Simon J. Ortiz, figure de proue de la deuxième vague de la Renaissance amérindienne, est originaire du Pueblo Acoma. Son écriture est née d'un besoin profond d'articuler les voix souvent inaudibles des Amérindiens, en particulier dans le contexte de l'activisme politique naissant. Le style d'Ortiz se caractérise par son engagement envers l'expression authentique de l'expérience autochtone, ce qui fait de lui l'un des poètes amérindiens les plus respectés et les plus lus. Son héritage littéraire est ancré dans son dévouement inébranlable à partager et à célébrer les récits et les cultures autochtones.
Presents an omnibus of three of the poet's previous collections of verse, which touch on such themes as the author's Native American heritage, his specific Pueblo culture, and his work as a laborer in the uranium industry
The narrative focuses on the transformation of Native American life in the San Francisco Bay Area during the 1950s, highlighting the impact of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Relocation Program. It emphasizes the formation of a multi-tribal community centered around the Intertribal Friendship House in Oakland, which became a vital support system and cultural hub. The book features essays, photographs, and stories that document the experiences of Native families over seventy years, showcasing their resilience, activism, and the ongoing evolution of urban Indian identity.
"The massacre of Cheyenne and Arapaho women and children by U.S. soldiers at Sand Creek in 1864 was a shameful episode in American history, and its battlefield was proposed as a National Historic Site in 1998 to pay homage to those innocent victims. Poet Simon Ortiz had honored those people seventeen years earlier in his own way. That book, From Sand Creek, is now back in print." "Originally published in a small-press edition, From Sand Creek makes a large statement about injustices done to native peoples in the name of Manifest Destiny. It also makes poignant reference to the spread of that ambition in other parts of the world - notably in Vietnam - as Ortiz asks himself what it is to be an American, a U.S. citizen, and an Indian." "Indian people have often felt they have had no part in history, Ortiz observes, and through his work he shows how they can come to terms with this feeling. He invites Indian people to examine the process they have experienced as victims, subjects, and expendable resources - and asks people of European heritage to consider the motives that drive their own history and create their own form of victimization."--Jacket
The narrative centers on Faustin, an Acoma elder, who experiences the wonder of television and is captivated by the moon landing. This moment illustrates the profound impact of storytelling, a theme explored throughout Simon Ortiz's collection of short stories. Drawing from his Acoma Pueblo heritage, Ortiz presents a tapestry of characters facing diverse challenges, from a boy grappling with his father's troubles to a draft refuser in a suit. The stories reflect Native American experiences, blending oral tradition with modern issues, resonating with beauty and depth.
"Light As Light is a book of poetry that is fun and playful and loving and inspiring. And funny with Red Boy (a voice and role and consciousness in the poetry and stories) as part of the ride"--