Have attitudes changed as we move from early Native American Literature into later and present-day writings? What writers, along with specific examples, might you cite that represent this shift? What is the focus now and how does it compare to other minorities we have explored? Feel free to compare an early writer to a more recent writer (1945 and after). Discussion expectations defined: You will be asked to select a quote from the reading each week to incorporate in your first discussion post. This means that you will also include an in-text citation and reference for each quote (Author, year, p. X). Your post should be around 100-150 words in order to receive full credit. The Native American has a deep underlying connection to the Earth, land, and all living things. They have a troubled, sordid past, and have struggled long and hard to maintain their rights among people. We are familiar with this from history books, but now we will closely examine and carefully study the Native American culture from these writers perspective. If you have not read writers like Eastman, Silko, and Alexie, you are in for a treat. Please consider how the care and tending to the land and their heritages translates to the care of choosing words to write across the printed page. You will want to ask what it is each author is doing to add his/her version, or vision, to what is the Native American identity. Is the writer actively writing against commonly held beliefs, questioning the persistent images popular culture has inundates us with, or is it fueled by a different passion or concern? Charles Alexander Eastman Eastman , one of a long line of chiefs, one of the first Native American authors to publish, and one of the first Native doctors, wrote about the Sioux life and customs with brilliant descriptions and influence. The opening lines of Winona, The Child Woman from Old Indian Days, shows this: "The sky is blue overhead, peeping through a window-like openings in a roof of green leaves" (Bryant, 2010, p 244). Eastman was also known to write collaboratively with his wife, Goodale Eastman. Helen Hunt Jackson Jackson , a highly successful poet, was a neighbor of poet Emily Dickinson's neighbor, shared the same mentor, Thomas Wentworth Higginson, and, later, friendship. While Jackson used her poetry as a means to grieve for the deaths of her infant son and first husband, she also wrote to assert her opinions and views as seen in our reading, A Century of Dishonor . Sherman J. Alexie, Jr. Alexie , a truly gifted storyteller, writes, "I sing with everything I have inside of me: pain, happiness, anger, depression, heart, soul, small intestine. I sing and am rewarded with people who listen. That is why I am a poet" (Bryant, 2010, p. 268). Emotions, humor, and the truth are hallmark of his work as Alexie raises awareness and redefines what it means to be Native American. His is a place of honor. If you have not read his book, The Absolute Diary of a Part-Time Ind.

1. Have attitudes changed as we move from early Native American
Literature into later and present-day writings? What writers,
along with specific examples, might you cite that represent this
shift? What is the focus now and how does it compare to other
minorities we have explored? Feel free to compare an early
writer to a more recent writer (1945 and after).
Discussion expectations defined:
You will be asked to select a quote from the reading each week
to incorporate in your first discussion post. This means that you
will also include an in-text citation and reference for each quote
(Author, year, p. X). Your post should be around 100-150 words
in order to receive full credit.
The Native American has a deep underlying connection to the
Earth, land, and all living things. They have a troubled, sordid
past, and have struggled long and hard to maintain their rights
among people. We are familiar with this from history books, but
now we will closely examine and carefully study the Native
American culture from these writers perspective. If you have
not read writers like Eastman, Silko, and Alexie, you are in for
a treat. Please consider how the care and tending to the land and
their heritages translates to the care of choosing words to write
across the printed page.
You will want to ask what it is each author is doing to add
his/her version, or vision, to what is the Native American
identity. Is the writer actively writing against commonly held
beliefs, questioning the persistent images popular culture has
inundates us with, or is it fueled by a different passion or
concern?
Charles Alexander Eastman
Eastman
, one of a long line of chiefs, one of the first Native American
authors to publish, and one of the first Native doctors, wrote
about the Sioux life and customs with brilliant descriptions and
influence. The opening lines of Winona, The Child Woman from

2. Old Indian Days, shows this: "The sky is blue overhead,
peeping through a window-like openings in a roof of green
leaves" (Bryant, 2010, p 244). Eastman was also known to write
collaboratively with his wife, Goodale Eastman.
Helen Hunt Jackson
Jackson
, a highly successful poet, was a neighbor of poet Emily
Dickinson's neighbor, shared the same mentor, Thomas
Wentworth Higginson, and, later, friendship. While
Jackson
used her poetry as a means to grieve for the deaths of her infant
son and first husband, she also wrote to assert her opinions and
views as seen in our reading,
A Century of Dishonor
.
Sherman J. Alexie, Jr.
Alexie
, a truly gifted storyteller, writes, "I sing with everything I have
inside of me: pain, happiness, anger, depression, heart, soul,
small intestine. I sing and am rewarded with people who listen.
That is why I am a poet" (Bryant, 2010, p. 268). Emotions,
humor, and the truth are hallmark of his work as Alexie raises
awareness and redefines what it means to be Native American.
His is a place of honor. If you have not read his book,
The Absolute Diary of a Part-Time Indian
, you might want to after reading his story, "What Your Pawn I
Will Redeem."
N. Scott Momaday
"Momaday, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, poet, painter, and
printmaker, grew up listening to his father tells stories from the
Kiowa oral tradition" (Bryant, 2010, p. 304).
Momaday
was equally influenced by his mother, who became an author of
children's books and went on to be quite a successful novelist,
educator, and mover for the Native American people. Here's an
introductory video

3. that shares his background in his own words.
Joy Harjoy
Harjoy
is a "writer, musician, photographer, university professor, and
feminist/activist," that is hailed as "one of the real poets of our
mixed, fermenting, end-of-century north American imagination"
(Bryant, 2010, p. 317). Here Harjoy, a rich storyteller,
shares her power, poetry and personality
.
Simon J. Ortiz
Many bios claim while
Ortiz
did not speak until the age of four, his fascination with
language and literature started early on (Byrant p. 331). "Ortiz's
experiences at various boarding schools for Native-American
children, where punishment was meted out to those who spoke
in their own tongue, no doubt also reinforced his passion for
words and for understanding their power" (p. 331). He often
speaks about the importance of listening: Listening, "not really
to find any secrets or sudden enlightenment, but to be improved
with that whole process and experience the whole process and
experience of language. That's the way we'll come to know how
we are, who we are, what we know, what we'll come to know"
(p.331).
A Sense of Community & Culture
As we read these authors who are central to the study of
contemporary Native American literature we will find various
tribal affiliations, primary communities mentioned. Others will
present a wider approach and identity as simply Native
Americans.
Get Acquainted with the Culture & Philosophies:
Indigenous Native American prophecy
Native American - Amazing Grace in Cherokee
Get to know our authors:
Learn more about
N. Scott Momaday

4. Explore more about
Joy Harjo
References
Bryant, J. (2010).
The Pearson Custom Library of American Literature. Rasmussen
College English Department.
New York, NY: Pearson Learning
Solution
s.