The Indian in the Cupboard

As I have been creating my pathfinder for my internship project, which is on Native American information (both fiction and non-fiction, Internet resources, and programs) in a Children's Library, I come across countless people criticizing the Indian in the Cupboard. I can understand this, however, it does not make it a less valuable source of fiction for children. I would never recommend it is a source for Native American study, however, I would not say it's an item that should be eradicated from library shelves as a few have suggested .

In this one article which, I must say, is a fantastic source for people attempting to create/maintain/weed a Native American collection in either a school or public library for K-12 students, the writers state the following about The Indian in the Cupboard and it's sequels:

"But for Indian people, these are some of the worst perpetrators of the most base stereotypes. The miniature toy Indian in the series (Indians portrayed as objects or things) is described as an Iroquois warrior, but is dressed as a western movie version of a generic plains Indian "chief," complete with eagle feather headdress. The warrior is described in the most stereotypical terms and speaks in subhuman grunts and partial sentences. He is manipulated by a more powerful white child, fostering the image of the simple and naive Indian whose contact with the white man can only benefit him and his people" (Caldwell, Kaye, and Mitten, 2007).

Here are my problems with this statement:

1) I agree that the stereotypes in these books are not positive at all, but couldn't this become a learning experience for children? It could be used to spark conversation about stereotypes and how to correct them.

2) The reason that the Indian in the cupboard is portrayed incorrectly (improper attire for being an Iroquois warrior, sub-level communication, Hollywood look) is because this is how the boy sees Native Americans. Wouldn't this be a great thing to use to spark conversation with kids? How would you think the Native American would be shown if this child knew what you know about Native Americans? What would you change? How do you think this might change the stories or the plots? TEACHING MOMENT!

3) Little Bear ("The Indian") speaks in grunts because he does not know the language, as the story goes on and he learns the language from both Omri (the "more powerful white child") and Boone (the "cowboy" action figure that Omri ends up turning as well) he begins to speak more normally.

I feel that the authors of this text have created a very viable source for librarians, educators, parents, etc. However, I feel with The Indian in the Cupboard they have gone too far. This is a story that isn't meant for Native American study, it is meant for fiction, for literary consumption. It could still be used in schools and libraries as a teaching moment. A time to get children to think about how they carry stereotypical tendencies within them that they don't even realize they have.

I would never think to teach children that these characters are viable stock characters for use in every day life. I agree that, in the past, Native Americans have been portrayed badly in literature, if at all. I agree that we need to be aware of the stereotypes and stock characters of the past. I also believe, however, in encouraging children to be aware of these issues, not just taking it away from there view. In order for children to know the difference they need to be taught, what better way to do it then through an outlet they will enjoy and, perhaps, remember?

Work Cited
Caldwell, N., Kaye, G., & Mitten, L.A. (2007). "'I" is for inclusion: The portrayal of Native Americans in books for young people." ALA/OLOS Subcommittee for Library Services to American Indian People American, American Indian Library Association presented at the American Indian Children's Literature: Identifying and Celebrating the Good, Washington, D.C., June 23, 2007.

Children of the Longhouse

While making my Pathfinder for my internship at the children's library I recently read "Children of the Longhouse" by Joseph Bruchac for the first time. For a "children's" novel it was pretty good.

It's the story of twins Otsi:stia and Ohkwa'ri (brother and sister respectively) who live in a Mohwak village in eastern New York. Though the underlying story is one of a bully going after Otsi:stia because he tells the village Otsi:stia tells the village of a conversation he overhears where the bully (Grabber) is planning on raiding a nearby village in order to gain some "prestige" in the Mohawk village and undoubtly creating an unnecessary war. Through this Bruchac interweaves traditional Mohawk tales, as the children deal with their decisions they are reminded of tales that their family has told them and they refer to them. It's really a pretty good read for grades 3-5 and highlights many interesting facts of local Mohawk culture.

I thoroughly enjoyed how you are shown how the people went about their daily lives and it isn't "this is what Ohkwa'ri did because she is a girl and her day is different than Otsi:Stia." Ohkaw'ra considers the plants as she is picking strawberries and thinks about their uses in medicine, or Ohkwa'ri decides to go out and bulid his own shelter away from his mother in order to get used to be away from his family (men left their "mother's hearths" and lived with their wives because Mohawk and other people of the Iroquois Nation trace their decendence through their mother's). Through this experience he is exposed to Grabber and his friends as they try and get back at him as well as going through the process of growing up by having to create his own shelter, find his own food, etc.

The book culminates in a huge game of lacrosse that was the only part of the book I did not enjoy. The lacrosse game is a bit too short and although it is necessary for the culmination of the book and the ending of the story with Grabber and his issues with Otsi:Stia, it's the only place I felt that the author fell short in his writing. The lead up was a bit better than the actual game. Other than that, though, I would say this would be an excellent book to use in a classroom in order to teach children not only a story about local Native Americans, but how they lived their lives and how the stories that they were told helped them make decisions and view their daily lives.

