Brittany Sobolewski
9/13/2014 05:42:36 am
The story of the Sky Woman in Lisa Brooks The Common Pot was a major work that stood out to me. This creation narrative unlike most of the creation myths I have read involves a semi-birth. This birth coming from a falling woman. The animals all work together in trying to protect this woman from death and proceed to gather up mud from the ground. At the bottom of the ocean is where the mud lies and each time the animals try to grab onto it they can't until finally one sacrifices its own life to grab this mud. The mud lands on the back of a turtle and geese fly up to carry the Sky Woman safely down. Once she gives birth the Earth is essentially born. This mythos is filled with a creative idea for how the Earth came to be and as a culture of people it is quite imaginative in comparison to other creation tales. For a people like this to be considered inferior to European culture is quite a shame because there are quite a lot of beautiful tales and traditions passed on by these people.
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Zack Teixeira
9/13/2014 09:35:44 am
Zack Teixeira
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Katharine Trahan
9/15/2014 06:38:14 am
Reflection on The Common Pot and Poems as Maps
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Timothy Morrison
9/15/2014 07:03:47 am
I think Linda Brooks’s piece offers a considerable amount of valuable information. On a technical level, it is helpful to have the geographic and historical background covered in the article. Brooks cover a surprising amount of material in her piece, and her willingness to locate the original territories of the Natives is very informative. Additionally, the way she maps out the Native communities that existed along the Kwinitekw River greatly helped me understand the Native history of the Northeast, which contains a massive amount of history and names to consider.
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Merrilee Brown
9/15/2014 09:56:31 am
Merrilee Brown
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Jenna Pelissier
9/15/2014 10:11:34 am
Jenna Pelissier
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Elizabeth Grillo
9/15/2014 10:12:53 am
In the Common Pot reading, the story of the Sky Woman was so interesting and pretty cool. I love how the water and the animals that occupy the water come together to help a woman step onto land. It was interesting to read. The common pot is that which feeds and nourishes. It is interesting how the Native Americans say that the wigwam feeds the family, the village that feeds the community, the networks that sustain the village. The common pot story told a lot of stories and facts about the Native American culture and the beauty behind it.
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A.J. Niakaros
9/15/2014 10:49:25 am
In all honesty, I was patiently waiting for the moment we would read another creationist story. This weeks reading assignment gave me exactly what I was looking for and more; a creationist story that also inflicted a different viewpoint on our history. In the reading of The Common Pot: The Recovery of Native Space in the Northeast, by Lisa Brooks, she introduces the concept of nativity and how it connects to being human. What I found interesting was that it seems like a very simple connection, so obvious that we don’t give it much thought. However, as it has happened normally since day one, I gave a very common, simplistic statement a little more thought. I took a deeper look into nativity and the creation story and reflected back to our first impression of the natives.
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Scott Elliott
9/15/2014 11:01:09 am
Scott Elliott
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Ronaldo Fontes
9/15/2014 11:38:36 am
Ronaldo Fontes
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Kyle Tocher
9/15/2014 11:38:40 am
I have read this creation story before, and like many students in the class are sure to say, this creation story has an odd way of being very interesting. Origin stories have always been fascinating despite the culture or how they say it happens, but after reading “The Common Pot” a strange correlation between animal and man can be seen.
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Caitlin Rose Bradley
9/15/2014 12:37:55 pm
It amazes me to see the ignorance of some people. The fact that Emory Washburn thought Native Americans had vanished from existence is beyond my belief. He probably had the stereotypical "Indian" image ingrained in his mind, and because he didn't see any painted men in feathers walking down the street with a peace pipe and a bow in his hand, Washburn assumed they had all been wiped out. How tragic. While the fact that Native Americans cannot all live today as they once did is quite tragic, this does not mean that they are gone from this land.
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Nicholas Machado
9/15/2014 12:39:49 pm
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Stephanie Papasodero
9/15/2014 12:55:18 pm
After reading The Common Pot, I realized how much pain and loss the Native people felt. The things that they endured during this time was unjustified and cruel. All of the Natives no matter what village or tribe they were from would end up being connected by the common pot, “shared space means shared consequences and pain. The actions of newcomers would affect the whole.” In order to maintain the common pot was the awareness of the balance of give and take. Native people were good at maintaining the balance of give and take, they knew what goes around comes around and in order to keep balance they needed to respect and help one another. When giving a gift of delicious meat, the giver sets everything up and watches the receiver enjoy the gift and does not eat any of it because it is his gift to give not his gift to give and take. The Europeans on the other hand, did not understand this balance and their ideas, behaviors, and materials would potentially disrupt and destroy the common pot. The Europeans came to take, take, take, and take some more from the Natives. They wanted their land, their knowledge, their resources, etc. and believed the Natives should hand it over just because they asked or they would end up making them hand it over.
