Female Native American Writers

I cannot help but to disagree with the notion that the use of anecdotal evidence by female Native American writers is of any less value to the survivance of Native American peoples. Numbers, charts, and graphs can only say so much. The numbers that Boudinot used to try and convince the government to give him money did not reflect the human element, it reflected the mechanics and proficiency of their community. Boudinot's style of argument may very well have given Native Americans more business and economic competence in the government's eyes, but it did not raise the respect for Native Americans as individuals, who think and feel just as everyone else.
Autobiographies have profound effects on readers in more emotional and personal ways. Anecdotal evidence, used in the right way, can remind us that we are all basically human beings and may even create a parallel between the readers life and the storyteller's. If this occurs there can be major influence by the storyteller. In the case of Winnemuca she is able to create a child's view of the white man and then shows how the changes with more immigration. No doubt, there was some aspect of her story that people connected with at least at some primitive level. This connection changed their view of Winnemuca, therefore anecdotal evidence in Native American writing is good for survivance.

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Name Explanation
Hello everyone, I chose trails of thoughts because this is what this blog will be a trail of my thoughts concerning NAS 5 and Native American culture. I used trails because trails are not permanent and without maintenance and proper care they can disappear. My thoughts are never permanent and are always being shaped by my environment. I am sure that my feelings and knowledge of Native American culture will be much different at the end of these ten weeks.

Popol Vuh
I found the Popol Vuh very interesting, I love the style of story telling, the ideas of humbleness, the dark endings and irony. In lots of ways it is like many other creation stories. Being "raised" a Catholic, I cannot help but to see a parallel with the Bible and the trickery of Satan and Eve. But, there is a fundamental difference in the effect of the trickery on human existence. In the Bible, Eve is tricked and suddenly all people are damned with original sin. In the Popol Vuh the animals trick the gods, due to their arrogance. This suggests a truly equal respect for man and animals and gods. In western culture people are not raised to view animals as having intelligent thought as they are in many eastern and Native American cultures.