Post #8

Since we have spent our last few weeks focusing more on projects than on the readings, I thought that it would be appropriate to write my final blog entry about the projects. I loved this assignment; it really provided a great deal of freedom for everyone in the class to explore their own unique interests. Also, because the projects are presented, the whole class is able to see what subjects other students chose, and in what medium they chose to present their information. Moreover, the entire class gets to learn from each individual’s research. Class has been very engaging these past couple of weeks as a result of these project presentations.

Another great aspect of this project was the multimedia requirement. While I do enjoy writing papers in moderation, it can definitely become overwhelming, especially at this time of the semester. I did my project on traditional Cowichan knitted sweaters, so it seemed only logical that I should attempt to create one myself. Having the freedom to do a project in the medium of knitting as opposed to the written word was very liberating to me, especially in an English class. Because I enjoy knitting and am already a fairly proficient knitter my project, even though it did take a fair few hours to complete, was actually fun and relaxing to make, instead of stressful and worrisome like a paper or other project with strict guidelines likely would have been. This final project has been very educational, and has been a fun and rewarding conclusion to this class—I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Post #7

I actually began reading Prison Writings a couple of weeks ago, and I am thoroughly enjoying it so far. So far (the first third of the book or so), it seems that the book is more about style than content, and I actually don’t mean that in a negatively critical way, though it may sound like I do. What I mean by this, is that so far Peltier has provided little in the way of historical context or back story (though the documentary we watched in class cleared up much of my confusion). All the reader knows is that he has been imprisoned, in his opinion unfairly, “guilty only of being an Indian” (15). He offers some compelling descriptions of life in prison, but so far there has been little in terms of content that has caught my eye.

What has caught my attention, however, is his articulate, stylistically compelling tone. Peltier addresses the reader directly—in the second person—thereby drawing them into the narrative, and he also includes poetry throughout (common in American Indian literature). His style of writing is also exquisitely articulate and refined. Though I do not believe the reading level to be particularly high, every word is impeccably chosen for succinctness and to convey the appropriate meaning. The use of short sentences and paragraphs is also very jarring. For example, the final three paragraphs of the second chapter read as follows:

“So Sun Dance made even prison life sustainable for me.
I am undestroyed.
My life is my Sun Dance” (12).

This stylistic choice is highly appropriate, however, given the book’s jarring, disturbing subject matter. Peltier’s skillful utilization of style is, thus far, the most engaging aspect of Prison Writings.

Post #6

Two Old Women is probably the most enjoyable book in this class to date, in my personal opinion. It is a sweet little fable about two elderly women from an Alaskan tribe who, abandoned for the winter, must manage to survive on their own. Two Old Women is supposedly an ancient Alaskan story passed down through the generations via oral tradition. One thing that struck me about this story was that I could not think of any parallel fables coming from Anglo-American or European lore. It is not uncommon to find similar stories or myths produced by discreet cultures that had never met. It is certainly possible that there is a parallel story originating somewhere, but I could not think of one.

Another aspect of the story that I found delightful was how morally grey it was. Though it could certainly be classified as a morality tale, there is no absolute right or wrong and there are no “good guys” and “bad guys.” In abandoning the women, members of the tribe knew that they were doing something unethical, and yet they were still acting within the constraints of a defined moral code; they believed that they needed to sacrifice the two women for the good of the whole tribe. The women, on the other hand, brought their abandonment upon themselves in some ways by complaining and not working as hard as they perhaps should have. As a result of the tribe’s actions, both parties suffer, but when they meet up again in the end, everyone is stronger and wiser because of it.