10.06.2022 Views

The Sacred Hoop: Recovering the Feminine in American Indian Traditions

by Paula Gunn Allen

by Paula Gunn Allen

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acceptably <strong>Indian</strong> (with all <strong>the</strong> pa<strong>in</strong> that implies) and acceptable<br />

to whites at <strong>the</strong> same time.<br />

<strong>The</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r-directedness of <strong>Indian</strong> life dictates aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong>herently self-serv<strong>in</strong>g k<strong>in</strong>d of autonomy that self-acceptance<br />

implies. <strong>The</strong> attempt to reconcile <strong>the</strong> irreconcilable often results<br />

<strong>in</strong> events such as those described <strong>in</strong> Marnie Walsh’s “Vickie<br />

Loans-Arrow, 1972”:<br />

I<br />

this morn<strong>in</strong>g<br />

me and my cous<strong>in</strong><br />

charlene lost-nation<br />

are <strong>in</strong> to bobby simons bar<br />

and charlene say<br />

i tired of liv<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>the</strong>re a<strong>in</strong>t noth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> it<br />

and bobby simon<br />

beh<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong> bar<br />

goes ha ha ha<br />

when she fall off<br />

<strong>the</strong> stool<br />

im laugh<strong>in</strong>g too<br />

she so drunk<br />

she funny<br />

…<br />

IV<br />

we dr<strong>in</strong>k and she pulls<br />

her face up tight<br />

tells me it dont pay to th<strong>in</strong>k<br />

<strong>the</strong>res someth<strong>in</strong>g to it<br />

cause <strong>the</strong>re a<strong>in</strong>t<br />

and says wont nobody

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