality, and self-empowerment for the Indigenous community.
Literature is a powerful force, allowing the writer to express their opinions through their own perspective. In the source, “What I’ve Learned From Writing,” the author Shauna Singh Baldwin, portrays the idea of literature as a non-violent socially-acceptable weapon. Someone like this can influence the views and ideas of readers by conveying emotions. Personally as an athlete, I feel as though I can change the perspectives of individuals, and my interests give insight to others without any boundaries. Along with the author, I admire her courage from within, and we learn to pursue our passions and interests in what we believe and love in ways such as originality, hard work, and confidence.
Many Indigenous women are craving for a change in our society and it is time for a change. The women being interviewed came up with a few statements that they would like to see changes too. Firstly, women would love to see the return of Indigenous women’s positions in Indigenous societies. Regarding the equality of women and men. In Indigenous cultural women were viewed as life-givers and care givers of life. This gave women a great reasonability of the children and the future generations. “Women figured centrally in almost all Aboriginal creation legends. In Ojibway and Cree legends, it was a woman who came to earth through a hole in the sky to care for the earth.” Women were treated as an essential part of life, unlike how they felt after the Indian Act. Secondly, Indigenous women would like to set differences aside and work together with other races in making our society much more bearable for women. Thirdly, they want to set focus in Indigenous youth and creating a better education and guidance program for those who are new to urban areas. Granted, they are the next
These culture of violence created a self in fear, a self that has been trained that it is under attack. The self of the indigenous person has been enslaved, labored, tortured and murdered, all due to the violent power colonialism and postcolonialism spread throughout the world.
In “Why Literature Matters” the author, Dana Gioia, argues that literature is very important in today’s society. He talks about the decline of reading over the years and the effects it has on different companies and communities. Gioia uses many persuasive techniques, such as evidence, jingoism, and diction, to try and persuade the reader that literature is important.
Literature has played a large role in the way we perceive the world and it can affect the way in which we think about things. Edgar Allan Poe along with Mark Twain are two of the most influential authors that our world has ever seen. Their descriptiveness and diction has had a huge impact on their readers for centuries. Poe’s gothic style of writing was very enthralling and suspenseful; it left you wanting to know what was going to happen next. Whereas, Mark Twain was a very humorous author that intended to amuse all that read. The descriptiveness that was incorporated by these world-renown authors is tremendous.
“Defining one’s ‘culture’ is a life long process,” according to Indian rights activist Norman DesCampe of the Grand Portage Chippewa Tribe. “You have to live it.” Today, the life long process of understanding indigenous cultures is limited by terms of “cultural survival.” The ability of future generations to define themselves as Inuit or Kayapo is threatened as their natural environments and social integrity is hurt by government negligence: indigenous cultures must be protected under a political structure that allows the people to live as they choose to live, outside of the transformative power of established nation-states, and the assumptions of these powers.
Across Canada and the United States there are many First Nations languages which are a part of the Algonquian language family, all of which with varying states of health. Although these languages share many characteristics of the Algonquian language family, the cultures, systems of beliefs, and geographic location of their respective Nations differentiate them. In being shaped by the landscape, cultures, and spirituality of the First Nations, the language brings the speakers closer to their land and traditions while reaffirming their identity as First Peoples. Using the Blackfoot Nation to further explore this concept, this paper will show that while language threads together First Nations culture, spirituality, traditions and land, as well as their identity, each of these essential components also maintain and revitalize the language.
On January 29, 2015, I attended Pamela Palmater’s book launch for her book, “Indigenous Nationhood,” which was a two-hour event that started from 6 PM to 8 PM. Palmater is a well-known lawyer, activist and academic from the Eel River Bar First Nation in northern New Brunswick. The event started with an opening performance from the Hidden River Singers. Palmater then addressed the crowd for around 30-40 minutes, in which the audience, including myself, sat in awe at the passion and intensity in her voice in empowering Indigenous people. She emphasized the importance of exercising peoples’ voices, both allies and Indigenous people, in advocating for Indigenous rights and freedom. A question and answer portion then followed and Palmater answered
The main purpose of this story, like many of her short stories, is about main female character struggling with minority who finds herself in a dangerous situation, and she cannot get help from anyone.
McNickle, D'Arcy. "A Different World." Native American Literature: A Brief Introduction and Anthology. Ed. Vizenor, Gerald. United States of America: Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers, 1995, 111-119.
The idea of literature being an important aspect of life has always been greatly prevalent in my upbringing. This notion that I supported was spurred on at the cause of my obstinate parents insisting upon my reading of two books a week to benefit my vocabulary and to develop the articulate thought process of a skilled reader. As a young child, my biggest influences were my parents’ passionate and persuasive ideas regarding the correlation between
In the article, “ Dwight” Newman (2015): Of aboriginals, Metis, First Nations, Inuit and Indians (status holding and otherwise)”, it depicts massive struggles for
In order to further discuss her main points and views, a summary of her story
The IK embedded in the stories reveal how such knowledge is instrumental in ushering in and mitigating ecological catastrophe (Woollett, 2007). Cajete (2000) observes that “ultimately, the goal of Indigenous education is to perpetuate a way of life through the generations and through time. The purpose of all education is to instruct the next generation about what is valued and important to a society” (p. 184). In Canada, Native schools have begun to emerge where Native people (of particular tribal groups) conduct education for children in their own languages and develop a curriculum which is based on reclaiming traditional knowledges and worldviews, for example, the importance of land and environment and what land and environment means to Aboriginal
Literature has many purposes, and opens doors to unique worlds. Through Literature, we discover ourselves and world time and again.