Exploring Cultural Survival: Native American Literature Analysis

This essay examines how Native American writers, including Treuer, Eastman, Silko, Deloria, and Ortiz, utilize their writing to ensure the cultural survival of their tribal communities. It discusses how these authors engage with themes of authenticity, tribal sovereignty, and the oral tradition to preserve their cultural heritage. The analysis incorporates critical perspectives from secondary sources, highlighting the challenges and complexities of interpreting Native American literature within broader historical and social contexts. The essay emphasizes the role of literature in reclaiming suppressed voices and addressing contemporary issues facing Native American communities, ultimately underscoring the importance of cultural preservation through literary expression. Desklib provides access to similar essays and study resources for students.

Running head: NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE
NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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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

2NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE
American indigenous community in the early 20th century. He also uses his past experience
through eh means of his fictional characters to portray the vivid reality of the community.
Tribal Sovereignty acts as one of the key elements of identification for Native American
Literature. The criticism has lasted barely for two centuries despite the fact the Western literature
boasts history that is long and how it would read and interpret tribal narrative. The American
history also highlights urgent topics that trigger countless debates and among the scholars and
the readers (Rifkin). Many theories exist that are used to employ the approach to dispel
interpretations of literature as the matter is widely discussed and open to suggestion. The new
world trend or Postmodernism influences all spheres of life and this also includes literature. The
sovereignty or history of the American tribes have claimed to liberate the voices that were
suppressed and this includes Native Americans and at the same time the present dangers or
issues that would limit the Native American writings to a set of frames. Many theories offered by
the means of nationalism points out the fact that the American Indian literature is promising and
highlights its purpose.

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REFERENCES
Carney, Cary. Native American higher education in the United States. Routledge, 2017.
Madsen, Deborah L., ed. The Routledge companion to native American literature. Routledge,
2015.
Rifkin, Mark. Settler common sense: queerness and everyday colonialism in the American
renaissance. University of Minnesota Press, 2014.
Ruland, Richard, and Malcolm Bradbury. From puritanism to postmodernism: a history of
American literature. Routledge, 2016.