#NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women
Book Review:
#NotYour Princess: Voices of Native American Women, edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale, is an insightful mixed-media book filled with poems, short stories depicting first-hand accounts, articles, letters, artwork, photography, etc. all done by indigenous women. This book showcases the lives of indigenous women: the struggles they face, the stereotyping and racism they battle with, what it is like growing up as an indigenous woman, etc. #Not Your Princess provides a lot of important social commentary through an indigenous feminist lens. This book breaks down all that is wrong with the patriarchy and how the male-dominated white western society has treated indigenous women. Many of the stories and poems in this book discuss how indigenous women often face abuse and are often subjected to sexist stereotyping. One particular article in this book titled "Reclaiming Indigenous Women's Rights," written by Nahanni Fontaine, discusses how indigenous women are viewed as "less than" and further examines the oppression that indigenous women face by explaining how indigenous women are often seen as "life givers" and nothing more, which leads them to be over-sexualized, degraded, and thought of as being inferior. It is also brought up on many occasions throughout the book that indigenous women are sadly often times targeted and murdered. Unfortunately, this fact is so common that many indigenous women fear for their lives and a lot of the women in this book discuss how it could easily be them who could have been killed and the importance of remembering their sisters that have been subject to these violent crimes. It is also explained in this book that indigenous women are often subject to abuse and how that has been a thing that has been normalized throughout the years and how indigenous women have been taught from childhood to stay quiet about being abused, which many writers in this book have commented on, specifically in the poem, "The Things We Taught Our Daughters," by Helen Knott. Knott writes about the importance of speaking up when abuse is going on and reassures indigenous women that the abuse they face is never their fault and that they should never feel the pressure to be silenced just because that is what they were taught to do. Knott also does a good job of explaining everything that is wrong with how men treat indigenous women and as well as how society treats indigenous women and the unrealistic expectations indigenous women face and how it affects them. Knott's poem is definitely a standout piece in this book and is something that needs to be read by everyone because it provides an important perspective of the struggles that indigenous women face on a daily basis. This book does a really good job touching upon many important aspects of the lives of indigenous women that desperately need to be talked about, while also celebrating indigenous women and all that they have accomplished despite the rough and unfair circumstances surrounding them. This book showcases the strength of indigenous women and all that they have endured and how they have had to continually fight for themselves and the things that they believe in. #Not Your Princess is a valuable and important read and would be a good book for anyone who wishes to educate themselves on the lives of indigenous women.
Not your Princess Author Bio:
Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale are the editors of a young adult anthology called NotYourPrincess. The book NotYourPrincess received the Norma Fleck Award in 2018 and the American Indian Youth Literature Award among others. Lisa Charleyboy who co-edited the book is a Tsilhqot'in storyteller of the first nation people located in Canada. At the age of 17, she left the suburbs for the city of Toronto to join Ryerson University in pursuit of fashion. This later changed to a pursuit of a writing degree at York University. At that university, her life changed as a teacher helped her reconnect and learn about her indigenous people. Afterward, she reached out to the first nation people and started her work to help in any way she could. Mary Beth Leatherdale's interest in native culture started when she was living on a farm in Canada. In the public school, she attended she met students from the Delaware nation. Mary Beth leather date has a Masters in Education from the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education and a degree in Visual Arts from the University of Western Ontario. Her research now focuses on making curriculums with anti-racist content. Both authors are from Canada and write to show the talent and strength of indigenous people across the world. Throughout their educational careers, they have made it their duty to help the native cultures and to stop the negative stereotypes that they have. To instead bring to light their native culture and show the diversity, strength, and talent of the native peoples.
Instructional Resources:
1. Native Women Wilderness Organization
The organization that holds the same aim and mission as #NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women: the promotion and elevation of indigenous women’s voices in the world. Just like our text, the organization presents outstanding Native American women that serve their community.
Native Women Wilderness. Hoka One on One, 2017, https://www.nativewomenswilderness.org/. Accessed 7 Dec. 2021.
2. National Museum of the American Indian
Resource leads to vast amounts of aspects of Native American culture. One can locate specific articles, videos, blogs and exhibits. There is a specific category for Native American Women.
“Native American Women-Topic Overview”, National Museum of the American Indian. Smithsonian Institute, 2021, https://americanindian.si.edu/online-resources/native-american-women. Accessed 7 Dec. 2021.
