Response: Louis Bird I really love how Bird’s book is organized. I can skip to a topic of interest and read about it. I prefer this layout better than the Robinson book. I think it is because I find Bird’s book easier to read than the Robinson book. I find that I can read it leisurely because it is in short story form, while the Harry Robinson book is written like poetry which makes my eyes work harder. I find I tire more easily when I read it. However, I have enjoyed his stories nonetheless. I like Louis Bird’s stuff. It is so informative. I have learned so much about the beliefs of his people just by the stories that we have read. Wow what a treasure this book is.
I find the Louis Bird book a lot easier to read. I think that it was more interesting to me than Harry Robinson's, sorry Jim. I think that his writing was more straight forward and I enjoyed reading the stories. I could relate myself to a lot of the stories in Louis Bird's book and it was neat how it made me reminisce about things that happened in my life.
These are my thoughts after reading the preface, chapter one, and chapter five from 'The Spirit Lives in the Mind'.
First of all, I wanted to say, I agree with both Jackie and Myrna. I enjoy Bird's organization. It makes it a much easier read than Robinson's work. I also find his stories much more interesting than Robinson. I still think that Robinson's stories are exceptional, but they are not as easy to follow along with. With Bird's work, I think he has a much smoother story-telling style and I don't find myself needing to ask as many questions that might interrupt my train of thought. It also makes me question how truthful they were about the editing that took place before this book was published. Maybe Bird really is just a better story-teller, though.
Bird’s point of view, that spiritual practice played such a significant role for his people before Europeans arrived, is apparent when he tells his stories. The survival of his people seems to be significantly linked to how strong their spiritual beliefs are, and Bird states that the main problem with the Europeans when they arrived was that they could not appreciate their belief system--something that seems very obvious to me, when looking at First Contact and what a strong Christian belief system the Europeans brought with them. I really enjoyed reading the stories in chapter one not only because they were descriptive, but because along with sharing spiritual beliefs with the reader, Bird adds his own touch, often stating something along the lines of: ‘I have been told this’ but ‘in my own way of thinking’…His added touch to a story that was previously told to him is significant, as it is a perfect representation of what the reader might have missed out on, if this story was not continuously passed down orally. Now that Bird has put it to paper, it is unlikely that this story will change in the coming years. We’re lucky to have it on paper now, but by doing so, Bird has almost permanently fixed the story.
The notion of the power that animals have over the Omushkego people was also enthralling. Bird has many stories that indicate how seriously his people took the respect of animals, something that seems much like the God fearing attitude that many Christian people of today’s society have. Misuse what you have been given and suffer for it, seems to be Bird’s messages throughout the many stories in chapter five. Lastly, I could not believe that in Bird’s culture they still teaching young women to not step over any animal that was to be food for the family. It is apparent in my mind why this practice would have begun, but seems odd that it has carried to the present day.
In chapter seven, Bird has a lot to say on the Wihtigos. These are people who went crazy due to a number of possible reasons such as, becoming cannibalistic and human abuse. He goes on to describe that there are many different kinds of Wihtigos and their characteristics. How Bird describes these people makes sense in a logical society of today. A woman or man who is beaten, not allowed to eat for long periods of time, or mentally abused may become what Bird describes as a Wihtigos.
However, Bird’s thoughts on these people extent farther than reality, and explore a mythical side. They are described as physically cold, with hearts of ice, Rabies is linked to being a Wihtigo, as well. Bird feels that perhaps rabies was created as the Great Spirit’s way of maintaining the population of the area. True or not, these thoughts link into the Wihtigos creation easily. It is interesting to note that upon First Contact, Europeans regarded First Nations with such fear and loathing, feeling that they were uncivilized. Despite this feeling, Bird’s people seem to be against cannibalism, sides with the Europeans quite strongly, even if they didn’t recognize their feelings for what they were.
In chapter ten, Bird speaks about the trickster that exists in his culture. While many First Nation groups see this trickster in the form of a coyote, there trickster is named Wisakaychak and is shown to the reader in the form of a man. Interestingly enough, Wisakaychak is accredited to creating a monument by Hudson Bay, and a story is built up around this, saying that during a snow storm, the trickster must have stayed in this one spot. It seems almost as if, anything that has occurred in history that cannot be explained by natural causes, is blamed on the trickster’s doing.
Remember - what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.......
ReplyDeleteOr not:)
ReplyDeleteI will post some thoughts on LB tomorrow, as this evening my brain feels...tired.
