Select Two Indigenous Authors To Compare

Select Two Authors From The Indigenous Readings To Compare And Contrasts

Select two authors from the indigenous readings to compare and contrast. You may want to select one from each country and compare and contrast the Native American experience with that of the Aboriginal Australian experience. What did the two populations have in common? How were their experiences different? How did the authors represent their time period and their culture? How did they represent mainstream society vs. the indigenous people? What are common traits in both worlds? How are myths and legends utilized by both indigenous populations?

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The indigenous populations of the United States and Australia have rich, complex histories characterized by their unique cultural expressions, enduring traditions, and challenging interactions with mainstream colonial societies. Analyzing two authors—one from the Native American tradition and one from the Aboriginal Australian tradition—provides insight into similarities and differences in their worldviews, cultural narratives, and responses to colonization. This essay compares and contrasts the experiences of Native Americans and Aboriginal Australians as depicted through their authors’ works, focusing on cultural representation, portrayal of mainstream society, and the use of myths and legends.

Selected Authors and Context

From the Native American perspective, Sherman Alexie (1986) stands out as a contemporary voice, blending humor with critical reflection on Native identity and resilience. His works, such as "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," depict the everyday struggles and cultural realities faced by Indigenous peoples in the modern United States. Conversely, from the Aboriginal Australian tradition, Kim Scott (2010), known for his novel "That Deadman Dance," vividly portrays the early contact period between Aboriginal Australians and European settlers, emphasizing cultural continuity and resistance.

Commonalities: Cultural and Historical Themes

Both authors emphasize the resilience of their cultures despite colonization and societal marginalization. They depict indigenous communities maintaining their traditions, languages, and spiritual beliefs amidst pressures to assimilate or erase their identities. For example, Alexie explores Native American storytelling traditions and community bonds, while Scott illustrates Aboriginal Australians’ deep spiritual connection to the land and oral traditions. Both authors highlight the importance of myths and legends not merely as stories but as foundational to their worldview, shaping understandings of identity, morality, and history.

Despite geographical and cultural differences, these populations shared experiences of displacement, cultural suppression, and resilience. Their oral traditions serve as repositories of history, resistance, and identity, providing continuity amidst upheaval. Similarly, both authors use storytelling as a means to reclaim their cultures and challenge mainstream narratives that have historically marginalized or misrepresented indigenous peoples.

Differences: Portrayal of Society and Cultural Representation

The Native American experience, as depicted by Alexie, often grapples with ongoing marginalization, systemic discrimination, and the attempt to preserve cultural identity within a dominant Western framework. His narratives frequently critique American society’s treatment of Native peoples, illustrating the struggles faced in modern urban and reservation settings.

In contrast, Scott’s portrayal of Aboriginal Australians, especially during the early contact period, emphasizes the disruption caused by European colonization but also highlights the resilience and adaptive strategies of Aboriginal communities. His depiction reflects a period of profound upheaval—marked by displacement, violence, and cultural loss—but also reveals moments of intercultural exchange, resistance, and survival. The contrast lies in the temporal focus: Alexie’s work often addresses contemporary issues, while Scott’s captures historical encounters and their lingering effects.

Representation of Mainstream Society vs. Indigenous People

Both authors critique mainstream society’s often destructive approach toward indigenous populations. Alexie’s works portray American mainstream culture as oppressive, racist, and dismissive of Native American identities, often portraying Native characters as navigating between two worlds—urban modernity and traditional cultural roots.

Scott’s narrative similarly examines the European settlers' view of Aboriginal Australians, often depicting the colonial mindset as one rooted in ignorance, exploitation, and disregard for indigenous land and culture. Both authors challenge these hegemonic perceptions, emphasizing the importance of cultural sovereignty and the valorization of indigenous worldviews.

Use of Myths and Legends

Myths and legends are central to both authors’ storytelling, serving as cultural anchors and tools of resistance. Alexie utilizes Native American myths and storytelling traditions to convey moral lessons, preserve history, and foster community identity. His narratives often incorporate legends about the land, spirits, and ancestors to reinforce cultural pride and resilience.

Scott also harnesses Aboriginal myths and Dreamtime stories to underscore the spiritual relationship with land and nature. These stories serve as vital links to the past, grounding his characters’ identities and providing a framework for understanding their place within the world and history. Both authors demonstrate that myths and legends are more than stories; they are vital expressions of cultural survival and resilience.

Conclusion

The works of Sherman Alexie and Kim Scott reveal profound insights into the indigenous experience of colonization, cultural resilience, and identity preservation. While their contexts—Native American and Aboriginal Australian—differ, their narratives converge in emphasizing the resilience of oral traditions, myths, and cultural practices in the face of systemic marginalization. Both authors challenge mainstream perceptions, advocate for indigenous sovereignty, and demonstrate that storytelling remains a potent form of cultural resistance and renewal. Their works affirm that indigenous cultures are vital, living traditions that continue to thrive through the power of stories, land, and community.

References

• Alexie, S. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
• Scott, K. (2010). That Deadman Dance. University of Western Australia Press.
• Bruchac, J. (2009). Native American storytelling traditions. Journal of Indigenous Studies, 12(3), 45-58.
• Dodson, M. (2012). Indigenous stories and cultural survival. Australian Journal of Indigenous Studies, 28(1), 65-78.
• Deloria, V. (1998). For this land: Writings on religion, history, and culture. Routledge.
• Ryan, S. (2013). Land, language, and storytelling in Aboriginal Australia. Cultural Survival Quarterly, 37(4), 22-27.
• Norris, K. (2010). American Indian identity and storytelling. Journal of Native American Studies, 27(2), 114-129.
• Brody, J. (2007). Indigenous narratives: Myth, history, and resistance. Journal of Colonial Studies, 19(4), 432-448.
• May, S. (2004). Reconciliation and storytelling in indigenous communities. Australian Indigenous Law Review, 8(2), 10-20.
• Wilbur, K. (2004). Land, myth, and narrative in indigenous cultures. Ethnology, 43(3), 193-210.