🪶Native American Literature Unit 13 – Native American Lit: Land & Environment

Key Themes in Native American Land & Environment Literature

• Emphasizes the deep spiritual connection between Native peoples and the natural world, viewing land as a sacred entity rather than a resource to be exploited
• Highlights the importance of maintaining balance and harmony with the environment, respecting the interconnectedness of all living beings
  • Teaches that humans are part of the ecosystem, not separate from or superior to it
• Explores the concept of land as a source of identity, cultural heritage, and ancestral memory for Native communities
• Addresses the devastating impact of colonization, forced relocation, and environmental degradation on Native lands and ways of life
• Critiques the Western notion of land ownership and commodification, advocating for a more sustainable and reciprocal relationship with the earth
• Celebrates the resilience and adaptability of Native peoples in the face of ongoing challenges to their land rights and traditional practices
• Emphasizes the role of storytelling, oral traditions, and intergenerational knowledge in preserving and passing down environmental wisdom

Historical Context of Native American Land Relationships

• Prior to European colonization, Native American tribes had diverse and complex relationships with their ancestral lands, shaped by their unique cultures, beliefs, and ecosystems
• Many tribes practiced sustainable land management techniques, such as controlled burning and selective harvesting, to maintain the health and productivity of their environments
• The arrival of European settlers in the 15th and 16th centuries marked the beginning of a long history of land dispossession, forced relocation, and cultural suppression for Native peoples
  • The Doctrine of Discovery and the concept of Manifest Destiny were used to justify the seizure of Native lands and the displacement of Indigenous communities
• Treaties between Native tribes and the U.S. government, such as the Treaty of Holston (1791) and the Treaty of New Echota (1835), often resulted in the cession of vast tracts of Native land in exchange for promises of protection and support that were rarely fulfilled
• The Indian Removal Act of 1830 and the subsequent Trail of Tears (1838-1839) exemplified the U.S. government's policy of forcibly relocating Native tribes from their ancestral lands to designated reservations, often in distant and unfamiliar territories
• The General Allotment Act of 1887 (Dawes Act) further fragmented Native land holdings by dividing reservations into individual allotments, leading to the loss of over 90 million acres of Native land by 1934
• The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 aimed to reverse some of the damage caused by the Dawes Act, but the legacy of land loss and cultural disruption continues to impact Native communities to this day

Major Authors and Works

• N. Scott Momaday (Kiowa): "House Made of Dawn" (1968) - A Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that explores the spiritual and cultural dislocation of a young Native American man caught between traditional ways and modern society
• Leslie Marmon Silko (Laguna Pueblo): "Ceremony" (1977) - A novel that interweaves Native American mythology and storytelling with the story of a World War II veteran's journey to heal from trauma and reconnect with his cultural heritage
• Louise Erdrich (Ojibwe): "Love Medicine" (1984) - A collection of interconnected stories that span several generations of an Ojibwe family, exploring themes of love, loss, and the enduring power of Native identity and tradition
• Simon J. Ortiz (Acoma Pueblo): "from Sand Creek" (1981) - A collection of poems that confronts the history of violence and oppression against Native peoples, including the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864, while affirming the resilience and continuity of Native cultures
• Linda Hogan (Chickasaw): "Solar Storms" (1995) - A novel that follows a young Native woman's journey to reconnect with her ancestral lands and confront the environmental and cultural destruction wrought by hydroelectric development in Canada
• Robin Wall Kimmerer (Potawatomi): "Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants" (2013) - A collection of essays that weaves together Native American teachings, scientific insights, and personal reflections to explore the reciprocal relationship between humans and the natural world

Literary Techniques and Symbolism

• Use of oral storytelling techniques, such as repetition, formulaic phrases, and circular narrative structures, to evoke the continuity and adaptability of Native traditions
  • Example: Leslie Marmon Silko's "Ceremony" incorporates Laguna Pueblo stories and chants throughout the novel, creating a sense of timelessness and cultural resilience
• Incorporation of Native American languages, words, and phrases to assert the importance of linguistic diversity and the inseparability of language and land
• Employment of natural imagery and symbolism to convey the deep spiritual and cultural significance of the environment in Native worldviews
  • Example: In N. Scott Momaday's "House Made of Dawn," the land itself becomes a character, shaping the identities and experiences of the human protagonists
• Use of nonlinear, cyclical, and fragmented narrative structures to challenge Western notions of progress, individualism, and conquest
• Juxtaposition of traditional and modern ways of life to highlight the ongoing struggles of Native communities to maintain their cultural identities in the face of assimilation and environmental degradation
• Incorporation of Native American humor, irony, and satire to subvert stereotypes and assert the vitality and adaptability of Native cultures
• Use of multiple perspectives, voices, and genres (poetry, prose, oral history) to reflect the diversity and complexity of Native American experiences and relationships to land

