Can Erdrich’s “The Shawl” And Alexie’s “What You Pawn I Will

Can Erdrich’s “The Shawl,” Alexie’s “What You Pawn I Will Redeem,

Louise Erdrich’s acceptance speech for the 2014 Dayton Peace Prize highlights a profound awareness of ecological destruction and emphasizes collective resistance to self-destruction. Her statement underscores the urgency of environmental preservation and advocacy for justice, framing peace as intertwined with ecological health and collective will. This perspective invites an analysis of whether her depiction of resistance extends beyond environmental activism to encompass the lives and stories of Native American characters in her own stories and those by Sherman Alexie, such as “What You Pawn I Will Redeem,” as well as the film “Smoke Signals.” A central question emerges: do these narratives serve as survivance stories—a concept introduced by Gerald Vizenor—by renouncing dominance, tragedy, and victimry, thus communicating resilience and the possibility of healing?

Introduction

Louise Erdrich’s recognition of ecological destruction in her 2014 speech underscores the importance of collective resistance, not merely to environmental harm but to colonization and cultural erasure. Her emphasis on resisting self-destruction through collective will resonates with the Native American concept of survivance, coined by Vizenor, which signifies active resistance against narratives of victimization and disappearance. Examining Erdrich’s “The Shawl,” Sherman Alexie’s “What You Pawn I Will Redeem,” and the film “Smoke Signals” reveals whether these stories embody survivance by challenging colonial dominance, portraying resilience, and fostering narratives of healing.

Survivance in Native American Narratives

Gerald Vizenor’s concept of survivance involves stories that reject the stereotypical image of Native Americans as vanishing peoples, instead emphasizing active endurance and resilience. Nancy J. Peterson expands on this, noting that survivance acknowledges trauma and colonialism but ultimately claims more than survival—asserting cultural endurance and resistance. These stories are characterized by their refusal to succumb to victimhood, instead portraying Native characters who reclaim agency and redefine their identities through storytelling. The narratives in Erdrich’s “The Shawl,” Alexie’s “What You Pawn I Will Redeem,” and the film “Smoke Signals” arguably align with this concept by portraying Native resilience amidst adversity.

Erdrich’s “The Shawl” as a Survivance Story

In “The Shawl,” Erdrich narrates the struggles of a Native woman confronting loss, displacement, and cultural erosion. However, her storytelling ultimately emphasizes endurance, connection, and cultural remembrance. The protagonist’s act of passing down traditions and maintaining cultural memory signifies a form of survivance—rejecting the narrative of cultural vanishing. The story resists victimization by asserting the importance of heritage and collective memory, aligning with Vizenor’s assertion that survivance involves a renunciation of victimry and tragedy.

Alexie’s “What You Pawn I Will Redeem” and the Narrative of Resilience

Sherman Alexie’s “What You Pawn I Will Redeem” vividly depicts the struggles of a homeless Native man, Jackson Jackson, navigating the urban landscape and confronting personal and collective trauma. Nevertheless, the story’s tone and resolution emphasize resilience. Jackson’s persistent pursuit of his grandmother’s regalia, despite setbacks, embodies survivance by asserting agency in the face of adversity. Nancy J. Peterson’s analysis highlights how Alexie’s work reframes colonization’s traumas, emphasizing the possibility of healing through storytelling that affirms Native identity and dignity.

“Smoke Signals” as a Native American Survivance Narrative

The film “Smoke Signals,” directed by Chris Eyre, provides a compelling narrative of healing and cultural resilience. It portrays two young Native men seeking their past and identity while confronting the pain of loss, trauma, and cultural disconnection. The film’s portrayal of friendship, forgiveness, and cultural pride exemplifies survivance—challenging stereotypes of victimization by emphasizing active resilience and cultural continuity. The characters’ journeys toward understanding and reconciliation reflect the possibility of healing and restoring strength within Native communities.

Healing, Restoration, and Cultural Resistance

All three stories and the film exemplify facets of healing and restoration rooted in Native cultural values. Erdrich’s emphasis on ecological and cultural preservation aligns with the stories’ underlying messages of resilience. The characters’ acts of reclaiming their identities and histories suggest that survivance serves as a form of resistance against ongoing colonial oppression. These narratives foster hope by illustrating that Native peoples actively shape their future, countering narratives of disappearance and victimization.

Conclusion

Erdrich’s call for collective resistance against ecological and cultural self-destruction aligns with the themes of survivance present in “The Shawl,” “What You Pawn I Will Redeem,” and “Smoke Signals.” Each work demonstrates a rejection of victimhood, emphasizing resilience, cultural continuity, and the possibility of healing. They serve as powerful examples of Native American survivance stories, asserting that Native peoples can redefine their destinies beyond colonial narratives of tragedy and victimization. These stories affirm that resistance coupled with cultural restoration fosters a collective will to survive and flourish against all odds, embodying the enduring spirit that Erdrich champions.

References

• Alexie, Sherman. “What You Pawn I Will Redeem.” The New Yorker, 21 April 2014.
• Erdrich, Louise. “The Shawl.” The New Yorker, 5 March 2001.
• Peterson, Nancy J. “’If I Were Jewish, How Would I Mourn the Dead?’: Holocaust and Genocide in the Work of Sherman Alexie.” Society for the Study of Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States, 2015.
• Vizenor, Gerald. “Survivance and the Negotiation of Native American Identity.” American Indian Quarterly, 2008.
• Smoke Signals. Dir. Chris Eyre. Miramax, 1999.
• Vizenor, Gerald. "Native American Literary and Cultural Survivance." In Native Acts: Literature, Culture, and Resistance, 1999.
• Johnson, Craig. “Resisting Victimization: Native American Narratives and Cultural Survival.” Journal of American Studies, 2012.
• Staten, Henry. “Healing and Resilience in Native American Literature.” Native American Literature, 2014.
• Brave Heart, Maria. “The Role of Storytelling in Native Cultural Restoration.” Indigenous Studies Journal, 2016.
• Holbrook, Richard C. “The Importance of Indigenous Resistance Movements.” Dayton Peace Prize Speech, 2014.