Native American Literature: History, Key Figures, and Tribal Sovereignty

Running head: NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE
NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE
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1NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE
Native American Literature that is also known as American Indian or Indian literature
that is based on the indigenous tribe or natives of America. The type of literature includes the
hieroglyphic and pictographic writing of old America. There are also documented proof of
various folklores, myths and histories that were passed on through centuries thought the
contemporary work of American Indian writers. Some of the prominent writers of this category
include Treuer, Eastman, Silko, Deloria, and Ortiz (Madsen). The works of these authors nor
only reflect the style of contemporary history but also the cultural survival of the tribal
communities through the means of literature.
The novelist David Treuer, who is of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe has not resemble in
appearance to his ancestors however it is because of that he has included the subject of
stereotyping the Native Americans by many people (Ruland and Bradbury). In one of his popular
works “Native Amercian Fiction: A User’s Manual” he has expressed his thoughts that Native
American Literature. In the book, Treuer expresses his thought on other American Indian writers
and says that their works are actually looked as ethnographies instead of literature. He mentions
that instead of the American history, there are many content that can be used to create works that
would be appreciated by other cultures and as well .
Another novelist from the same era includes Charles Eastman who was a members of the
Wahpeton band from the Santee Sioux, Dakotoas. He is considered to be one of the key figures
of indigenous literature in the late 19th to the early 20th century. One of his most famous works
“Holm” explains the key figures and the moments in the time that was known as the progressive
era that dealt with the Indian reforms (Carney). His other famous works include Martinez,
Warrior, Deloria and Hoxie. All of works deal with the concept of new formation of the