tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post9178387837118498859..comments2024-03-27T14:08:51.191-05:00Comments on American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL): A response to Richie's review of GHOST OF SPIRIT BEAR, and a critical look at TOUCHING SPIRIT BEARDebbie Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14972409006633565859noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-52633319214792367212008-07-08T17:09:00.000-05:002008-07-08T17:09:00.000-05:00I think it's interesting people feel the tone Mr. ...I think it's interesting people feel the tone Mr. Mikaelson took was disrespectful, when in Dr. Reese's earlier review, she used words like "garbage" to describe his work, as well as that "what he doesn't know, he invents". I also found the mentions of "teaching little white boys to 'play Indian'" disrespectful, so perhaps if we hold the author to respectful tone, the same should be done for Dr. Reese. <BR/><BR/>What would have been interesting would be addressing the core issue of "vetting" work by experts. I don't see proof that it wasn't vetted. And who decides who is qualified as an expert? That's interesting, of course, because often within academia, differing opinions are often villified by use of terms implying ignorance or misinformation. So vetting who the qualified "experts" is an area for further exploration.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-73870200531230708542008-05-13T23:22:00.000-05:002008-05-13T23:22:00.000-05:00Dear Anonymous:You asked a good question about fic...Dear Anonymous:<BR/><BR/>You asked a good question about fiction: "Why do fiction books have to read by experts before being published." <BR/><BR/>Just because a work is fiction doesn't mean it shouldn't be absolutely true. What do I mean by that? <BR/><BR/>Great literature, [what all fiction aspires to be] attempts to represent "larger truths" at the core of the story.<BR/><BR/>For example, Moby Dick isn't just a story about a man and the whale, but rather it's a story of obsession. A truth. <BR/><BR/>In the case of fiction/stories written about American Indians, Alaska Natives, and other indigenous peoples, many rely on stereotypes, and therefore the core of the story is also a stereotype.LeAnne Howehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06627920870366644863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-87733083777116161762008-05-11T16:41:00.000-05:002008-05-11T16:41:00.000-05:00Dear Anonymous at 4:29:Yes. I do recommend books w...Dear Anonymous at 4:29:<BR/><BR/>Yes. I do recommend books written by non-Native writers. I like Marlene Carvelle's books (SWEETGRASS BASKET and WHO WILL TELL MY BROTHER).<BR/><BR/>I also like Diane Hamm Johnson's DAUGHTER OF SUQUA and Robert Munsch's A PROMISE IS A PROMISE. These are on my list of recommended books. There's a link to that list on the main page of my site.Debbie Reesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14972409006633565859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-72821643236387019272008-05-11T16:29:00.000-05:002008-05-11T16:29:00.000-05:00Debbie--Are there any books written for children t...Debbie--Are there any books written for children that include Native Americans that are not written by Native American writers that you do recommend? I realize you point out a lot of books that you don't believe are good but are there any that you do approve of?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-32989020315540083792008-05-10T19:49:00.000-05:002008-05-10T19:49:00.000-05:00If students get upset because they learned incorre...If students get upset because they learned incorrect information from FICTION books then they should be mad at themselves, not the author's of these books. They should find factual information if they want to learn.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-87101673543936488642008-05-10T16:24:00.000-05:002008-05-10T16:24:00.000-05:00Why do fiction books have to be read by "experts"?...Why do fiction books have to be read by "experts"? Well, why do fiction authors have to research the history and culture they write about? Why not just make up everything? <BR/><BR/>For example, God created the earth in 4000 BC. Cavemen coexisted with dinosaurs. George Washington was a transvestite. Santa Claus is a pedophile. The pope is the anti-Christ. Americans long for another 9/11. Indians are merciless savages. Etc.<BR/><BR/>If accuracy in fiction doesn't matter, are all these things okay? In a grotesque parody or satire, perhaps, but not in a work based on reality. Reality demands a measure of accuracy.<BR/><BR/>So the answer to Anonymous's "why" is because accuracy is the right thing to do. And because parents, teachers, and librarians demand it. Publishers want to sell authentic books and readers want to buy them. <BR/><BR/>P.S. It sounds as though many of the criticisms of <I>Touching Spirit Bear</I> were about Mikaelson's stereotypical language. In that case, his defense that he researched everything doesn't apply.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01478763837213733775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-79293552928928147292008-05-08T23:41:00.000-05:002008-05-08T23:41:00.000-05:00To echo what Debbie said in response to anonymous ...To echo what Debbie said in response to anonymous - I have asked my students (college students in Wisconsin and Texas) what they know about Native Americans, and the vast majority of what they know (or rather, think they know; most of it is wrong) comes from fiction and film. And unfortunately, most fiction and film underscores and promotes stereotypes. What's illuminating about having these conversations with students is that, once they learn some history and learn accurate information, they are shocked - sometimes even angry - at how much incorrect and even harmful information is out there, and how much of it they didn't know better than to believe. So it is really important to do this kind of analysis! (And thanks for doing it, Debbie!)Miriamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10715458805401296650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-1468225789108925952008-05-05T09:48:00.000-05:002008-05-05T09:48:00.000-05:00Thanks for this informative post (and for remindin...Thanks for this informative post (and for reminding us of it on the SAIL listserv). It prompted me to write a letter to the principal of my son's middle school, where "Touching Spirit Bear" is taught in the 6th grade. I have asked him and the faculty to read your review and those of other critics, and to consider choosing a less misleading and stereoptyed book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-86844320410614117542008-05-04T16:53:00.000-05:002008-05-04T16:53:00.000-05:00Dear Anonymous at 4:34 PM---There are a great many...Dear Anonymous at 4:34 PM---<BR/><BR/>There are a great many works of fiction that teachers use to teach about this or that topic. <BR/><BR/>Can you list a few things you feel you "learned" about Native people by reading the book?<BR/><BR/>I know that's a bit of loaded question, but maybe you can ask your students that question, and then revisit whether or not you think experts ought to vet works of fiction about Native people...Debbie Reesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14972409006633565859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-11454178090222913032008-05-04T16:34:00.000-05:002008-05-04T16:34:00.000-05:00Why do fiction books have to be read by "experts" ...Why do fiction books have to be read by "experts" before being published? It's not claiming to teach about Native culture. Why does everything have to be analyzed to death?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com