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A Circle of Nations: Voices and Visions of American Indians
An anthology of essays and photographs celebrates the depth and diversity of contemporary native American life, featuring discussions of family life, community, the arts, religion, politics, and social issues. 25,000 first printing.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1993
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About the author
Leslie Marmon Silko
46 books934 followersLeslie Marmon Silko (born Leslie Marmon; born March 5, 1948) is a Native American writer of the Laguna Pueblo tribe, and one of the key figures in the First Wave of what literary critic Kenneth Lincoln has called the Native American Renaissance.
Silko was a debut recipient of the MacArthur Foundation Grant, now known as the "Genius Grant", in 1981 and the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994. She currently resides in Tucson, Arizona.
(from Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_...
Silko was a debut recipient of the MacArthur Foundation Grant, now known as the "Genius Grant", in 1981 and the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994. She currently resides in Tucson, Arizona.
(from Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_...
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July 29, 2015
The beginning was pretty confusing because I didn’t really know what they were talking about. The authors would refer to something that had happened, but not give the full story and really say what they were talking about, so it didn’t make sense to me. Also, the book was full of pictures with no captions. I didn’t know if they were taken by the author, if they were the writer themselves, or their family, or just random pictures put there that didn’t go with the story at all. There were no titles to the pictures, no names of the people. I didn’t know who was in the picture, who took the picture, when it was taken, what they were wearing or doing. There were so many questions and not one of them was answered.
Leslie Silko spoke of cameras and how Indians didn’t hate or fear pictures as much as they didn’t like white people intruding into their lives who didn’t appreciate the spiritual and sacred dances. I was glad of the insight into how they feel about being photographed, that white people just watch with no respect like voyeurs. She explained Pueblo integrated both the alien and new into their lives to survive, so they readily took to Christianity. They tell each other “who they are, who they have been, and who they may become.”
“Pueblo narratives are not mere bedtime stories or light entertainment. Through the narratives Pueblo people have for thousands of years maintained and transmitted their entire culture; all the strategies and beliefs necessary to Pueblo survival are not written, but they are remembered and repeated generation after generation. Even the most ordinary deer-hunting story is dense with information, from stalking techniques to weather forecasting and the correct rituals to be performed in honor of the dead deer. In short, the stories and reminiscences that enliven all Pueblo social gatherings are densely encoded with expression and information.”
Joy Harjo told about the school for Native arts that was run by Bureau of Indian Affairs. Before this, Indians had been taught housekeeping, milking, janitorial tasks and other vocational duties, but when white people “discovered” that Indians were talented in the arts an art school was created. They were given materials to create things, staying up mostly until 3 or 4 and then being woken up at 5:30 every morning. The classes were elementary school level, and were poorly taught, so they slept during class. Her classmates were gifted storytellers, speakers and artists, and they felt they were insulted and bored with the curriculum, so they wrote poems to each other and read books and talked about them after class. They were so angry they cut themselves, attacked others, and got tattoos.
Simon Ortiz and other Indians didn’t trust using the “Mericano”, English, language, because it had been used to hurt them in the past. Their culture is conveyed through oral tradition, the way they express themselves, so they consider their language sacred. They have a responsibility to “help the people” which is to heed their elders and even their ancestors that are gone. They’re supposed to serve and respect them and attend to their words when speaking of their heritage and past so they can share the knowledge with the next generation. They live in a responsible way so that life will regenerate and flourish. They started using the English language to help them and demand rights to land, water, fishing and hunting.
Linda Hogan shared that her grandma had to play a piano commencement at her graduation in Oklahoma, and another student recited something and another was an orator. Mark Trahant broke the illusion of Indians only wearing buffalo robes, with feathers, atop a horse, and the Indian princess, which is a Hollywood stereotype. He said that was a part of his history, but they also wore suits as tribal leaders. He brings up points that most people don’t know or don’t consider to be true, and went on to say most people are disappointed when they learn Indians wear regular clothes and dress more like cowboys than Indians, and they’re disappointed when they learn Indians are Christians and don’t entirely hold their old Native religions. He said that Indians live in the multiethnic, multiracial world like everyone else, and they’ve always intermarried, made alliances and borrowed ideas from other races. Navajo adopted tools and practices from other Indians, Hispanic and Anglos, such as horses, pottery and silver, and made them their own. They adopted other Indians and established new clans, and even adopted Spaniards. Traditional Navajo ceremonies consisted of the man’s family entering the hogan first, with gifts for the bride’s family and a saddle. Then the bride’s family entered the hogan with corn mush; white cornmeal which represented the woman’s family was mixed with yellow cornmeal which was the male’s. The bride and groom ate it from the wedding basket and then were married.
