Green Grass, Running Water - Case Study Example

Order 539228 Topic: Green Grass, Running Water Outline This paper discusses issues related to black and white races. The efforts of the Northern Aboriginal people (The Native Indians) to maintain their heritage against the onslaught of the white traditions. Lionel and George, both Native Indians, are influenced to an extent by the white traits, so think Norma and Latisha, but their love and loyalty for Native Indian Culture is unquestionable. -------------------- How do you visualize the Native American? What are their peculiar characteristics? What is that “authentic” Indian behavior? Does progress and modernity of the Native Americans mean that they need to say farewell to their original cultural traits? “Green, Grass, Running Water,” by Thomas King depicts what true Native American spirit is about. What is the nature of struggles of Northern Aboriginal people trying to keep in touch with their culture and/or move towards a more modern western culture—what are its limitations and how far influences of whites in some areas are inevitable? Lionel and his aunt Norma are engaged in an anxious and spirited conversation that has an undercurrent of racial tension. Norma represents the typical Native American in her thinking and she has great apprehensions about the change that she identifies in Lionel as for the white culture. Does she basically hate the white leanings of Lionel? The answer is both yes and no! Rather than hating the whites, she is deeply interested that Lionel should retain the Native identity. They are in a car, and the casual comment by Lionel regarding Indian Council paving a dirt road, is seriously taken up for a racial debate buy Norma. Thomas King writes, (1994, p.7-8) “Lionel, if you weren’t my sister’s boy, and if I didn’t see you born with my own eyes, I would sometimes think you were white. You sound just like those politicians in Edmonton. Always telling us what we can’t do.” This indicates Norma’s deep-rooted dislike for white dispositions towards which she believes Lionel is moving. Her comparison of Lionel with politicians in Edmonton, gives the clear picture about how the whites perceive the Native American and have poor estimate of their abilities. Thus an unbridgeable gap is established between the Native Indians and White Americans. She sincerely wishes that Lionel remain associated with their heritage and she is apprehensive about his moving towards the other side of the cultural fence that divides the whites and blacks. The argument between the nephew and the aunt thickens and reaches wider horizons as Norma picks up more issues concerning Lionel. She recalls, when Lionel was a boy, his tonsils were operated upon by a white doctor. She remarks, “Indian doctors weren’t good enough.”(p.32)This has an element of sarcasm, as well as worry for her about Lionel imitating the white traits, as his life was shaped and influenced by white culture. Her latent resentment towards all that is white is also evident. She doesn’t wish to “lose” Lionel under any circumstances, and desires to remind him that they should be proud that they belong to the heritage of Northern Aboriginal people of America. Her resentment towards the white race is evident when she sarcastically says addressing her nephew, “"As if they [white men] were something special. As if, there werent enough of them in the world already" (37) This is almost like a policy statement of Norma as for her attitude towards the white race. It is evident that her concern has assumed serious proportions and she emphatically tells Lionel the desirability to retain his Native American heritage, and not try to imitate the white. Norma dominates in the conversation, speaks without intermission, and hardly gives any chance to Lionel to explain his viewpoints. In defense of her position, Norma gives one more argument from which she desires that Lionel take lessons. She gives the examples of his sister Latisha, who has stuck to the native roots, in establishing and running a good Indian restaurant in the town. Now Lionel is on the offensive. He tells Norma that in her Dead Dog Café, she sells hamburger, which is not a food item of the Native Indian tradition. When Norma appreciates Latisha’s dynamism in running her hotel successfully to attract customers and tourists from all over the world, he hits back by retorting, "The Blackfoot didnt eat dog" (59). He further gives evidence of his knowledge about ancient history of the Native Indians, by his statement, “In the old days, dogs guarded the camp. They made sure we were safe."(60) and the traditional Blackfoot only ate things like elk and moose and buffalo”(60) This observation shows that Lionel has thorough knowledge about his heritage, and he castigates the cheap public relations gimmicks of his sister to popularize the restaurants on false counts, that have nothing to do with the Indian traditions. The distortion upsets Lionel, and that indicates his deep love for the Native traditions. Norma has in store further arguments against Lionel and praise for Latisha. She says, “Latisha has time to come out to the reserve and visit us, too. Always helps with food for the Sun Dance. Helps out with other things too." (60) Thus she cares for the Native Community and takes active interest to preserve the cultural traditions. Lionel doesn’t visit the reserve even once in a while to interact with the people there. This is the indication that by temperament he is like the white man and not authentically an Indian. By conviction, Latisha is a genuine Blackfoot. From the point of view of practical business considerations, she might have adopted certain western procedures and food items, to make the restaurant popular. The survival of the restaurant is on the top of the agenda. She must make her living, what if more than of an average Indian? As for maintaining public relations with the customers, she has no qualms about outsmarting people, mostly tourists from all around the world, to enhance the reputation of her café tell a few sweet lies, and give a false impression about the Native Indian culture, its ancient glory, and create her own history about the Blackfoot tribe. Do not form opinions about Norma and Lionel as for their loyalty to Native American heritage, on the basis of their conversations. The loyalty of Lionel is in real terms and his conviction is strong. Norma and Latisha pay lip sympathy, and compromise with the finer aspects of the culture as per the demands of their business needs. From the Native American point of view, it is good that a member of the Native American, a woman, has shown sterling results in establishing and running the restaurant business successfully. Latisha also thinks that her husband George is not authentically Native Indian, and he tries to fall in line with the white. The understanding of both the women Norma and Latisha, as for Lionel and George respectively, is lopsided. The fact is otherwise. Both are genuinely interested in the Blackfoot culture and have a hearty approach towards its. The approach of Norma and Latisha is superficial and commercial. With Norma and Lionel it is the generation gap that is showing. Sometimes, the older generation refuses to budge from the rigid stands, and refuses to see the writings on the wall, and thinks that the younger generation is always wrong. Some of the racial issues are not about the misunderstanding amongst the blacks and whites. This book highlights about the misunderstandings of the blacks with the blacks. Conclusion: Lionel and George cannot be dismissed as white followers. They are genuinely interested in the Blackfoot culture. Lionel knows the Blackfoot’s past and George is keen to learn about it. According to Latisha’s own admission she is aware of the genuine interest of George about the Indian heritage. She remembers, "George had come out to the reserve for Indian Days...he had stood at the back of the gawking crowd and watched. At the end of the day, he was still there, watching, listening..." (144) This indicates his committed interest and that he is not a casual visitor in the festivities at the reserve. The interest of Latisha and Norma is measured in economic terms and they are exploiting the sentiments of the people about their love for the heritage. Works Cited King, Thomas, Green Grass, Running Water; Bantam Books, June 1, 1994. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment [edit] Principal CharactersLionel An uninspired, ill-motivated electronics salesman; Lionel rivals Charlie for Albertas affection. Lionels parents and sister Latisha attempt to counsel him through his various troubles. Latisha - Lionels sister. She is the owner of the Dead Dog Café which pretends to sell dog meat, because tourists incorrectly believe dog meat is the authentic ethnic food of the Blackfoot Native Americans. In the novel, she acts mainly as someone who offers good counsel to Lionel. Read More