Ancestral Mythic and Artistic Visions of ModernDay Native Mixed Heritage Americans: A Reading of Louise Erdrich’s Selected Novels

Research Article

Abstract

For Native Americans, the image of the circle is considered sacred. The most important significance of this symbol in
communal life is the belief that everything in the physical, natural, and spiritual world is interconnected. This concept of
the sacred hoop not only influences people who live with its consciousness but, in return, enables them to influence others
with its understanding. Native American tribal stories, their oral literature, and myths have a strong leaning towards
showing the importance of the sacred hoop and their tribal beliefs and customs. This paper attempts to address the influence these traditions of myth and stories has had on the works of Louise Erdrich by examining two of her novels, commonly known as the North Dakota Series – Tracks (1988) and The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse (2002). Using textual analysis as a research method, this paper analyzes the narrative techniques, themes, and different characters of the two novels. The paper examines how oral traditions are integrated within the written texts of Erdrich and how she develops a three-dimensional approach for her story telling. Making effective use of character portrayal techniques Erdrich gives a comprehensive and multifaceted understanding of life on the reservation for a contemporary Native American. Benefiting both the native and non-native readers, the paper establishes the importance of studying the richness of Native American literature in the contemporary world.