Luci Tapahanso explained the Yeis in Navajo culture, which are the grandfathers of the holy people, that dance and sing for many days and nights. They always dance for them, even while a person sleeps, and say prayers and give thanks for the harvest and for returning family members. She said Navajo have a love for stories and that usually gatherings end up with people sharing stories and memories. Old stories of their ancestors strengthen them. She said song, prayers and poetry are common expressions, and that someone that can “talk beautifully” is considered wealthy and well thought of. A person that knows the stories, remembers them and can retell them is said to have been “raised right” and their family is held in high esteem also. A lot of Navajos are taught that how you talk and act is a reflection of who raised them, and people are known by their use of the language.
A lot of things weren't explained, for those of us who aren't Native American and don't know exactly what they're talking about. I had hoped for more of the culture, but there were only a few snippets of rituals and was mostly about people who had moved away from their homes and were coming back home and talking about family members they had lost. There was some insight into how they view the world and life, but I had hoped for so much more.
Leslie Silko spoke of cameras and how Indians didn’t hate or fear pictures as much as they didn’t like white people intruding into their lives who didn’t appreciate the spiritual and sacred dances. I was glad of the insight into how they feel about being photographed, that white people just watch with no respect like voyeurs. She explained Pueblo integrated both the alien and new into their lives to survive, so they readily took to Christianity. They tell each other “who they are, who they have been, and who they may become.”
“Pueblo narratives are not mere bedtime stories or light entertainment. Through the narratives Pueblo people have for thousands of years maintained and transmitted their entire culture; all the strategies and beliefs necessary to Pueblo survival are not written, but they are remembered and repeated generation after generation. Even the most ordinary deer-hunting story is dense with information, from stalking techniques to weather forecasting and the correct rituals to be performed in honor of the dead deer. In short, the stories and reminiscences that enliven all Pueblo social gatherings are densely encoded with expression and information.”
Joy Harjo told about the school for Native arts that was run by Bureau of Indian Affairs. Before this, Indians had been taught housekeeping, milking, janitorial tasks and other vocational duties, but when white people “discovered” that Indians were talented in the arts an art school was created. They were given materials to create things, staying up mostly until 3 or 4 and then being woken up at 5:30 every morning. The classes were elementary school level, and were poorly taught, so they slept during class. Her classmates were gifted storytellers, speakers and artists, and they felt they were insulted and bored with the curriculum, so they wrote poems to each other and read books and talked about them after class. They were so angry they cut themselves, attacked others, and got tattoos.
Simon Ortiz and other Indians didn’t trust using the “Mericano”, English, language, because it had been used to hurt them in the past. Their culture is conveyed through oral tradition, the way they express themselves, so they consider their language sacred. They have a responsibility to “help the people” which is to heed their elders and even their ancestors that are gone. They’re supposed to serve and respect them and attend to their words when speaking of their heritage and past so they can share the knowledge with the next generation. They live in a responsible way so that life will regenerate and flourish. They started using the English language to help them and demand rights to land, water, fishing and hunting.
Linda Hogan shared that her grandma had to play a piano commencement at her graduation in Oklahoma, and another student recited something and another was an orator. Mark Trahant broke the illusion of Indians only wearing buffalo robes, with feathers, atop a horse, and the Indian princess, which is a Hollywood stereotype. He said that was a part of his history, but they also wore suits as tribal leaders. He brings up points that most people don’t know or don’t consider to be true, and went on to say most people are disappointed when they learn Indians wear regular clothes and dress more like cowboys than Indians, and they’re disappointed when they learn Indians are Christians and don’t entirely hold their old Native religions. He said that Indians live in the multiethnic, multiracial world like everyone else, and they’ve always intermarried, made alliances and borrowed ideas from other races. Navajo adopted tools and practices from other Indians, Hispanic and Anglos, such as horses, pottery and silver, and made them their own. They adopted other Indians and established new clans, and even adopted Spaniards. Traditional Navajo ceremonies consisted of the man’s family entering the hogan first, with gifts for the bride’s family and a saddle. Then the bride’s family entered the hogan with corn mush; white cornmeal which represented the woman’s family was mixed with yellow cornmeal which was the male’s. The bride and groom ate it from the wedding basket and then were married.
Luci Tapahanso explained the Yeis in Navajo culture, which are the grandfathers of the holy people, that dance and sing for many days and nights. They always dance for them, even while a person sleeps, and say prayers and give thanks for the harvest and for returning family members. She said Navajo have a love for stories and that usually gatherings end up with people sharing stories and memories. Old stories of their ancestors strengthen them. She said song, prayers and poetry are common expressions, and that someone that can “talk beautifully” is considered wealthy and well thought of. A person that knows the stories, remembers them and can retell them is said to have been “raised right” and their family is held in high esteem also. A lot of Navajos are taught that how you talk and act is a reflection of who raised them, and people are known by their use of the language.
A lot of things weren't explained, for those of us who aren't Native American and don't know exactly what they're talking about. I had hoped for more of the culture, but there were only a few snippets of rituals and was mostly about people who had moved away from their homes and were coming back home and talking about family members they had lost. There was some insight into how they view the world and life, but I had hoped for so much more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 of 1 review