The short story St. Maria by Louise Eldrich tells the tale of Maria a young Native American girl who joins a Catholic convent in search of a life away from the reservation. In the beginning of the story Her identity as a Native American is not something she seems very proud of, as she is quick to describe herself as light skinned as the nuns themselves. In this way Erdrich begins her story by commenting on the inherent shame Native Americans must have endured when they were given no choice but to assimilate to the Western traditions of European settlers who among many things also used Christianity to assimilate the Native American population in to conforming with their own.
Once she has joined the covenant Maria quickly finds herself at the mercy of Sister Leopolda a senior nun at the covenant whose methods of punishment and enforcement of piety border on Sadism. She torments Maria scalding her with hot water and continuously tries to make her believe that she is riddled with sin. At some points it seems Leopolda is almost commenting on Marie’s native American heritage being the cause of her immorality as she says that Marie’s eyes are filled with “only wild,cold dark lust."
Maria however uses Leopolda’s abuse to her advantage claiming that the wounds she had received from Leopolda were in fact the signs of the stigmata and were therefore divinely given. She is then proclaimed a saint elevating not only herself but also the status of the people much to Leopolda’s dismay as she must play along or else confess her own acts of abuse.
Maria however uses Leopolda’s abuse to her advantage claiming that the wounds she had received from Leopolda were in fact the signs of the stigmata and were therefore divinely given. She is then proclaimed a saint elevating not only herself but also the status of the people much to Leopolda’s dismay as she must play along or else confess her own acts of abuse.
The two main characters from Pow Wow Highway Filbert Bono and Buddy Red Bow deal with the idea of agency in very different ways both from each other and Maria. Buddy Red Bow represents the young Native American who is tired of being treated as a second-class citizen. He is frustrated with his situation in the reservation as well as the mining companies efforts to exploit what little natural resources the reservation has left. His agency comes therefore from his frustration and anger at his situation and that of his sister who is framed by the Police. This itself insinuating how the law and industry surrounding Native Americans often are put in to place to protect the interests of Whites.
Filbert Bono on the other hand seeks spirituality and to become a warrior in the traditional way of Native Americans. His ties to his own culture seem an effort to remember his own identity as that of a Native American. Not the new identity given to them as criminals and degenerates but rather the proud rich heritage of their past and whose mysticism and rituals helped them survive in the New world long before it was even discovered. His celebration of his ancestry and the remembering of traditional customs and rituals become his form of finding agency in Social Genocide.
Ok the quote should be "Only,wild,cold,dark lust". But it doesn't seem to be showing on the post. My apologies.
ReplyDeleteI like that term 'Social Genocide' and how you use it to indicate the subtle practice of destroying a culture's identity. I say 'subtle' because it is done under the veil of law enforcement or property protection or under a similarly Beaurcratic term used to confuse people about the cruel realities of those actions. The Jewish genocide was as wide-spread and destructive as it was because of the veil of War thrown over it.
ReplyDeleteWar was the justification for the cruelty of WWII, and the protection of wealth (e.g. America's idolization of greed) was the justification for the oppression of the Native American tribes.
I think you make a very interesting point when you wrote about Marie's shame in her Native American heritage as a response to her people’s oppression. I imagine that shame is probably the most consistent and widespread response to oppression, especially among youth who have not yet even had the opportunity to develop an enduring sense of self. The way I see it, of course Marie wanted to conform, of course she couldn’t appreciate her tribal identity – she didn’t have anything else to rely on. She needed love, acceptance and faith in something, anything. I imagine Marie naively saying to herself, “And look! These people seem to have it in spades and they will instruct me on how to have it too.” I really like that the story seems to be saying that Marie’s true identity – her enduring source for truth, love, acceptance and faith in herself - was still there, that underneath all of the horrors and mutilation she endured, her enduring spirit was still there. Despite Sr. Leopolda’s greatest efforts to stigmatize her, Marie nevertheless is triumphant. It’s an important message that I think victims of oppression, who have unconsciously inherited their oppressor’s disease (racism) as their own, need to hear and understand and find faith in.
ReplyDeleteYou have a clear grasp of the three characters. The term, "Social Genocide," while appropriate, might not go far enough.
ReplyDelete