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RE: Paucity of Native American books, who can write them
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From: Nancy Bo Flood <wflood_at_hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:00:20 -0700
I found your comments, Suzy, very important. I invite you to continue with this week's discussion on the posts shared by myself and Debby Edwards on on Through the Tollbooth. Add your thoughts. Both of us are writing ou tside of our childhood culture. Debby has lived in Alaska as an adult, w orking, raising her children. Her new novel is set in historical and con temporary Alaska. My new novel, Warriors in Crossfire, is set on Saipan , western Pacific, WWII. Both of our stories are told through the eyes of a native child.
A tapestry of voices. So many pairs of eyes to look through. Look at a photograph anew and listen.
Arguments today fly like arrows about who can write about what culture, who can show or tell.
I think we need every voice that is honest, every set of eyes that look without glancing away, as Bahe Whitethorne, Navajo, co mmented on the discussion blog, “without filters, without stereotypes ”. We need every book that offers an authentic opportunity to see into another’s world, past or contemporary, heroic or tragic , fiction, fantasy, biography, nonfiction. Maybe even sci-fi.
Ellen Meloy has written of the desert with eyes that observe the shifting color of sunlight on rock, ears that hear how fast or slowly water flows down an arroyo. In her book, The Anthology of Turquoise, Reflections on Desert, Sea, Stone, and Sky , she reminds the reader that every voice, every language offers a reality that is lost if that voice is silenced:
There are nine different words in Maya for the color blue in the comprehensive Porrua Spanish-Maya Dictionary but just three Spanish translations, leaving six butterflies that can be seen only by the Maya, proving beyond doubt that when a language dies six butterfli es disappear from the consciousness of the earth. (quoted from Earl Shorris, “The Last Word”)
When a voice is silenced, a pair of eyes are shut.
So many voices to be heard. Voices as real and honest and beautiful as a butterfly.
Each set of honest eyes is something to celebrate. Nancy Bo Flood
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 07:32:31 -0500 From: suzymcintire_at_comcast.net Subject:
Paucity of Native American books To: ccbc-net_at_lists.wisc.edu
"Given the paucity of books by Native Americans available in libraries and in bookstores" I've been occasionally following the discussions of books about/by Native A mericans. I also have noticed that books by/about Native Americans have di sappeared from libraries and particularly from bookstores. The topic has a pparently nearly disappeared from local school curriculums as well (I live in Virginia). I had been working on a children's biography of a lesser-known Indian chief , but finding that Caucasians are unwelcome as biographer/writers, and feeling that I could never satisfy the kind of criticism I see here, and I put the book aside and will probably never finish it. I think that is one of the big reasons why biographies etc of Native Americ ans have disappeared. Very sad. My heart breaks for the situation. Suzy McIntireArlington VA
On Nov 9, 2009, at 1:03 AM, CCBC Network digest wrote:CCBC-NET Digest for Sunday, November 08, 2009.
1. RE: Stereotypes (a follow up to Nancy Bo Flood's post) 2. Reviewing from a Reviewer's Perspective
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: RE: Stereotypes (a follow up to Nancy Bo Flood's post) From: Nancy Bo Flood Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:14:14 -0700 X-Message-Number: 1
Thank you, Debbie,
On the Through the Tollbooth blog that begins tomorrow, Monday, I do em phasize your comments made about the continued presence of stereotyping of American Indians in Peter Pan in Scarlet. I hope readers will comment and add insights - or objections.
Someone asked about topics of discussion for this month since there was som e amount of "open time." I suggest that in honor of the discussion begun b y Debbie Reese, we continue to celebrate Native American books that are d one well, that are written by or illustrated by Native Americans or Alask an Natives. A few months ago we all described a favorite character. Perha ps this week we could each describe a favorite book. We could each read a recommended book to our students or children.
It is Native American month and though I am not a fan of "token months," this week while our President is meeting with tribal leaders from across t he country, we could celebrate as well. Given the paucity of books by Na tive Americans available in libraries and in bookstores, we could each re quest one from our local library and/or bookstore.
Nancy Bo Flood
Chinle, AZ 86503 (USA)
wflood_at_hotmail.com www.nancyboflood.com
author of Navajo Year, Walk Through Many Seasons, A Children's Choice and Arizona Book of the Year
Sand to Stone, the Life Cycle of Sandstone
Soon, new! Warriors Caught in Crossfire, a young-adult novel that take s place in the western Pacific during World War II.
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 06:33:23 -0600 From: debreese_at_illinois.edu Subject:
Stereotypes (a follow up to Nancy Bo Flood's post) To: ccbc-net_at_lists.wisc.edu
Good morning,
A reminder that my site (American Indians in Children's Literature) has a lot of resources that can help teachers and librarians gain insight into stereotypical representations of American Indians. The address is
Most recently, I wrote about PETER PAN IN SCARLET.
Last night, I wrote about my visit to Madison (home of CCBC), where Janice Rice and I gave a presentation. It was terrific to see KT and Ginny again, and, I was glad to meet Megan, whose work I've read for years, and, Amanda, a student doing some important work with Ryan Com fort in the School of Ed's American Indian Curriculum Services office.
In my presentation, I referenced problems with the retelling of traditional stories. If you're interested in reading more about that, see my article in Language Arts, "Proceed with Caution."
I also spoke about new research on the harmful effects of stereotypes on the self-esteem and self-efficacy of American Indians. The researcher's name is Stephanie Fryberg. If you write to me (debreese_at_illinois.edu) I will send you a copy of the article.
Thanks, CCBC, for all that you did for helping make the lecture a success.
