tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post116179049427805011..comments2024-03-27T14:08:51.191-05:00Comments on American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL): NOT RECOMMENDED: Gerald McDermott's ARROW TO THE SUNDebbie Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14972409006633565859noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-18562679247404748042017-10-04T15:48:16.886-05:002017-10-04T15:48:16.886-05:00Hey, both of you latest two Anonymoi,
Would you, o...Hey, both of you latest two Anonymoi,<br />Would you, or the bulk of McEuropeans (i.e. non-European white people) praise a book involving a boy who had to fight some evil kangaroos in "St. God's Memorial Church" as part of a "Anglican Christian baptismal ritual"? Especially if the author used the pseudonym "Windsor Chicago Dalton"? Anyone????Sam Jonsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06037969317578064759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-42172885952744819522014-09-19T00:26:23.596-05:002014-09-19T00:26:23.596-05:00It's just a children's book, who cares if ...It's just a children's book, who cares if it is not 100% accurate. It is still a great story, I highly Mcdermott is aiming to be disrespectful of the culture by, as you say, "making stuff up, getting it wrong". This book does not serve as a historical text, it is a children's book. Write your own book with everything being exactly accurate if that is what you want. Your interpretation of the kiva is your own, and I think some of the comments here provide a much better interpretation. Also have kiva always been the same way for the history of the culture? I don't think this book should be dismissed at all, in fact I think that is completely foolish. It is a great story and the art is highly enjoyable. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-47738915097498327742012-10-07T19:08:08.920-05:002012-10-07T19:08:08.920-05:00The main problem I see in this story is the obviou...The main problem I see in this story is the obvious parallel to the virgin birth/Christianity. It's problematic because such a parallel did not exist before Spanish contact. If such parallels exist today in Pueblo religion, it is due (most likely) to the influence of Catholicism. I don't understand why the author wrote the story in the way that he did: Pueblo religion is full of stories upon which he could have based a book.<br /><br />A clear giveaway that this is not based upon a Pueblo tale is the fact that the boy had to fight lions. Lions are not an animal that is indigenous to New Mexico.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-638096469452333362011-01-04T14:21:22.765-06:002011-01-04T14:21:22.765-06:00Debbie,
Sorry for not responding before this. I d...Debbie,<br />Sorry for not responding before this. I didn't realize you had responded with a question to my comment. Anyway -- McDermott for several years lived in Albuquerque and had a close relationship with the people at Zuni. He was working with the children there, developing art education, which is really his field. I believe he's back living in California now.<br />Chris DoyleChris Doylenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-39069089930830718952009-02-03T10:52:00.000-06:002009-02-03T10:52:00.000-06:00Christine and Anonymous on Feb 3, 2009:Both of you...Christine and Anonymous on Feb 3, 2009:<BR/><BR/>Both of you disagree with my critique of the way that McDermott presents a kiva and what takes place in kivas. <BR/><BR/>Christine says "your characterization of the kiva experience in Arrow could be looked at a little differently."<BR/><BR/>The difference in me and McDermott/Christine is that I am Pueblo Indian. For me, the kiva is not an abstract idea, it is a lived experience. I go there several times a year. <BR/><BR/>Sure, a reader could look at the kiva a little differently, perhaps from a non-Pueblo-Indian perspective. From an outsider perspective. <BR/><BR/>Christine notes that some pueblo people like McDermott. Can you say more about that? Where? What pueblo? What kids? <BR/><BR/>As an update to my work on this book since posting this in 2006, is that McDermott made up the dance at the end of the book. That's not ok! <BR/><BR/>Making stuff up, getting things wrong.... Do you (Anonymous on Feb 2, 2009) really still think it is ok to read this book? <BR/><BR/>How would you do it? What would you say to the children. Seriously, I'd like to know how you would read this book, page by page to the children, with follow-up, etc.?<BR/><BR/>(And note to Anonymous on March 10, 2008, both of the dePaola books are favorably reviewed in Slapin and Seale's THROUGH INDIAN EYES.