tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post2183188012422213678..comments2024-03-17T16:24:40.322-05:00Comments on American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL): Discussion Guide to ARROW TO THE SUNDebbie Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14972409006633565859noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-80519225381109635212021-05-07T11:56:59.401-05:002021-05-07T11:56:59.401-05:00Thank you for this essay. A decade later and it is...Thank you for this essay. A decade later and it is still being used in classrooms, confronting Pueblo children in districts in New Mexico that you'd think might know better by now.kiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04619111720910970682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-70069143606926795432020-07-20T07:02:08.319-05:002020-07-20T07:02:08.319-05:00Thanks for this. Im from Canada and I've start...Thanks for this. Im from Canada and I've started an online children's bookstore. I want it to be multicultural and inclusive. I remembered this book growing up so I ordered it for my inventory. Now I will add a note before people purchase this book. <br /><br />I'm black and I know of many instances when my peoples history was written inaccurately. I will be more aware and cautious from now on. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00017267590082115199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-12633551674927507802018-06-28T20:34:01.528-05:002018-06-28T20:34:01.528-05:00First, thank you for all of the wonderful work you...First, thank you for all of the wonderful work you do in guiding, informing and teaching. As a school librarian who is not part of the many diverse cultures that are represented in my collection, it is critical that I find reliable guidance from authentic sources. <br /><br />I had a question, I wondered if you sent these revisions to the readers guide directly to Scholastic, and if so, how was it received? This post was made close to 10 years ago, and I still located the exact same reader's guide on the Scholastic website. <br />TheYogiYouthLibrarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09907212816494213934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-72711234435624236382017-07-29T21:36:20.994-05:002017-07-29T21:36:20.994-05:00May I suggest something for that rewrite? It's...May I suggest something for that rewrite? It's something that someone else suggested that people do with <i>Tikki Tikki Tembo</i>, that bootleg Asian folktale (or should I say, a shanzhai folktale?). Change all of the nationalities and loanwords (Pueblo, kiva, etc.) in the book to completely made-up ones like "In the faraway land of <b>Alayayx</b>" and "the sacred <b>morgon</b>". That will make it into the fairy tale that the author should have made it.Sam Jonsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06037969317578064759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-52264188951256839992012-09-14T09:34:14.810-05:002012-09-14T09:34:14.810-05:00This was a very insightful essay and valid in its ...This was a very insightful essay and valid in its assessment of the book. As a kid it was one of my favorite books to look at. The illustrations are breathtaking to me still to this day. The message and text was all but secondary to me as a child because I was more interested in the visual beauty. Even as a child I never assumed it to be a history lesson in actual native life. Yes it is sad that it is full of errors and ideally it would be an accurate story but in my opinion it should and will remain in the class room to inspire kids like myself to grow up and be artists. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12850114891422734779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-73491773576794564352010-10-16T12:25:14.439-05:002010-10-16T12:25:14.439-05:00Mariflies,
I see why you thought I made an error....Mariflies,<br /><br />I see why you thought I made an error...<br /> <br />I've got a paragraph about what kivas are, and in that paragraph, I talk about what the Christian missionaries did (that'd be the Catholic friars from Spain, specifically) and what the U.S. did later (prevent us from dancing). <br /><br />My next paragraph says the Pueblo peoples overthrew an oppressive invading regime. Because the previous paragraph ends with U.S. policies, you interpreted the oppressive regime to be the U.S. But it was, in fact, Spain. <br /><br />The US was, in fact, an oppressive regime, too. You say they brought wealth into New Mexico? Perhaps, but isn't that a bit of a gloss? It seems you may be trying to frame U.S. policy and activity in a positive way, when at root, it was a land grab.Debbie Reesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14972409006633565859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-34434626352640108412010-10-16T10:36:04.358-05:002010-10-16T10:36:04.358-05:00I thought this critique was thought provoking. I ...I thought this critique was thought provoking. I have issue with the anger, only in that anger breeds anger and we're not going to get anywhere putting people on the defensive rather than instructing. There is also a misrepresentation in your critique. The Pueblo Revolt was against the Spanish. The 'oppressive invading regime' was Spain. The US didn't enter the picture for another 50 years or so. And at the beginning of the US arrival they brought a lot of needed trade, opening the Santa Fe trail, and bringing more wealth into New Mexico. This also helped NM to get more representation in Mexico City and Spain- where the oppressive Spanish regime was headquartered. I also live in New Mexico and understand that Arrow to the Sun is not a traditional Pueblo tale - and completely agree that it should not be touted as such. But we can't right a wrong with wrong information and anger.mariflieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17005574209232002664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-77670446056866398372009-09-18T15:31:08.796-05:002009-09-18T15:31:08.796-05:00Debbie Reese,