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Casner Parfait
9/15/2014 01:10:44 pm
Jean M. O'Brien's 'Firsting and Lasting' was definitely an eye opening read for me, to say the least. I think this specific reading was intriguing due to the fact that it really dealt with and showcased the prejudices that the Europeans held against the Native Americans. From what I read I felt as if the Europeans were fueled by their own short sighted views of the Native Americans. They viewed them as lowly human beings or 'savages' who were far too inferior to be considered as an equal, and it is for this very reason why the Europeans thought they could take advantage of The Native Americans. They constructed their own negative views about the Native Americans and used this as an opportunity to try and 'enlighten' and enforce their personal ideals unto the Native Americans, which clearly caused complications for the Native Americans.
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Nicholas Machado
9/15/2014 01:54:24 pm
I realized after going through the posts on the thread that we are supposed to be commenting on The Common pot. I misread the reading assignment and did my first response on Gould's essay, so here is my response on The Common pot for tomorrow. Sorry for the inconvenience.
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Nicholas Machado
9/15/2014 01:55:50 pm
Let's try this again..... here is my response on The Common Pot. Again, sorry about the confusion.
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Keri Rutherford
9/15/2014 02:37:04 pm
I found “A Common Pot” to be intriguing and thrilling, as it unveils new knowledge on Native Americans. The concept of the common pot, which finds its roots in women, lives as an idea that encompasses peace, unity and compassion. As a method of give and take, it teaches all beings to live in a delicate balance, something that is lacking in the world today. One could only imagine how beautiful the current world would be if all humans abided by this common pot. Furthermore throughout this piece, women are shown to be at the root of influential happenings in Native society. The Sky Woman is just another creation story in which a woman is the cause of creation, which connects to the maternal nature of women. Women are unique in that they can carry and give forth the seed of life, just as the Sky Woman does. Native peoples recognize and cherish this renowned ability that women possess. Overall, I found these readings to reveal further stories and knowledge that excite and inform on the sophisticated and elegant ways of Native Americans, as my long held admiration and respect for these people expands.
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Jacob Jarred
9/15/2014 09:05:47 pm
After reading this week’s assigned works, A Common Pot and Poems on Maps, I gained some insight as to what natural law’s and stories the Natives abide by in order to explain “the bigger picture,” as the Europeans did religion. We also learn of the struggle for land, and how some Chiefs and tribes managed to deal with it.
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Amy Quill
9/15/2014 11:04:41 pm
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Rachel Ivil
9/15/2014 11:04:51 pm
While reading Lisa Brooks' "A Common Pot" one part ofthe story that I favored the most was about Ktsi Amiskw. Cheryl Savageau states in a poem that Ktsi was a Beaver who built his dam and home in a large pond, which continues to grow deeper with time. The pond is more than large enough to supply water and nourishment to many others, but Ktsi patrols the edges and chases everyone away causing all the people and animals to go thirsty. The creator demands that Ktsi cut it out, and to punish him turns him into stone. So now Ktsi is forced to remain still and be nothing but hills in the now drained pond. For centuries Ktsi lies this way and is forced to witness his descendants fall apart. While they are being killed for their pelts, and turned into weapons, Ktsi begins dreaming about what the world would be like without beavers- then he is able to dream the river back- a safe place for his descendants to live... I like how this story about Ktsi shines light upon our need to share natural amenities. That God did not put things like land, or bodies of water on this Earth for just one person to thrive off of. That if we all can live selflessly, only taking what we need to survive, then we can all live happier. I also think the title "A Common Pot" can be used in this context as well. A common pot is a term used among natives to describe something that is able to nourish and help many people- much like Ktsi's pond. This pond, once Ktsi was forced to share it, was able to nourish and feed al of the people and animals just like God had intended it.