Blogging

So I'm taking a course this summer semester about Management Principles (IST 614 for my iSchool pals). And a vocabularly word in our textbook is "Blog" and then we have a whole "Management Decision" based around blogging and what it is. And I realize a couple things:

1) Not everyone knows what blogging is. Which is kind of weird to me. Though I've never been an avid blogger (as evidence by the fact that I post every 6 months or so), I do enjoy reading blogs and subscribe to many and read them almost daily. The fact that there is an entire Management exercise based around understanding what blogging is and how it could be used to the advantage of companies kind of ignited me to blog. I believe that would be ironic.

2) I started thinking about how to make this work in a library setting. Like, you can create a blog, you can update it regularly or irregularly, but how do you get people to use it? It's such an optional tool that could have sooo much potential, especially for those of us in library land. I mean, it is so fast and easy to sit down and jot off a quick blog, and if people have subscribed to your RSS feed, boom, they have the information available to them. But how to make it most effective? I mean, a newletter comes in the mail, we all check the mail every day (well at least most of us do), so we at least have it sitting on the counter. But what about people who don't even know what a blog is? How useful it can be? How would I explain and get my grandmother to use a blog? That's what I started thinking of. Still working on it.

That's really all I've got for now. Maybe I'll start blogging more. Never really felt I had "important" things to say. But maybe as my education and career advances I'll find this tool to be more useful to me. Maybe see you soon! Maybe not for another six months!

2010 and the End of the Semester

So I'm kind of behind (me, never! Nooo!). But I just kind of wanted to reflect on things and the end of the year.

It's been a hell of a year! End of the semester, 4.0, woot! I'm glad that everyone did well! I'm just ecstatic about getting through and not going crazy from lack of sleep and over load from working and Megan and school.

What did I learn? I learned that being a librarian is harder than I thought it would be. There are ethics, and problems, and questions that I never even considered. I also learned that I don't think I want to be the librarian that I "started out" to be. I was thinking, maybe work with kids, maybe in a public library. But, as we got into the semester, I started to really miss my history. I yearn to learn about history and to work with it.  It is my passion. Little kids are awesome, but I could live without going into a public library and dealing with young children, I could not live without history. So going for the CAS in Cultural Heritage Preservation definitely threw a hiccup into my plans, but I think it's going to make my scholarly life better and more fun. And it will, hopefully, lead me to a job that will make me much happier.

So, now it's time to get ready for another year. My resolutions for 2011 are:

1) Get more organized so maybe I can spend some more time with my daughter during the semester. That's the hardest part, really, is being "away" from her even though we're in the same house. I find myself not willing to go anywhere because I just want to cuddle with her on the floor and watch "Toy Story." Need to STOP THAT! It's killing my whole "networking" needs.

2) I'm taking 3 courses this semester, which is going to be even tougher, but I can't wait! So I really need to get on the ball NOW with things! I'm going to try really really hard not to procrastinate as much this year. Like, not finishing up my final edit of my Pathfinder the DAY that it's due.

3) Time to be an adult. Well, a more communicative and "go get 'em" adult. If there is something that I want to do (like the MUS 500 course in NYC next summer), then I need to bite the bullet and start making the phone calls. I've always been someone who has to "wake up" on the right side of the bed in order to be an adult and get things accomplished, that needs to stop! NOW! Like tomorrow! MUS 500 may have slipped away from me because I've allowed my laziness to get ahead of me, and that needs to end now!

4) I need to learn how to "connect with my community." I've blown off chances (usually cause Meg was sick, but still, I could've gone) to mingle with my fellow librarians or to go to talks on campus. Not because I don't want to hang out with those people or because I don't want to go to the talks, but because I just want to be lazy with my kid or boyfriend because I've "earned it." That needs to stop ASAP! I have not "earned it" until I have a job that is what I want to do with the rest of my life and will pay off all these college bills and Megan's. I need to build my network here so that way I can actually have a job when I get done with college. Most of the people I talk to who don't have jobs in there "field" are people who were like, I just need to go to school, that alone should get me a job. It sucks, but it doesn't anymore. You have to throw yourself out there. I need to do that this year like never before.

5) And my final resolution/plan, to get out of my current job and into a job with more flexible hours in order to have more time at home when no one is around. I can't tell you how much I get done when NO ONE is here. It's sick! I need to somehow keep my current healthcare (with my ADHD med coverage), but work lesser hours (still keeping up with my bills & Meg's Healthcare), and keep me home during the day (for the most part) when Mom is at work and Meg is at the babysitters. I will figure that out somehow!

Okay, I think that's it for now/ I also need to start blogging more in order to help myself stay focused and to think more about my library stuff. It's easier to reflect when I start rambling, because I re-read and think and write. It's the one thing I love about blogging, when I edit I learn more. AWESOMENESS!

Lot's of goals for the new year, hope I follow through with some of them!