Thank you for your critique of the...Debbie Reese, <br /><br />Thank you for your critique of the Arrow to the Sun. I would appreciate if you suggested some tales or stories that might be appropriate for children. I've read the blog and respect your position. But it could have been of more assistance if your critiuqe suggested proper reading materials, or acutal ways in which I could teach a 1st or 2nd grader about "Pueblo" people.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00057324999294628902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-75562981223452456522009-06-21T12:09:54.486-05:002009-06-21T12:09:54.486-05:00Phyllis,
I suggest you see what Pueblo writers wr...Phyllis,<br /><br />I suggest you see what Pueblo writers write about. It would be interesting to discuss ARROW, using the discussion I provided here, and then read Simon Ortiz's THE PEOPLE SHALL CONTINUE. He's a Pueblo man, from Acoma Pueblo. He's a poet, has read at the White House. Most of his work is for adult readers, not children. THE PEOPLE SHALL CONTINUE is a picture book.Debbie Reesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14972409006633565859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-23042370752705931682009-06-19T17:10:02.777-05:002009-06-19T17:10:02.777-05:00OK. I understand misrepresenting the customs of t...OK. I understand misrepresenting the customs of the Pueblo culture. Perhaps this is a good opportunity to do a compare/contrast with my 8th grade Language Arts students. Could you recommend a similar book with accurate information on the Pueblo culture that I could use for a compare/contrast? This would be a great skill building activity for my kids while at the same time, educating them to the anomalies present in children's literature.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11344311111652450220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-59377002282370130052009-04-23T00:40:00.000-05:002009-04-23T00:40:00.000-05:00Beverly, I feel terrible for what you and Barbara ...Beverly, I feel terrible for what you and Barbara had to deal with at the McDermott conference. <br /><br />There is a prevailing idea that what applies to one cultural group applies across the board to all cultural groups. As a storyteller, I know to be respectful of all traditions, but I also know specifically that the stories of different Native American nations and of Aboriginal Australians belong to specific communities and should not be retold without permission. Other stories from other traditions may be different, but there is no "one size fits all" rule, as any armchair anthropologist knows. <br /><br />Thank you for the good work that you do.Saints and Spinnershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532215042953620628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-47438815554340186062009-04-08T19:55:00.000-05:002009-04-08T19:55:00.000-05:00Hi again, Debbie and everyone—In my previous writi...Hi again, Debbie and everyone—<BR/><BR/>In my previous writing, I misremembered and therefore misstated a piece of the story about Barbara Wall's and my encounter with McDermott at the "multicultural" conference. What really happened was this:<BR/><BR/>After Barbara began to discuss McDermott's appropriation of Indian stories, he made a snide remark about "cultural copyright," and then said this:<BR/><BR/>"Since I'm Irish American, I own the cultural copyright to all Irish stories (pause for chuckles from the audience), and I hereby give YOU permission (pause for more chuckles from the audience) to retell and publish any Irish stories that strike your fancy (pause, self-satisfied smile, at which point entire audience turns to face Barbara.)"<BR/><BR/>It was at this point that Barbara responded that she tells only the stories from her own people, with permission from her elders. When she started to talk about her grandfather's being incarcerated at Carlisle, where his language and stories were taken away from him, the audience told her to shut up.<BR/><BR/>Barbara was so furious, she was visibly shaking. When I stood up and attempted to continue what Barbara was trying to say, the audience started booing and told us both to shut up.<BR/><BR/>We could see a smile—actually a leer—spread across McDermott's face as he stood at the podium, self-satisfied, knowing that, one more audience of teachers and librarians would believe that, through his beneficence, Pueblo children would learn their own traditional stories.<BR/><BR/>BeverlyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-45489431767033344102009-04-08T05:24:00.000-05:002009-04-08T05:24:00.000-05:00Thank you! Yours is a model student assignment al...Thank you! Yours is a model student assignment all right - mind if I quote it for Maine teachers still using Sign of the the Beaver?? That showed up in our Scholastic Book Fair this year again. I believe I have the Teacher's Guide somewhere - will take the time to go through it with red ink.Elizabeth Sky-McIlvainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15105914642224644679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-30265534037624093392009-04-07T13:54:00.000-05:002009-04-07T13:54:00.000-05:00Awesome post, Debbie! (I could expect no less fro...Awesome post, Debbie! (I could expect no less from you.) <BR/><BR/>A few years ago, Barbara Wall and I challenged McDermott at a breakout session of a large "multicultural" conference, where he had been a keynote speaker and was being all self-congratulatory about how sensitive he was and how grateful the Pueblo people were to him for writing and illustrating this "traditional" story. He told the audience that it was being used in reading programs for Pueblo children "all over the Pueblos," and that the elders were so grateful to him for "bringing back this story." Yes, he really said all that.<BR/><BR/>Barbara stood up and roundly chastised him for appropriating traditional stories, and asked him if he had ever considered making books of traditional Irish stories. He responded by telling her that, since she's an Indian, she's free to make her own books of traditional Indian stories. And Barbara responded that she tells only the stories she's gotten permission to tell from her own (Potawatomi) people.