Ojibwe

World War II was a disastrous time for everyone. As the Nazis quickly took over Europe while eradicating the Jews and Japan swooped in and claimed Asia by storm, Canada continued to contribute greatly to the war effort. However, though there were plentiful, remarkable and distinguished soldiers who manifested intense force against the Axis Powers, there were some beings who remained as key vessels who instigated the navigation of the Canadians, and the Allies to glorious triumph. These Canadians…

foreign to most Americans, riddled with poverty and the remnants of cultures attacked by the “American way”. The Round House, by Louise Erdrich, paints a picture of life at a Chippewa reservation in the late 1980’s. In this tribe, the members speak Ojibwe in addition to English, which is a part of the Algic language family. The story of The Round House reflects upon modern and past issues in regards to American Indian affairs, it shows the divide between cultures, as well as the assimilation…

Diversity and Culture of Native and African American Communities Sarah Kneifl University of South Dakota Abstract: This paper discusses the minority groups of the Native Americans and the African Americans. It explores the history of both groups, how they are similar and what makes them different. Based on the research, they both suffered at the hands of the whites. Even though both described it differently, the Native and African Americans wanted “citizenship.”…

Jokes about overbearing in-laws are a given in our global culture, indicating a universal understanding that has the ability to transcend categories like race, religion, and nationality. Addressing the relationships of mothers and daughters-in-law in at times comedic, and at others times frustrating, and heartfelt ways, are two books: Annia Ciezadlo’s Day of Honey, and Louise Erdrich’s Love Medicine. Ciezadlo’s novel is the firsthand account of an American war correspondent that marries into a…

Louise Erdrich’s “The Flower” and George Saunders’ the “Tenth of December” are two of the most acclaimed short stories of the early 21st century. Both stories narrate a unique tale while examining a topic that has fascinated all of humanity throughout time: death. In the “Tenth of December,” Don Eber, a protagonist of the story, faces death in two forms: his stepfather’s passing and his personal pursuit of death. Likewise, Mink’s daughter and Wolfred in “The Flower” confront death with the…

The native traditions in both novels are crucial for the stability and the sense of control for both protagonists. The loss of stability and control is a focal point in the lives of the main characters in both Indian Horse and Things Fall Apart. In both works, the main characters experience life-changing events that cause severe loss and trauma; as a result of situations that are beyond their control. These circumstances lead to a loss on a personal and cultural level especially as both…

Language is defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary as a “system of words or signs that people use to express thoughts and feelings to each other” (Merriam-Webster). But language is more than that, language is a vessel that carries culture, spirituality, knowledge and wisdom, it connects humanity to the past therefore bringing an overall community essence to all those who speak it. As a result of this deep connection to language that humanity shares, when language is taken through assimilation it…

Dakota Nation(Santee) Native cultures of the americas Traditional location of Sioux tribes prior to 1770 (dark green) and their current reservations (orange) Ashley Rodriquez MYP American history (1st hr) October 19, 2015 The Dakota tribe was one of the three bands of Sioux a Native American tribe that resided in the upper lands of North America .The Dakota Sioux to was a nomadic tribe that traveled between Lands to live in the best hunting and gathering grounds. this…

Think about the year, 2016. The current state of the country seems to be in upheaval in regards towards civil liberties of any form. I would like to speak on a particular civil issue that isn’t brought to the mainstream as much of the other also important issues of our day, the current state of the indigenous people of our country, the Native Americans. The people who once lived in North America for thousands of years has been systematically reduced to what appears to be mainstream culture of…

Despite being one of the oldest tropes in speculative fiction, the Quest often finds itself a part of modern literature. Based on W. A. Senior’s description of Quest Fantasy, evidence for the trope can be found in Karen McBride’s 2019 novel, Crow Winter. In McBride’s novel, the protagonist, Hazel Ellis, returns to her hometown of Spirit Bear Point First Nation to find that she has caught the attention of a shapeshifting demigod, Nanabush. Throughout the story, Hazel, with Nanabush’s aid,…