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[CCBC-Net] Folktales
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From: James Elliott <libraryjim>
Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 18:35:58 -0400 (EDT)
For those who have not found this resource, we were told about it when I was taking a course on multicultural children's literature:
http://www.oyate.org/aboutus.html
"Oyate is a Native organization working to see that our lives and histories are portrayed honestly, and so that all people will know our stories belong to us. For Indian children, it is as important as it has ever been for them to know who they are and what they come from. For all children, it is time to know and acknowledge the truths of history. Only then will they come to have the understanding and respect for each other that now, more than ever, will be necessary for life to continue."
----- Original Message ----- From: Debbie Reese <debreese at illinois.edu> To: ccbc-net at lists.education.wisc.edu Sent: Thu, 14 May 2009 16:24:03 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [CCBC-Net] Folktales
A couple of things I want to toss into this discussion of picture books. First, Gerald McDermott's ARROW TO THE SUN can not, in my view, be called a "Pueblo" story. It is too filled with bias and error. In a certain way, it's kind of like LITTLE BLACK SAMBO. A cool story, but highly problematic.
ARROW, along with Penny Pollock's TURKEY GIRL and Rodanas' DRAGONFLY'S TALE, are all so deeply misrepresentative of Pueblo ways, that they provide the perfect example of why I think publishers should not publish Native traditional stories, especially as "folktales." It irks me no end that our stories, which are every bit as sacred to us as Genesis is to Christians, are shelved over in folktales instead of with world religions.
Stories I like? A few days ago, as a gift, I chose Scieszka's TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. I think it is terrific for teaching perspective, and makes space for teachers and librarians to teach about why, for example, a Pueblo person would object to the ways that Pueblo stories are mistold.
I also really like Joy Harjo's GOOD LUCK CAT and Cynthia Leitich Smith's JINGLE DANCER. For the most part, Native writers write realistic stories like these two. Bruchac has done some traditional stories. I especially like the way he and Gayle Ross did the one about the Milky Way. It opens with a modern-day setting, kids and a grandparent who is going to tell them a traditional story. Framing it that way tells readers that we are still here, and that these are our stories, and that we tell them in our homes today. This isn't a long-ago-far-away kind of thing.
Debbie
Visit my Internet resource: American Indians in Children's Literature http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.net
Debbie A. Reese (Namb? O'-ween-ge') Assistant Professor, American Indian Studies University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Native American House, Room 2005 1204 West Nevada Street, MC-138 Urbana, Illinois 61801
Email: debreese at illinois.edu TEL 217-265-9885 FAX 217-265-9880
_______________________________________________ CCBC-Net mailing list CCBC-Net at lists.education.wisc.edu Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe... http://lists.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
Received on Thu 14 May 2009 05:35:58 PM CDT
Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 18:35:58 -0400 (EDT)
For those who have not found this resource, we were told about it when I was taking a course on multicultural children's literature:
http://www.oyate.org/aboutus.html
"Oyate is a Native organization working to see that our lives and histories are portrayed honestly, and so that all people will know our stories belong to us. For Indian children, it is as important as it has ever been for them to know who they are and what they come from. For all children, it is time to know and acknowledge the truths of history. Only then will they come to have the understanding and respect for each other that now, more than ever, will be necessary for life to continue."
----- Original Message ----- From: Debbie Reese <debreese at illinois.edu> To: ccbc-net at lists.education.wisc.edu Sent: Thu, 14 May 2009 16:24:03 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [CCBC-Net] Folktales
A couple of things I want to toss into this discussion of picture books. First, Gerald McDermott's ARROW TO THE SUN can not, in my view, be called a "Pueblo" story. It is too filled with bias and error. In a certain way, it's kind of like LITTLE BLACK SAMBO. A cool story, but highly problematic.
ARROW, along with Penny Pollock's TURKEY GIRL and Rodanas' DRAGONFLY'S TALE, are all so deeply misrepresentative of Pueblo ways, that they provide the perfect example of why I think publishers should not publish Native traditional stories, especially as "folktales." It irks me no end that our stories, which are every bit as sacred to us as Genesis is to Christians, are shelved over in folktales instead of with world religions.
Stories I like? A few days ago, as a gift, I chose Scieszka's TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. I think it is terrific for teaching perspective, and makes space for teachers and librarians to teach about why, for example, a Pueblo person would object to the ways that Pueblo stories are mistold.
I also really like Joy Harjo's GOOD LUCK CAT and Cynthia Leitich Smith's JINGLE DANCER. For the most part, Native writers write realistic stories like these two. Bruchac has done some traditional stories. I especially like the way he and Gayle Ross did the one about the Milky Way. It opens with a modern-day setting, kids and a grandparent who is going to tell them a traditional story. Framing it that way tells readers that we are still here, and that these are our stories, and that we tell them in our homes today. This isn't a long-ago-far-away kind of thing.
Debbie
Visit my Internet resource: American Indians in Children's Literature http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.net
Debbie A. Reese (Namb? O'-ween-ge') Assistant Professor, American Indian Studies University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Native American House, Room 2005 1204 West Nevada Street, MC-138 Urbana, Illinois 61801
Email: debreese at illinois.edu TEL 217-265-9885 FAX 217-265-9880
_______________________________________________ CCBC-Net mailing list CCBC-Net at lists.education.wisc.edu Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe... http://lists.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
Received on Thu 14 May 2009 05:35:58 PM CDT
