Timeless Tales of The Blond e Indian Essays - Tlingit People

Timeless Tales of The "Blond e Indian" Thomas McCormack University of Alaska Anchorage Author's note For this essay I examined how Hayes' experiences, views, and culture helped shape the way that she would share her world through scholarly concepts and definitions from her story: Blonde Indian . I believe that I have succeeded in interpreting the story's meaning and why it is important to the audience. I do, however need work on the fluidity of my writing; perhaps that comes with lots and lots of practice. The caucus of Western-inspired genres initially confronts and is currently faced by traditional literary works. Blonde Indian: An Alaskan Native Memoir integrates, nature, history, culture, fiction, and clan tales into a n infused whole. Hayes influences alter the level of lyricism a nd separate narrative view. She uses the elements in the memoir ' s literary voice to ind icate changes to the audience, n arrated using articulate layers which i nfuse metaphor and native tales: spiritual journeys and social journey, the memoir traces Hayes' roots from a challenging childhood living among the Tlingit community, all through her adult life, and her return home (Brian, 2013) . Neither fully Euro-American or Native ; the author experiences a distinct sense of separation from both the prevailing culture and her Native people. Readers come across the author's challenges outside her native village together with clan's men scores who have never been alienated f r om the motherland however , they still struggle with personal problems. The challenges included : discriminati on, poverty, alcoholism, and unemployment. The "Blonde Indian" offers much more than an account of Hayes ' life because it delves into a symbo lic narrative of modern Natives' personal journey. These tales as told by the author have been passed down through generations of the Tlingit people for years. The story is filled histories, explanation, and tales which are distinct to the Tlingit people. The book is a documentation of the rich yet intricate cultural heritage. The author also offers a dedication to the Alaskan landscape, and a personal demonstration to how retreating in life and nature permits forward movement (Miller, et al. 2007) . With the opening statement, the author notifies the readers that she will narrate the tale in a manner that pays tribute to Tlingit oral tradition and ancestors. Hayes starts the narration in her native language. The original printed words of our ancestors " haa shagoon " further offering her native name Saankalaxt , before her "white man name." th e author moves to relive her ancestry, where she sets up both her precision in speak as a Tlingit native and her personal connection to the ancestral land. She recounts that they belong to Lingit Aani " It is a customary opening to what has become, sorrowfully, a customary tale: Native Alaskan communities destroyed by alcohol abuse and assimilations ideolo gies. Nonetheless, the writer presents hopeful story of going back to her ancestral roots that will forever embrace its natives (Ernestine, 2006) . Born of a white man and a Lingit woman, Hayes grew up in Juneau, Alaska, a native Indian village , before relocating to California. According to (Fuller-Thomson Minkler , 2005) N ative Indian communities as whole played an important role in raising a child. In Hayes ' case, she spent her childhood life being catered for by a grandmother while her mom is undergoing a tuberculosis treatment. The author, who began drinking alcohol during her teen life, narrates a life of filled with challenges such as prolonged periods of being homeless and abusive relations w i th men. The author also had an estranged relationship with her children. Through all these challenges, the thought of reconnecting with her native land gives her hope. Alaska is consistently portrayed not just as the only shaping factor of Hayes culture however as a component of the family, shows emancipation for Hayes. The author separates the memoir into four elements. She introduces each section by traditional tale, containing not only intricate details of her life but origin tales of family, Indian and clan histories. Hayes shifts from personal tales to Raven tales to her native land with minimal transition. She reminds her audience