Debbie
Visit my Internet resource:
American Indians in Children's Literature
Debbie A. Reese (Nambй 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
Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:00:20 -0700
I found your comments, Suzy, very important. I invite you to continue with this week's discussion on the posts shared by myself and Debby Edwards on on Through the Tollbooth. Add your thoughts. Both of us are writing ou tside of our childhood culture. Debby has lived in Alaska as an adult, w orking, raising her children. Her new novel is set in historical and con temporary Alaska. My new novel, Warriors in Crossfire, is set on Saipan , western Pacific, WWII. Both of our stories are told through the eyes of a native child.
A tapestry of voices. So many pairs of eyes to look through. Look at a photograph anew and listen.
Arguments today fly like arrows about who can write about what culture, who can show or tell.
I think we need every voice that is honest, every set of eyes that look without glancing away, as Bahe Whitethorne, Navajo, co mmented on the discussion blog, “without filters, without stereotypes ”. We need every book that offers an authentic opportunity to see into another’s world, past or contemporary, heroic or tragic , fiction, fantasy, biography, nonfiction. Maybe even sci-fi.
Ellen Meloy has written of the desert with eyes that observe the shifting color of sunlight on rock, ears that hear how fast or slowly water flows down an arroyo. In her book, The Anthology of Turquoise, Reflections on Desert, Sea, Stone, and Sky , she reminds the reader that every voice, every language offers a reality that is lost if that voice is silenced:
There are nine different words in Maya for the color blue in the comprehensive Porrua Spanish-Maya Dictionary but just three Spanish translations, leaving six butterflies that can be seen only by the Maya, proving beyond doubt that when a language dies six butterfli es disappear from the consciousness of the earth. (quoted from Earl Shorris, “The Last Word”)
When a voice is silenced, a pair of eyes are shut.
So many voices to be heard. Voices as real and honest and beautiful as a butterfly.
Each set of honest eyes is something to celebrate. Nancy Bo Flood
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 07:32:31 -0500 From: suzymcintire_at_comcast.net Subject:
Paucity of Native American books To: ccbc-net_at_lists.wisc.edu
"Given the paucity of books by Native Americans available in libraries and in bookstores" I've been occasionally following the discussions of books about/by Native A mericans. I also have noticed that books by/about Native Americans have di sappeared from libraries and particularly from bookstores. The topic has a pparently nearly disappeared from local school curriculums as well (I live in Virginia). I had been working on a children's biography of a lesser-known Indian chief , but finding that Caucasians are unwelcome as biographer/writers, and feeling that I could never satisfy the kind of criticism I see here, and I put the book aside and will probably never finish it. I think that is one of the big reasons why biographies etc of Native Americ ans have disappeared. Very sad. My heart breaks for the situation. Suzy McIntireArlington VA
On Nov 9, 2009, at 1:03 AM, CCBC Network digest wrote:CCBC-NET Digest for Sunday, November 08, 2009.
1. RE: Stereotypes (a follow up to Nancy Bo Flood's post) 2. Reviewing from a Reviewer's Perspective
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: RE: Stereotypes (a follow up to Nancy Bo Flood's post) From: Nancy Bo Flood Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:14:14 -0700 X-Message-Number: 1
Thank you, Debbie,
On the Through the Tollbooth blog that begins tomorrow, Monday, I do em phasize your comments made about the continued presence of stereotyping of American Indians in Peter Pan in Scarlet. I hope readers will comment and add insights - or objections.
Someone asked about topics of discussion for this month since there was som e amount of "open time." I suggest that in honor of the discussion begun b y Debbie Reese, we continue to celebrate Native American books that are d one well, that are written by or illustrated by Native Americans or Alask an Natives. A few months ago we all described a favorite character. Perha ps this week we could each describe a favorite book. We could each read a recommended book to our students or children.
It is Native American month and though I am not a fan of "token months," this week while our President is meeting with tribal leaders from across t he country, we could celebrate as well. Given the paucity of books by Na tive Americans available in libraries and in bookstores, we could each re quest one from our local library and/or bookstore.
Nancy Bo Flood
Chinle, AZ 86503 (USA)
wflood_at_hotmail.com www.nancyboflood.com
author of Navajo Year, Walk Through Many Seasons, A Children's Choice and Arizona Book of the Year
Sand to Stone, the Life Cycle of Sandstone
Soon, new! Warriors Caught in Crossfire, a young-adult novel that take s place in the western Pacific during World War II.
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 06:33:23 -0600 From: debreese_at_illinois.edu Subject:
Stereotypes (a follow up to Nancy Bo Flood's post) To: ccbc-net_at_lists.wisc.edu
Good morning,
A reminder that my site (American Indians in Children's Literature) has a lot of resources that can help teachers and librarians gain insight into stereotypical representations of American Indians. The address is
Most recently, I wrote about PETER PAN IN SCARLET.
Last night, I wrote about my visit to Madison (home of CCBC), where Janice Rice and I gave a presentation. It was terrific to see KT and Ginny again, and, I was glad to meet Megan, whose work I've read for years, and, Amanda, a student doing some important work with Ryan Com fort in the School of Ed's American Indian Curriculum Services office.
In my presentation, I referenced problems with the retelling of traditional stories. If you're interested in reading more about that, see my article in Language Arts, "Proceed with Caution."
I also spoke about new research on the harmful effects of stereotypes on the self-esteem and self-efficacy of American Indians. The researcher's name is Stephanie Fryberg. If you write to me (debreese_at_illinois.edu) I will send you a copy of the article.
Thanks, CCBC, for all that you did for helping make the lecture a success.
Debbie
Visit my Internet resource:
American Indians in Children's Literature
Debbie A. Reese (Nambй 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
---Received on Mon 09 Nov 2009 09:00:20 AM CST