Environmental Perspectives in Native American Writing

• Emphasizes the intrinsic value and agency of the natural world, challenging the Western view of land and resources as commodities to be exploited for human gain
• Highlights the reciprocal and responsible relationship between humans and the environment, in which people are stewards rather than owners of the land
  • Example: Robin Wall Kimmerer's "Braiding Sweetgrass" explores the concept of the "Honorable Harvest," a set of principles for taking from the land in a way that ensures its regeneration and abundance
• Critiques the destructive impact of extractive industries, such as mining, logging, and oil drilling, on Native lands and communities
  • Example: Linda Hogan's "Solar Storms" depicts the devastating consequences of hydroelectric development on Cree and Inuit communities in Canada
• Addresses the unequal distribution of environmental risks and benefits along racial and economic lines, highlighting the disproportionate impact of pollution and climate change on Native communities
• Celebrates the resilience and adaptability of Native peoples in the face of environmental challenges, drawing on traditional ecological knowledge and practices to promote sustainability and resilience
• Advocates for the recognition and protection of Native land rights, including the right to access and manage ancestral territories for cultural and subsistence purposes
• Emphasizes the importance of intergenerational environmental knowledge and the role of elders in passing down land-based wisdom and values to younger generations

Land Rights and Sovereignty in Literature

• Asserts the inherent sovereignty of Native nations and the right to self-determination over their ancestral lands and resources
• Critiques the ongoing legacy of colonization, land dispossession, and forced relocation on Native communities, highlighting the need for land restoration and cultural revitalization
• Addresses the complex legal and political struggles of Native tribes to assert their land rights and protect their environments from exploitation and degradation
  • Example: The ongoing fight of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe against the Dakota Access Pipeline, as depicted in works such as "Standing Rock Stories" (2018) by various authors
• Explores the concept of land as a source of identity, cultural continuity, and spiritual connection for Native peoples, emphasizing the inseparability of land and culture
• Highlights the role of Native writers, artists, and activists in advocating for land rights and environmental justice, both within their communities and on a national and global scale
• Addresses the impact of land loss and environmental degradation on Native languages, traditional knowledge systems, and cultural practices, emphasizing the need for cultural preservation and revitalization
• Critiques the limitations and contradictions of federal policies and legal frameworks, such as the trust responsibility and the doctrine of plenary power, in protecting Native land rights and promoting tribal self-determination

Contemporary Native American Environmental Writing

• Builds on the legacy of earlier Native writers and activists, while addressing the urgent environmental and social justice challenges of the 21st century
• Engages with issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and the impact of extractive industries on Native lands and communities
  • Example: Winona LaDuke's (Ojibwe) "All Our Relations: Native Struggles for Land and Life" (1999) explores the intersection of environmental justice and Indigenous rights in the context of globalization and resource extraction
• Incorporates new forms of storytelling and media, such as digital platforms, social media, and documentary filmmaking, to reach wider audiences and amplify Native voices
• Emphasizes the importance of intertribal and international solidarity in the face of global environmental challenges, highlighting the shared struggles and resilience of Indigenous peoples worldwide
• Advocates for the integration of traditional ecological knowledge and Western science in addressing environmental problems and promoting sustainable land management practices
• Explores the role of Native youth in carrying forward the legacy of environmental stewardship and cultural revitalization, emphasizing the importance of intergenerational knowledge transfer and leadership development
• Celebrates the resurgence of Native languages, cultural practices, and land-based economies as a form of resistance and resilience in the face of ongoing environmental and cultural threats

Connections to Other Indigenous Literature

• Shares common themes and concerns with Indigenous literature from other parts of the world, such as the impact of colonization, the struggle for land rights, and the importance of cultural and linguistic revitalization
• Engages in dialogue and solidarity with other Indigenous writers and activists, recognizing the shared histories and ongoing challenges faced by Indigenous peoples globally
  • Example: The work of Maori writer Patricia Grace, such as "Potiki" (1986), which explores themes of land, identity, and cultural resilience in the context of Aotearoa New Zealand
• Contributes to the growing body of global Indigenous literature that challenges dominant Western narratives and asserts the value and vitality of Indigenous knowledge systems and ways of life
• Draws inspiration from the oral traditions, storytelling techniques, and environmental philosophies of other Indigenous cultures, while affirming the uniqueness and specificity of each tribal nation's experience and perspective
• Participates in international forums and movements, such as the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, to advocate for the rights and self-determination of Indigenous peoples worldwide
• Engages with the work of non-Indigenous allies and scholars who support Indigenous land rights and environmental justice, while maintaining the centrality of Indigenous voices and perspectives in the conversation
• Contributes to the ongoing development of Indigenous literary theory and criticism, which seeks to understand and appreciate Indigenous literature on its own terms, rather than through the lens of Western literary traditions and values