by R. Cunningham

Created on: May 17, 2009

Native American literature is very complex and is comprised of a variety of factors. Native Americans are brought up on storytelling, the oral form of literature. Storytelling in Native American culture is extremely important and their stories are a large part of their identity. Furthermore, Native American literature is a way for Native Americans to let their own voices be heard amongst the noise of the dominant culture. Through their literature, they are able to form a front against Euro-American tradition and retain their own tradition, values and way of life.

From childhood, storytelling and literature provide Native Americans with an understanding of identity, explaining the origin of the world and offering stories from one's particular tribe's history passed down from their ancestors. Through storytelling and literature, Native Americans learn more than just life lessons. As children, they learn their own cultural traditions, familial ties, political beliefs, sense of community, and, ultimately their own identity. In this way, storytelling and literature are a very inherit part of Native American culture, which shapes and molds their identity.

Yet, Native American literature is much more than just something learned as children. It is also something through which Native Americans can resist the influx of the Euro-American culture by preserving their own voice. Through literature, Native Americans are able to express their culture and retell stories that are as old as their people, resisting against the influence of the dominant culture. Native American artistic expressions have become the weapon in their fight for survival. It is through artistic forms, such as literature, that their voices and cultural view points can be heard. Native American cultures also use literature as a tool to explore cultural and traditional perspectives and ideas and present them to audiences who would not have otherwise have access to these perspectives.

However, having their voices heard amongst the noise of the dominant culture has not been easy. Sherman Alexie says in his poem "Defending Walt Whitman" that, "This game belongs to him," stating that Whitman has the advantage over the Indian boys on the basketball court. Alexie's latent message in the poem is that as a Native American poet, he is playing a game in which he is the underdog and Whitman and all of the other Euro-American poets and writers are the running champion. Whitman is remarking on the

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