This center proposes to legally aid people of Native and indigenous descent as well as combat racism and unjust prejudices. Readers can get an insight on the harsh realities of Native American women which is filled with domestic and sexual violence.
“About the Center-Topic Overview”, Indian Law Resource Center, 2016, https://indianlaw.org/content/about-center. Accessed 7 Dec. 2021.
A geographical resource that serves to identify the origins of certain Native people through territories and language. One can locate the lands of the Native Women from the text to get a better understanding of their culture.
Native Land Digital. Digital Democracy & Historica Canada, 2015, https://native-land.ca/. Accessed 7 Dec. 2021.
Showcases photography of Pamela Peters, a Navajo women who is a collaborator within #NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women. She aims to capture the representation of contemporary American Indians in North America.
“Editorial Photos-Topic Overview”, Tachinii Photography, 2020, https://tachiiniiphotography.com/editorial-photos. Accessed 7 Dec. 2021.
6. Natanya Ann Pulley’s creative writing
Natanya is a Navajo writer of fiction and non-fiction and exhibits her work for others to read. She encourages young writers by offering advice when submitting works to literary journals.
Pulley, A. Natanya. Gappsbasement, 2018, http://www.gappsbasement.com/authorsite. Accessed 7 Dec. 2021.
Video shows advocates of Native Americans protesting the lack of attention of the growing trend of violence and homicide towards indigenous woman.
“Father Travels Across US To Spotlight Missing And Murdered Indigenous Woman.” Youtube, uploaded by NBC News, 5 October 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji3Rqr0QI5s&ab_channel=NBCNews. Accessed 7 Dec. 2021.
8. Myth and Reality of Native American Women in Film
The article observes the myth and stereotype of Native women in films, such as westerns, being portrayed as weak maidens. The excerpt goes to clear this portrayal by detailing the importance of the role of the women in Native tribes.
Oshana, Maryann. “Native American Women in Westerns: Reality and Myth.” Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies, vol. 6, no. 3, University of Nebraska Press, 1981, pp. 46–50, https://doi.org/10.2307/3346212. Accessed 7 Dec. 2021.
Goal of the Lesson:
The goal is to understand and learn modern history of Native Americans (specifically Indigenous women) by analyzing the texts and pictures in comparison to the depictions of it in various forms of media that often stereotype the culture. It is important for students to understand the significance of accurate representations of Indigenous people and their culture.
Common Core Outcomes:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.2
Determine two or more themes or central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to produce a complex account; provide an objective summary of the text.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.4
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings: analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings or language that is particularly fresh, engaging, or beautiful. (Include Shakespeare as well as other authors.)
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.6
Analyze a case in which grasping a point of view requires distinguishing what is directly stated in a text from what is really meant (e.g., satire, sarcasm, irony, or understatement).
Activity:
First off, students will read #NotYourPrincess. Once they finish reading it, they have to pick one text or one picture to analyze and write a 150 word paper on it. After writing down their analysis, students will then form into small groups of three to four to discuss what they pick and their analysis. The discussion should determine the tone and viewpoint of the writer or artist first and foremost. Moreover, students will discuss what they know about Indigenous people through books and other forms of media and compare it to their chosen work that they analyzed.
Lastly, students will break up from their small groups to create their own trading cards that compares and contrasts Indigenous culture and history with media depictions of Native Americans from non-Natives. Students will be given 3x5 index cards to create their cards.
Bibliography:
“Editorial Photos-Topic Overview”, Tachinii Photography, 2020, https://tachiiniiphotography.com/editorial-photos. Accessed 7 Dec. 2021.
Native Land Digital. Digital Democracy & Historica Canada, 2015, https://native-land.ca/. Accessed 7 Dec. 2021.
Oshana, Maryann. “Native American Women in Westerns: Reality and Myth.” Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies, vol. 6, no. 3, University of Nebraska Press, 1981, pp. 46–50, https://doi.org/10.2307/3346212. Accessed 7 Dec. 2021.
Pulley, A. Natanya. Gappsbasement, 2018, http://www.gappsbasement.com/authorsite. Accessed 7 Dec. 2021.
Reviewed by Michelle Tran, Rachel Terpening, Anthony Villanueva and Cristian Velasco
