Native American Literature Unit Assessment
This unit was mainly about the Native Americans. In the beginning of this unit we talked about what facts we knew about The Native American culture and how/ why is it so important. In class we discussed stereotypes, nature, and how a Native American would tell a myth. We started to read the book "The Way to Rainy Mountain". This book was written by a real Native American named N. Scott Momaday. He wrote about the Kiowa tribe myths, which he heard from his grandmother when he was a child. He also wrote about how the actual history that (may) symbolizes on his Native American life as he knew as a child. He describes his journeys that are (kind of) relevant to the myths, but not necessarily. His father, Al Momaday, illustrated on some of the chapters in the book that connects to the myths and the history. Later on in this unit the class and I watched a movie called " Smoke Signals". It was about a Native American named Victor and his Indian friend named Thomas traveling to Phoenix, Arizona to collect his father's ashes, but they also experienced flashbacks, and heard some myths/ stories throughout the movie. Victor had thoughts about his terrible relationship with his father. This had affected his life as a child. Thomas also had thoughts about Victor's father, but like being his father that he never had. Both of the characters had different opinions on Arnold (Victor's father). Native Americans are tied together with the book "The Way to Rainy Mountain and the movie "Smokes Signals" because they all share the same tradition.