Native American (Post Modernism) "The Way to a Rainy Mountain"

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Journal Response #10 4/20/2012 Based on the readings by the Native American authors, how might these groups of people relate themselves in similar ways to the traditional past and modern life? In the stories “The Way to a Rainy Mountain,” “The Man to Send Rain Clouds ,” and “Coyote Holds a Full House in His Hand,” we are able to dig into the lives of some Native Americans tribes to discover the complexities of their cultures. Both of these authors, Momaday and Silkon write about their heritage in their stories, which makes them more convincing since they are told from the point of view of someone who has experienced the Native American way of life. All of these Native American writers are able to convey to the reader a strong sense of knowledge about their cultural traditions, landscape of their regions and their understanding of modern life. Furthermore, as the author of the biography of Silko, the writer of “The Man to Send Rain Clouds ,” and “Coyote Holds a Full House in His Hand,” remarks, “She concentrates on the everyday life of the people she knows, the distinct mythical, historical, and present-day worlds in which they simultaneously exist.” Consequently, living between two worlds and two cultures adds to the life experience of many Native Americans who blend their ancient traditions with modern life to create a unique life experience. Their connections to their ancestral cultures allow them to incorporate many aspect of the Native American culture into the modern world, which they now have to experience. For instance, in the “The Way to a Rainy Mountain,” the old man who died under the big cotton tree is being buried with Native Americans and Christian traditions. This tradition is incorporated when Leon asked the priest to sprinkle holy water over the dead body of the old man who was wrapped around a red blanket, and whose face was painted with

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