"The Homestead on Rainy Mountain Creek," written by N. Scott Momaday, is a memoir about the author 's childhood and ancestral history in the Kiowa village of Rainy Mountain Creek. He speaks about the various traditions of the Kiowa tribe, the preservation of memory, the geography of the "mountain", the importance of family, and the traditional values of the tribe versus the invading european "white" culture. However, I believe that the main focus of this memoir is the Kiowa Tribe itself and its traditions. In the first paragraph, Momaday explains the geography of the Rainy Mountain. In actuality, he claims that the "mountain" is actually a knoll or hummock. The tribe camped on the ground on the mountain, and it inevitably rained, giving
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And it was for me the deity that it was for
Dragonfly.
In this section, Momaday truly connects with the traditions of his people. Dragonfly 's ritual shows how dedicated the Kiowa were to their sun deity, and the pride he feels from the trials and tribulations of time his people and their ways have overcome.
Momaday rounds out the final body paragraphs of Homestead with a recollection of the buildings and areas near to his childhood and life on Rainy Mountain. Near where Dragonfly would pray, a red barn stood, containing a box of horse bones. They were the bones of a horse named "Gudal-san," who never lost a race. Momaday explains that the tradition of keeping the bones long after death is most likely an appropriate nod to the Kiowa 's previous nomadic plains life. In this time, the Kiowa owned more horses per capita than any other Great Plains tribe. These horses tie into the Kiowa history and culture. Momaday also mentions the old storm cellar where he and his mother would hide from severe weather. His father held a Kiowa indifference to this weather. He then explains the importance of the arbor, the open frame building where the Kiowa could gather and sit around the table, sleep, eat, drink, and wash. Momaday also recollects the memories of the Rainy Mountain Baptist Church congregation. This congregation is shown to be a major tradition that the tribe would collectively spend time and form bonds with one another. Most of the Kiowas would come to pray in the arbor. The elders would bring an abundance of food and gave testimony to their faith and sing hyms. meanwhile, the children would play, excited by the communion and
And it was for me the deity that it was for
Dragonfly.
In this section, Momaday truly connects with the traditions of his people. Dragonfly 's ritual shows how dedicated the Kiowa were to their sun deity, and the pride he feels from the trials and tribulations of time his people and their ways have overcome.
Momaday rounds out the final body paragraphs of Homestead with a recollection of the buildings and areas near to his childhood and life on Rainy Mountain. Near where Dragonfly would pray, a red barn stood, containing a box of horse bones. They were the bones of a horse named "Gudal-san," who never lost a race. Momaday explains that the tradition of keeping the bones long after death is most likely an appropriate nod to the Kiowa 's previous nomadic plains life. In this time, the Kiowa owned more horses per capita than any other Great Plains tribe. These horses tie into the Kiowa history and culture. Momaday also mentions the old storm cellar where he and his mother would hide from severe weather. His father held a Kiowa indifference to this weather. He then explains the importance of the arbor, the open frame building where the Kiowa could gather and sit around the table, sleep, eat, drink, and wash. Momaday also recollects the memories of the Rainy Mountain Baptist Church congregation. This congregation is shown to be a major tradition that the tribe would collectively spend time and form bonds with one another. Most of the Kiowas would come to pray in the arbor. The elders would bring an abundance of food and gave testimony to their faith and sing hyms. meanwhile, the children would play, excited by the communion and