Bearheart: The Heirship Chronicles 1

Bearheart: The Heirship Chronicles

     The subject matter of this novel and the culture being examined are both something of interest to me. To be specific, I am very interested in how they relate to each other. Native Americans are often discussed in the context of the wrongs that have been inflicted upon them in this country by European settlers, and the current perpetuation of harm and isolation being impressed upon them. Then there is the issue of fuel dependency, which is a growing global concern as we rapidly approach peak oil. It is interesting that Gerald Vizenor took on this issue way back in the seventies and, not unlike Orwell, has foreshadowed future events and dilemmas. The issue of fuel dependency reflects the rabid industrialization of the USA and the world as a whole, and the concept of industrialization is in stark contrast to the traditional values and philosophy of early Native Americans. For this reason I find it interesting that Vizenor chose to discuss these topics in the same context. Also, the decline of the country seems ironic, because the course of America then seems cyclical; originally hosting indigenous tribal people, then being overwhelmed by modern technology and industrialization, then back to the basics after the fuel is nearly gone. The topic Vizenor is  grappling with is very edgy.

Proude Cedarfair is a unique character, in that the author seems to use him to demonstrate some enormous differences between Native American culture and American culture. The peace described in Proude's tribe is of a kind that seems alien to most people today. I find this lamentable, because any culture that is overwhelmed and eventually reduced to insignificance is a great loss. Also, because Native American history is the history of every US citizen today, and we don't quite have a firm grip on our own history because ithe stories told are always about how this "great country" or "land of the free" came to be; stories wherein Native Americans are painted as victims, but in a larger sense, just collateral damage.