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Brittney Melvin
9/16/2014 12:15:41 am
Brittney Melvin
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Caitlin Seddon
9/16/2014 10:30:55 am
In reading “Firsting and Lasting” by Jean O’Brien she begins with a story, which is the 200th anniversary of Bridgewater. This right off the bat caught my attention because I have grown up around here. Then Govern Washburn spoke and makes a very ignorant statement, that the Native people no longer exist, “nothing but tradition,”(O’Brien, 3). This relates back to the first day of class where we read the stereotypes, which are still mentioned today. One of them is that Native Americans no longer exist. The statement made in 1856 was just a stereotype because obviously Native Americans were still around at that time because they are still around today. He over looked these people who were standing probably right in front of him.
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Stephanie Papasodeo
9/17/2014 02:09:42 pm
After reading “Ain’t Seen You Since: Dissent among female relatives in American Indian Women’s poetry” by Patricia Clark Smith I really learned a lot about Native American Women writers and the style of their writing. The poems about mother-daughter-grandmother-aunt relations really interested me. It seems that the older generations are no longer keeping the Native traditions going or teaching the newer generations of their past ancestors and culture. I don’t blame it all on the “gramma” but also the new generation doesn’t make time anymore to learn about their past and are too busy with current society. It takes both of them to keep the Native culture alive and if they don’t, soon, there won’t be any ancestors left to tell of their history.
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Keri Rutherford
9/17/2014 02:54:01 pm
I find the concept of a poetic map to be a fascinating notion to wrap my brain around. When reading a poetic map, my brain must take the words I read to form images of the landscape within my mind. By doing so my imagination sparks, as I develop an understanding of the location referenced or created. My mind explores and creates throughout this process, when these images and thoughts pleasantly swarm my mind. The women who fashion these poems open vivid doors to their readers, for the land is perceived in an elegant and living manner. Chief Mankiller’s comments radiate truth from all angles. These poetic maps reveal a way in which to return to previous modes of life. Poetic maps serve as a reminder, not only to Indians, of a purer and more balanced way of life that is essential to all beings. Commenting on the notion of Mother Earth, these poems not only interact with an audience but also interact directly with Mother Earth. Mother Earth feels the energy, love and connections of these poems, as readers conversely experience a deep rooted connection with her. Thus, indulging Indians back into their past mindsets. Memories and histories can unveil within these poems as well. These poems contain an exquisite ability to illustrate the stories once lived by ancestors. The words of these poems navigate my mind, as my knowledge expands on the happenings of the Native’s past. All in all, these poetic maps possess an exquisite ability to illustrate mappings of the land and its history, which excites and expands the minds of readers.
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Caitlin Rose Bradley
9/17/2014 03:13:18 pm
So I guess we're just posting these here... Here is my response to the poems:
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Brittany Sobolewski
9/17/2014 11:20:48 pm
Not sure if this is correct but I am going to post this here. Janice Gould's poetry speaks loudly on the subject of female strength and female bonds. Unlike European races that center on the male figure as the center of the universe, the Native American peoples centered their culture on the female or mother figure. Their creation story is about a falling woman that gives birth to the world. In folklore the land is all considered to be our mother earth rather than just land as the white man saw it. However, even though the Native people were considered female centered there were still problems with the relationships between women. In the poems women often butt heads especially mothers and daughters. Daughters consider their mothers to be controlling monsters keeping them growing while on the opposite side mothers consider their daughters to be constantly fighting and attacking. Gould considers relationships between people that are realistic in comparison to other authors. The poem about the grandmother was another interesting topic for discussion. The fact that the grandmother feels so separate from her grandchildren is another natural human emotion. There is a generation gap and with this gap come differences and a lack of understanding and breakdown within the family dynamic.
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Scott Elliott
9/18/2014 12:04:07 am
Scott Elliott
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Katharine Trahan
9/18/2014 12:08:14 am
Response to Gould's poems
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Abbie DeMagistris
9/18/2014 12:31:25 am
Abbie DeMagistris
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Brittney Melvin
9/18/2014 12:54:40 am
Brittney Melvin
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Kyle Tocher
9/18/2014 01:13:26 am
Don't know if I'm posting this in the right place...
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A.J. Niakaros
9/18/2014 01:14:24 am
09/18/14
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Casner Parfait
9/18/2014 02:26:58 am
Casner Parfait
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Caitlin Seddon
9/18/2014 03:22:26 am
Gould states, “By coming to terms with these inner regions and states of being, we poets offer ways to know ourselves as human,” which I think can directly relate to our map project. Native Americans find connections between themselves and the world and nature around them in order to stem meaning from it. They understand that they are not the only people to inhabit this land. As European’s came to America and thought that they were settling on untouched land. They believe that they were the first to settle in a certain place, though they knew very well there where others before them. Situating yourself with the space around you gives you a better understanding of the history around you. It also can help you better understand yourself. You are learning more about the culture of where you live, and maybe grew up.
