ipl-logo

Assimilation In Louise Erdrich's Tracks

1545 Words7 Pages

As in life, throughout Louise Erdrich’s novel, Tracks, the Anishinaabe people suffer myriad violations inflicted upon them by the brutality inherent in settler colonialism: forced relocation to ever-shrinking land, environmental annihilation, depletion of life-sustaining fauna, rampant disease, taxation, bureaucracy, residential schools, false and racist narratives, the Catholic church, alcoholism, and so on. Hence, to suggest the book’s characters operate within a framework of trauma is an understatement. Amid the evolving disaster, although narrators Nanapush and Pauline Puyat often occupy the same spaces and share some characteristics, such as being talkative, sexual, and prone to visions, they perceive their worlds through disparate lenses, and develop along divergent trajectories. While Nanapush is nurturing, community driven, and generally life-affirming, Pauline is self-serving, opportunistic, and energized by death and violence. Whereas Pauline is the face of assimilation, …show more content…

For her, it is the path of least resistance, and she comes to represent the force of assimilation through the damaging effects of the church on native religion, failure to accept Johnston 5 responsibility for misdeeds, rationalization, and internalization of racism against her own people. In her vision, for example, she imagines that God tells her she is “wholly white” and that she is to discover the habits and hiding places of His enemy (137). She also only speaks English, referring to the language of the Anishinaabe as “strong and vulgar” (147). In the end, reflecting white racism, Pauline frames the Anishinaabe people as hapless savages: “They could starve and fornicate, expose their young for dogs and crows, worship the bones of animals or the brown liquor in a jar. I would have none of it”

Show More
Related
708 Words | 3 Pages

The text paints the picture of how the Anishinaabe people were living before the treaty

Read More
175 Words | 1 Pages

Monkey Beach, by Eden Robinson, is a novel exploring the systemic issues of the Indian Act through an Indigenous lens. It follows a Haisla family in a community called Kitamaat Village on the coast of British Columbia during the late 1980’s, nearing the closing of residential schools. The story is told in non-linear flashbacks, through the perspective of Lisamarie Hill, a young Indigenous woman gifted with spiritual powers that allow her to view the past and future. The novel articulates the normalisation of western values and how it has seeped its way into the minds of Indigenous peoples, causing a spiritual disconnect from their culture. Furthermore, the authoritative influence of western culture has asserted itself in Indigenous communities,

Read More
904 Words | 4 Pages

In Justin Scott’s death a reclamation takes place. It is realized that “[the] white people who forced them here had never intended for them to survive” (212). Even before moving from their southern designed and southern styled community, the Anishinaabeg left when Justin Scott died. When they killed him; reversing his slaughter and putting an end to his triumph by giving the man who rejected and abused this land down to it. Justin Scott will drift to the depths of that sea and lay with the roots of the Anishinaabe, allowing them to reclaim their former way of life and “destiny” (212).

Read More
557 Words | 3 Pages

One Fleur, Two Lenses Louise Erdrich's novel Tracks combines two different narrations from two very different narrators to tell the story of, among others, the enigmatic Fleur Pillager. I hesitate to call her the protagonist of the novel, but she is the one constant in both narrations, and the first two chapters, which are indicative of things to come, focus on her presence. The first narrator, Nanapush, tells tales of the history of the tribe (Anishinabe), his past, and his experiences with Fleur. He is the more positive narrator, providing humor for the audience and consistent support for Fleur. Pauline Puyat, the second narrator, focuses more on her own life but offers important insight into aspects of Fleur that Nanapush can't.

Read More
1802 Words | 8 Pages

Tracey Lindberg’s novel Birdie is narratively constructed in a contorting and poetic manner yet illustrates the seriousness of violence experience by Indigenous females. The novel is about a young Cree woman Bernice Meetoos (Birdie) recalling her devasting past and visionary journey to places she has lived and the search for home and family. Lindberg captures Bernice’s internal therapeutic journey to recover from childhood traumas of incest, sexual abuse, and social dysfunctions. She also presents Bernice’s self-determination to achieve a standard of good health and well-being. The narrative presents Bernice for the most part lying in bed and reflecting on her dark life in the form of dreams.

Read More
2156 Words | 9 Pages

Within the narrative, the author shows the significance of preserving one's Indigenous heritage while simultaneously embracing the transformative power of change. These dynamics are brought to life, showcasing the challenges and conflicts in these relationships. In one scene, the characters express their exasperation, with one remarking, “‘He’s such a tool.’ ‘Yeah. There’s always one in the family.’”

