The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline is a novel that explores a world not far off in the future in which climate change has disrupted the environment, causing white people to no longer be able to dream. When it is discovered that Indians can still dream, people turn to them “looking for ways [they] could help guide them” (88). This amiability doesn’t last long, and soon turns into a hunt for the bone marrow of those who can still dream. While Dimaline gives details about the pure fight for survival of the indigenous people, the main focus is placed on the survival of indigenous cultures. Traditions and customs are two key elements that define a culture, and through the adversity and loss that the Cree people face, they realize that culture is all they have to define themselves and will do anything to protect and expand on their knowledge of it.
Frenchie and the other youths of the group cling onto any knowledge of the language or culture that they can, proving that they don’t want their cultural identity to die with their Elders. This is apparent within the first few chapters of the novel when Frenchie claims that the youths “lon[g] for the old-timey. [They wear their] hair in braids to show it” (21). Since they have such a limited knowledge of the language, the youths cling onto other parts of their identities such as their braids to keep themselves connected to their heritage. Frenchie leans into this one small part of himself as something that makes him more Indian. This is how he affirms his identity when Derrick plays a drum to get Rose’s attention, claiming that he “puff[s] out [his] chest a bit, remembering that [he] still ha[s] the longest braids…that ma[kes him] a better Indian, after all” (190). However, once they are able to get even singular words of the language from Minerva, they find that despite her inability to help their family physically, she is one of the keys to their identities and is worth their utmost protection. This importance of Elders, especially Minerva, is shown after her passing when Frenchie “pick[s] up the scissors…and cut[s his] own braid off to send with Minerva” (212). Frenchie is able to part with a key part of his identity in order to give Minerva a proper send off, and this shows that her influence on his knowledge of the language makes him feel secure enough in his identity to part with an outward symbol of his culture. Her influence is felt through all the youths as they “start a youth council, to start passing on the teachings right away, while they [are] still relearning themselves” (214). While they may not be able to save Minerva, they are able to carry on her teachings and keep their culture alive which is a glue that holds them all together and ensures that the language won't be lost on generations to come.
It is very clear how Cherie Dimaline stresses the importance of preserving culture and not giving it up even while under attacks to assimilate/change, and I completely agree that Frenchie and the other youths are desperate to learn and preserve the culture themselves. French is very affected by the culture on multiple levels. As you mentioned, he is very attached to his braid and feels that it makes him more of a Native American. In some instances, he pulls out his braid just to emphasize this fact. Also, when Rose mentions 'nishin' and how Minerva teaches them some words of the language, Frenchie has to "walk out towards the perimeter of the clearing, into the darkness of branches and shadow. Because [he] wasn't sure if [he] was going to cry or scream" (39). A language is a key part of any culture around the world. If a language is lost, parts of the culture and ways those people express themselves are lost. Dimaline emphasizes the need to preserve the language and its significance through Frenchie's reactions and Minerva's role in the story. Minerva has the most knowledge of Anishnaabe culture, and she ends up being able to resist the Recruiters' attempt to take her marrow and causing the machine to set on fire, simply by singing a Native American song and holding on to Native American tradition, even at the brink of death/losing herself. Forgetting one's culture means forgetting a part of oneself. Thus, Dimaline stresses the importance of remembering one's culture and resisting giving it up just to 'fit in.'
ReplyDeleteI agree that Cherie Dimaline heavily emphasizes the importance of culture throughout the novel. Culture acts as one of the few sources of hope for the youths. They know that they have the chance to learn and preserve their culture for the future, as they are the only ones left with that ability. Their intensity and curiosity revolving around culture stood out to me in Frenchie's reaction to Rose's use of the word "nishin" (38). When he hears her use a word that is part of their language, something he has never learned, he gets insanely jealous. He feels that he is deserving of learning the language of his people. Therefore, hearing someone else use these words and for Frenchie to not understand was very disturbing for him. Similar to the importance of braids mentioned in the blog post, to combat Rose's use of the language, Frenchie whips out his braid as a way to prove that he is deserving of learning the language too. This pride they have in the culture is admirable, as there are other Indians that are turning their backs on their culture in hopes of a better life.
ReplyDeleteThe conversation surrounding culture throughout the novel reminds me of the videos we watched in class. It is tragic to me how the pride that people have in their culture can be so threatening to certain people. Even though Native Americans were not harming anyone by practicing their culture, they were taken away to boarding schools, stripping them of their culture and their hope.