<BR/><BR/>DebbieDebbie Reesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14972409006633565859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-50442111430839383562009-02-02T18:57:00.000-06:002009-02-02T18:57:00.000-06:00In the book, it refers to the Kivas as ceremonies....In the book, it refers to the Kivas as ceremonies. It doesn't necessarily mean that he is fighting and killing the animals in the Kivas. It can be interpreted as something cultural, such as a ceremony. It may also be considered a trial because he has to complete it and go through with it, like any task one would have to do in order to get to their end goal. As long as you emphasize that to your students, I don't think there is anything wrong with reading this book to them and teaching them about the Pueblo culture.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-73992050326206329722008-03-10T21:27:00.000-05:002008-03-10T21:27:00.000-05:00Debbie - I am new to your blog, but I'm wondering ...Debbie - I am new to your blog, but I'm wondering if you have any opinion on the depictions given in Tomie dePaola's "Legend of the Bluebonnet" and "Legend of the Indian Paintbrush." "Bluebonnet" was one of my favorite picture books for many years when I was younger. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-1162403597697234692006-11-01T11:53:00.000-06:002006-11-01T11:53:00.000-06:00I've always assumed that part of the popularity of...I've always assumed that part of the popularity of this book comes from the obvious parallels between this version of a Pueblo myth and the Christian myth of a virgin birth producing the "son of God." It's a beautiful book, and potentially useful in talking about symbolism and myth, but I've been suspicious about its cultural authenticity since it seems set up to allow non-Pueblo readers to believe that all religions are, at base, the same. This is a comfortable conclusion, but not one in keeping with the goals we most often articulate when using "multiculture" literature, which include coming to a better understanding of a culture with distinct beliefs and practices.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-1162241739116357572006-10-30T14:55:00.000-06:002006-10-30T14:55:00.000-06:00Debbie,I think your characterization of the kiva e...Debbie,<BR/>I think your characterization of the kiva experience in Arrow could be looked at a little differently. I've never looked at it as a "fight" (notice that he doesn't "kill" any of the creatures; he tames the lions and snakes, and gets the bees to cooperate in a working hive), but as a learning experience so that he can take his place as an adult in his community. I read an article long ago that talked about how all of those elements were symbolic in Pueblo culture. He doesn't "fight" lightning, either; it is his transformative experience from child to adult. My understanding of kivas is that instruction about taking one's place as an adult in the community took place there. I do see there is a difference between the boy being instructed and learning by himself, but it doesn't seem to me that it would be likely to engender fear. I also know that McDermott is quite well-liked by some of the pueblo people and works with the kids a lot, and not by others, so clearly there are a number of perspectives on these issues among native people as well.<BR/>Just want you to know I always find your observations quite interesting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-1161991375813928642006-10-27T18:22:00.000-05:002006-10-27T18:22:00.000-05:00I think most teachers, prepping to use this book, ...<I>I think most teachers, prepping to use this book, would know that kivas are not scary places, but more like a church or temple.</I><BR/><BR/>Debbie, are you <I>hoping</I> that they do, or is there enough prep material out there that is specifically geared to this book that would feature counterpoints to the inaccurate ideas in the book?<BR/><BR/>My experience with our local school system's attempt to deal with its Indian mascot led me to feel that most of the teachers in our school were cowering in terror at the idea of engaging those teachable moments when faced by the political pressure of the Indian mascot supporters.<BR/><BR/>Excellent blog!Carol Maltbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10693212305194138330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-1161821167277410952006-10-25T19:06:00.000-05:002006-10-25T19:06:00.000-05:00Debbie,Just wanted to let you know I'm really enjo...Debbie,<BR/><BR/>Just wanted to let you know I'm really enjoying and appreciating your blog. Thank you.<BR/><BR/>Rebecca RabinowitzAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com