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Historical Truths can be reconsulted

Louise Erdrich uses Ethnography methodology in Love Medicine,to describe the True

nature of native American through their storytelling tradition. In so doing , I think, she turns the

truth from some passing events ,which has happened for those who tell their own stories into an

account, which is inscribed in their history and can be reconcidered. In all the stories we see

that narrators not only are telling about their traditions, lost lands, rural poverty, broken families,

grief ,alcoholism,..., death and cultures but also are criticizing Europeans and what they did. But

as I mentioned above these stories convey a great message of loss of cultural identity and Native

American sprituality in young generation, which is Erdrich’s main aim.

It seems that Erdrich imposes subjects of “I” in Love Medicine to characterize the

“native American” and a good quot to show it is: “ ‘I am gonna rise ,’One day I’m gonna

rise.They cant keep down the Indians. Right on brother,huh?’... Listan the big fish eats the little

fish and the little fish eats the littler fish.The one with the biggest mouth eats any damn old fish

he wants”(252). Because she wants to show how Native American,the real first settlers on rich

lands, owned the worthless and dried lands, got separeted from their children by sending them to

boarding schools to learn English, do the lower jobs, to start the “ white’s civilization”. The best

example is;”This land has been allotted to Grandpa’s mother,…,except the young—twins,Nector

and Edi—had been old enough to regester for their own.But…had to move there or had to sell…

Nector came home from boarding school knowin white reading and writing,while Eli knew the

woods”(17).

In addition, Erderich writes in The Good Tears,about some native Americans who were

resisted in several forms because they belived that loosing lands, and culture have caused their

lose of spirituality; “…I never let the United States census in my door, even though they say it is
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good for Indians...I say that every time they counted us they knew the precise number to get rid

of…I believe this …Every foot and standing on, even if it is on the top of the top of the highest

skyscraper, belongs to the Indians.Thats the real truth of the matter”(221).

Moreover Erdrich points to social justice through Indian’s eyes by emphesizing on the fair

issue in King Junior and his father,Gerry; discussion; “‘What is fair?’… ‘Society?...we got dealt

our hand befor we were even born,and as we grow we have to play as best as we can’”(263). In

my opinion to play an Indian role Erdrich gives a solution to reveal that loss of cultural identity

and Native American sprituality in young generation. She refers to Lipsha who was born with

the power of healing,”the touch”and had lost it, and is getting his father toward the freedom in

Crossing the Water and mentions how he by keeping a tradition or reminder of the old

generation is thinking about his nation. She says: “I still had Grandma’s hankie in my pocket...it

was easy to still imagine us ...,but the truth is we live on dry land...So there was nothing to do

but cross the water, and bring her home”(272).

Cosequently She comments on assimailation as being red apples and refers to its surface and

inside ; “I’m trusting,”Garry saidto me,shak,ing his head, blinking his mild eyes, “especially of

all my Indian relations.I confined to him all my plans to escape once,never knowing he was an

apple.” That is:red on the outside, white in the inside” (256).

Finally, in conclusion , I feel that Erderich makes similarity between the history of

flown river and the current history of Native Americans by saying; ; “ It is a dark, thick,

twisting river. The bed is deep and narrow…I was lucky she turned me over to Grandma

Kashpaw”(271). To show that no matter how many times you’ve told a story, the truth

is you can never really be sure that you’ve reached the end. May be this is the reason for
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using open ended stories to show that the similar stories were in the history which can be

reconsulted because as she mentiond ; “...Belonging was a matter of deciding to”(255).

Works Cited:

Erdrick,Louise. Love Medicine, Holt, Rinhart, Orlando, 1984.