ReplyDeleteResponse: Louis Bird
ReplyDeleteI really love how Bird’s book is organized. I can skip to a topic of interest and read about it. I prefer this layout better than the Robinson book. I think it is because I find Bird’s book easier to read than the Robinson book. I find that I can read it leisurely because it is in short story form, while the Harry Robinson book is written like poetry which makes my eyes work harder. I find I tire more easily when I read it. However, I have enjoyed his stories nonetheless. I like Louis Bird’s stuff. It is so informative. I have learned so much about the beliefs of his people just by the stories that we have read. Wow what a treasure this book is.
I find the Louis Bird book a lot easier to read. I think that it was more interesting to me than Harry Robinson's, sorry Jim. I think that his writing was more straight forward and I enjoyed reading the stories. I could relate myself to a lot of the stories in Louis Bird's book and it was neat how it made me reminisce about things that happened in my life.
ReplyDeleteThese are my thoughts after reading the preface, chapter one, and chapter five from 'The Spirit Lives in the Mind'.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I wanted to say, I agree with both Jackie and Myrna. I enjoy Bird's organization. It makes it a much easier read than Robinson's work. I also find his stories much more interesting than Robinson. I still think that Robinson's stories are exceptional, but they are not as easy to follow along with. With Bird's work, I think he has a much smoother story-telling style and I don't find myself needing to ask as many questions that might interrupt my train of thought. It also makes me question how truthful they were about the editing that took place before this book was published. Maybe Bird really is just a better story-teller, though.
Bird’s point of view, that spiritual practice played such a significant role for his people before Europeans arrived, is apparent when he tells his stories. The survival of his people seems to be significantly linked to how strong their spiritual beliefs are, and Bird states that the main problem with the Europeans when they arrived was that they could not appreciate their belief system--something that seems very obvious to me, when looking at First Contact and what a strong Christian belief system the Europeans brought with them. I really enjoyed reading the stories in chapter one not only because they were descriptive, but because along with sharing spiritual beliefs with the reader, Bird adds his own touch, often stating something along the lines of: ‘I have been told this’ but ‘in my own way of thinking’…His added touch to a story that was previously told to him is significant, as it is a perfect representation of what the reader might have missed out on, if this story was not continuously passed down orally. Now that Bird has put it to paper, it is unlikely that this story will change in the coming years. We’re lucky to have it on paper now, but by doing so, Bird has almost permanently fixed the story.
The notion of the power that animals have over the Omushkego people was also enthralling. Bird has many stories that indicate how seriously his people took the respect of animals, something that seems much like the God fearing attitude that many Christian people of today’s society have. Misuse what you have been given and suffer for it, seems to be Bird’s messages throughout the many stories in chapter five. Lastly, I could not believe that in Bird’s culture they still teaching young women to not step over any animal that was to be food for the family. It is apparent in my mind why this practice would have begun, but seems odd that it has carried to the present day.
Great thoughts, all of you! A paper comparing Harry Robinson and Louis Bird seems to be in the works...
ReplyDeleteHere are my thoughts on chapter seven and ten.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter seven, Bird has a lot to say on the Wihtigos. These are people who went crazy due to a number of possible reasons such as, becoming cannibalistic and human abuse. He goes on to describe that there are many different kinds of Wihtigos and their characteristics. How Bird describes these people makes sense in a logical society of today. A woman or man who is beaten, not allowed to eat for long periods of time, or mentally abused may become what Bird describes as a Wihtigos.
However, Bird’s thoughts on these people extent farther than reality, and explore a mythical side. They are described as physically cold, with hearts of ice, Rabies is linked to being a Wihtigo, as well. Bird feels that perhaps rabies was created as the Great Spirit’s way of maintaining the population of the area. True or not, these thoughts link into the Wihtigos creation easily. It is interesting to note that upon First Contact, Europeans regarded First Nations with such fear and loathing, feeling that they were uncivilized. Despite this feeling, Bird’s people seem to be against cannibalism, sides with the Europeans quite strongly, even if they didn’t recognize their feelings for what they were.
In chapter ten, Bird speaks about the trickster that exists in his culture. While many First Nation groups see this trickster in the form of a coyote, there trickster is named Wisakaychak and is shown to the reader in the form of a man. Interestingly enough, Wisakaychak is accredited to creating a monument by Hudson Bay, and a story is built up around this, saying that during a snow storm, the trickster must have stayed in this one spot. It seems almost as if, anything that has occurred in history that cannot be explained by natural causes, is blamed on the trickster’s doing.