<BR/><BR/>He responded by snickering at "cultural copyright," and that's when I jumped in.<BR/><BR/>It wasn't enough. The audience booed us and told us to shut up and sit down. These were all teachers and librarians who wanted to hear McDermott's suggestions for teaching ARROW TO THE SUN. They wanted to hear him talk about his "inspirations," and that's what they got from him.<BR/><BR/>After we challenged him, for the rest of the conference, not one person came to the Oyate book table. Not only did we sell no books for the rest of the conference, but no one even wanted to talk with us. <BR/><BR/>This was a pretty humiliating and humbling experience, but it strengthened our resolve.Beverly Slapinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-90170075990102299132009-04-07T10:32:00.000-05:002009-04-07T10:32:00.000-05:00Very thought-provoking! As the parent of a middle-...Very thought-provoking! As the parent of a middle-schooler in an *extremely* religious-diverse community, though, I have no idea how a teacher could define "sacrilege" that does not privilege the feelings of the religious over those of the atheists (of which my community also includes many).<BR/><BR/>Neither of my children (the current 7th grader nor the one in college) ever encountered "Arrow to the Sun", as it happens. I don't know if this is because of problems such as the ones you discuss, or mere coincidence.Doctor Sciencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05460727665734543636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-91830376855532388892009-04-06T16:41:00.000-05:002009-04-06T16:41:00.000-05:00Suzi,Thanks, Suzi! Definitely link it on FB and Tw...Suzi,<BR/><BR/>Thanks, Suzi! Definitely link it on FB and Twitter. <BR/><BR/>Books for this age group that present Pueblo people accurately?<BR/><BR/>Good question. In fact, I know of only one collection of Pueblo stories that I think is good: Pablita Velarde's OLD FATHER STORYTELLER. Outside of a Native writer, I can't think of a non-Native writer that has put out a Pueblo story that I'd recommend. Joe Hayes the storyteller has made a big mess of things, too. It seems to me he's left Native story behind, though, and is now telling Latino/a stories. <BR/><BR/>For the most part, Native writers are writing stories set in the present. They don't flock to traditional stories. There are exceptions, but that's what they are: exceptions.<BR/><BR/>It seems that Native writers are writing realistic fiction, and some historical fiction. <BR/><BR/>So... I'd recommend, instead of ARROW or TURKEY GIRL or DRAGONFLY, some of my favorites:<BR/><BR/>Leitich Smith's JINGLE DANCER<BR/><BR/>Lacapa's LESS THAN HALF, MORE THAN WHOLE<BR/><BR/>Van Camp's WHATS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING YOU KNOW ABOUT HORSES<BR/><BR/>Harjo's THE GOOD LUCK CAT <BR/><BR/>Cheryl Savageau's MUSKRAT WILL BE SWIMMING is terrific... It includes a traditional story, told within the story.Debbie Reesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14972409006633565859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-25244588568633501392009-04-06T16:15:00.000-05:002009-04-06T16:15:00.000-05:00Debbie, super post! Hope you don't mind if I link ...Debbie, super post! Hope you don't mind if I link it on FB (or Twitter? Or both? So many options.). I especially think the rewrites are useful, as is the description of it as a fantasy. I wonder if there might be something in "Students will learn about two other writers who also misrepresent Pueblo Indian people" that could be turned around too, to "students will learn about two other writers who also misrepresent Pueblo Indian people and two writers from the culture who represent their people with accuracy" or something similar? Yes, here are the failures, but here are some things you can learn that are accurate and good (also adding income to those writers' pockets and encouraging publishers to keep on going). What do you think?Suzi Steffenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15376079397368218824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-72079533015611568022009-04-06T15:03:00.000-05:002009-04-06T15:03:00.000-05:00Thank you, Debbie, for keeping us all informed as ...Thank you, Debbie, for keeping us all informed as to the continued, grossly negligent, (mis)representation of so many aspects of native life. It is tragic that McDermott is an "award winner" author who will make money off of this travesty. I teach Children's Lit and make sure all of my students know about your site and Oyate.ccomforthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16246349472259915437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-60889098006517019722009-04-06T14:29:00.000-05:002009-04-06T14:29:00.000-05:00I was just talking to an elder a couple of weeks a...I was just talking to an elder a couple of weeks ago who told me how he and his folks had to go hide in the woods to do their traditional dances when he was a child, after they had been banned. The irony is deep. <BR/><BR/>Excellent post.Deluxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-81261585056747466972009-04-06T10:10:00.000-05:002009-04-06T10:10:00.000-05:00Martina and others,Do you think people realize the...Martina and others,<BR/><BR/>Do you think people realize the irony in McDermott making up a dance, given the historical context that we were persecuted and prohibited from doing our dances?Debbie Reesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14972409006633565859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-91801930066924502632009-04-06T10:01:00.000-05:002009-04-06T10:01:00.000-05:00Wow...I remember you going over this book...we ski...Wow...I remember you going over this book...we skipped my children's book fair this year (too busy), but I bet the book was there...Tina Dawleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04315613182937627890noreply@blogger.com