Read More
333 Words | 2 Pages

The short story “The Leap” by Louise Erdrich is about the story of the author’s mother, from being an expert trapeze artist to her 70’s when she is blind and living in a run-down and empty house. The mother has several near-death experiences, such as almost being struck by lightning, or saving someone from a burning house. “The Leap” embodies a specific style of negative hyperbole and foreshadowing throughout the 25 paragraphs of the story. “The Leap '' is a short story, which means that it has only 25 paragraphs across 2 pages. Erdrich’s style is of mirroring how her mother has saved her from dying several different times in several different ways, as she says on paragraph 3, “I owe her my existence three times.

Read More
1434 Words | 6 Pages

Monkey Beach is an adaptation of “Queen of the North,” both written by Eden Robinson. The texts both touch on the theme of intergenerational trauma within Indigenous communities. Through the lens of different main characters, however, Monkey Beach approaches the topic differently through its portrayal of the transmission of trauma. In “Queen of the North,” the transmission of intergenerational trauma is most clearly seen through Josh reenacting trauma onto Adelaine. In contrast, as a novel, Monkey Beach offers a more nuanced depiction of the methods of intergenerational trauma transmission, such as the loss of Lisamarie's cultural identity.

Read More
776 Words | 4 Pages

The historical fiction genre offers social commentary on society by giving us insight into people’s perspectives and social experiences in the past. We must listen to and learn from the social commentary given by historical fiction, because we can use it to help us build a better society. This is evident through the book “American Indian Stories,” by Zitkala-Sa and my personal experience. In the historical fiction “American Indian Stories,” Zitkala-Sa provides social commentary by illustrating her perspective of assimilation and observations of other Native Americans through fictional characters.

Read More
290 Words | 2 Pages

The leap is a story written by Louise Erdrich. The story is about the narrator's mother, Anna. Anna has lost her sight to cataracts. She navigates her home so gracefully, never upsetting anything or losing her balance, that the narrator realizes that the catlike precision of her movements may be the product of her early training. The narrator rarely thinks about her mother’s career in the Flying Avalons, however, because her mother preserves no keepsakes from that period of her life.

Read More
899 Words | 4 Pages

Supernatural Powers Thesis: One controversial issue in Louise Erdrich's Tracks concerns Fleur’s supposed supernatural powers. While some readers argue that Fleur’s powers can be explained scientifically, my own view is that her powers are supernatural. Quote 1: “. . .

Read More
1456 Words | 6 Pages

The novel “Tracks” written by Louise Erdrich is a novel based on the struggles of the Indian tribes that were living in North Dakota many years ago. This novel is considered to be one of great literature with its compelling and descriptive writing. However, in my opinion although the novel was written very well, it isn't my cup of tea. This novel had fell short for me many times, maybe due to the fact that there was two point of views. Going back into the descriptive writing, maybe it was just me

Read More
620 Words | 3 Pages

While in exile Linda’s experience is alienating, but also enriching and helps to illuminate the meaning of the work as a whole. The inhabitants of the savage reservation were thought to be uncivilized. They had marriage, religion, and natural births, all of which were a thing of the past in “civilized” culture. Linda was forced

Read More
957 Words | 4 Pages

Captivity is defined as the state of being imprisoned or confined. A tragic experience is given a whole new perspective from Louise Erdrich 's poem, “Captivity”. Through descriptive imagery and a melancholic tone, we can see the poem and theme develop in her words. Erdrich takes a quote from Mary Rowlandson’s narrative about her imprisonment by the Native Americans and her response to this brings readers a different story based off of the epigraph. Louise Erdrich compiles various literary devices to convey her theme of sympathy, and her poem “Captivity” through specific and descriptive language brings a whole new meaning to Mary Rowlandson’s narrative.

Read More
1394 Words | 6 Pages

Though, this piece could not be published as it is deemed controversial. But for Cheryl, she knows it by heart, and it outlines the problem both the Metis and Indian people are going through. On the other hand, April despises her Metis culture and heritage. “‘… so anything to do with the Indians, I despised’” (40). April dreams of living similarly to a white person.

Read More

More about Assimilation In Louise Erdrich's Tracks

Related Topics

Open Document