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Timothy Morrison
9/18/2014 05:17:55 am
Janice Gould contributes a wealth of interesting notions to ponder in her chapter titled “Poems as Maps in American Indian Women’s Writings”. Her central discussion about the metaphorical and figurative significance of cartography in writing is very illuminating. It is interesting to examine how one concept can be used to help an individual explain themselves as a human, and, as Gould highlights, Native American writers further this idea to help them map out their own sense of identity. Interestingly, Gould notes that “in times of great social and political stress, when spiritual traditions have been undermined or are hard to adhere to, living a “reasonable, integrated life” is not easy” (Gould 24), and that “we need maps to help us find our direction, to help describe and explain the kind of spiritual and material terrain that we have walked through before and are walking through even now” (Gould 24). In this sense, the literal purpose of the map to document physical layouts, and its ability to help determine direction, becomes something highly figurative in the way of understanding identity. It can be a tool for the lost, and through mapping, some kind of resolution is found.
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Elizabeth Grillo
9/19/2014 10:19:37 am
Poems as Maps in American Indian Women’s Writing is a very interesting piece of work. Gould starts off with a couple of poems and I found them very interesting because I never thought of poems with direction and roads and landmarks as a map. She then goes on to discuss how people need to create a balance in this world because this world has spun out of balance and poems and maps are going to recover that balance. I love when Gould says that in order to recover this balance we must stop always looking for ways to describe how we came about and how the world works. We need to just believe in the stories we are told and have faith that someone gave us life and that there does not need to be a scientific explanation.
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Timothy Morrison
9/22/2014 01:11:21 am
At the heart of Lyons’ discussion is his analysis of how modern rhetoric can develop a sovereign sensibility, and what that means for Indians. Lyons interestingly notes “What we might need, then, is an understanding of the twin pillars of sovereignty: the power to self-govern and the affirmation of peoplehood” (Lyons 456). He continues, and further states that “without self-governance” (Lyons 456), and “without the people” (Lyons 456), everything that constitutes the structure of a “nation” falls apart. Lyons’ recognition of the importance of self-governance illuminates much of his examination of sovereignty, and how the concept of sovereignty has evolved throughout history. His discussion demonstrates a sharp contrast between the historical, and surprisingly modern, sensibilities of sovereignty. The Europeans and the Americans felt as if they had gained their sovereignty, and their mission was not only to protect it, but to utilize it as a tool for nation building. The Indians, according to Lyons, shared a vastly different understanding of the concept, and, in the current times, they are striving to achieve their own sense of sovereignty. In this particular example of dueling perspectives, it is interesting to see how we define sovereignty. From the ways the concept is used, or sought after, it becomes a stamp on how one nation value themselves. Lyons gives a detailed examination of sovereignty in his article, but I can imagine it running much deeper, particularly into another discussion about how nations can utilize their own sense of sovereignty for their own gains.
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Nicholas Machado
9/22/2014 12:13:32 pm
Powell and Lyons
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Katharine Trahan
9/22/2014 12:57:33 pm
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Jenna Pelissier
9/22/2014 02:08:17 pm
Reading Response
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Caitlin Rose Bradley
9/22/2014 02:28:05 pm
"Down By The River" talks about the Native Americans' ability to adapt and the necessity of culture to adapt for survival. The native peoples understood that they may have to compromise a little to keep most of their customs, or at least to keep their lives. They adjusted themselves and adapted to new laws and land in order to keep their communities going. The settlers did not adapt socially and probably would not have. They survived because they had the upper hand. Their culture was not threatened. They imposed their own culture and laws upon the native peoples.
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Ronaldo Fontes
9/22/2014 10:48:41 pm
Ronaldo Fontes
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Caitlin Rose Bradley
9/24/2014 11:54:27 am
I really enjoyed reading "The Truth About Stories." I, like the author, love stories about other worlds and travelling between worlds, and it wasn't because I loved planets or space either. I didn't have the rough childhood the author had, but I loved the idea of escapism through stories and theater. That's why I'm an English and Theater double major; I love telling stories.
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10/4/2022 09:05:29 pm
Interesting and informative discussion. I would like to promote our services here that might be very helpful as well.
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