Analysis of Fool's Crow
A Review of “A Tapestry of History and Reimagination; Women’s Place in James Welch’s Fool’s Crow.” Barbara Cook. The American Indian Quarterly. Volume 24, Issue 3. Fall, 2000. Pages 441-453.
“A Tapestry of History and Reimagination,” by Barbara Cook, is a very interesting article to read. When reading it after Fool’s Crow, it allows for a new perspective to be brought to the table as well as to view the book in through a new lens. Welch is able to construct a story by presenting a type of history lesson (while a very entertaining history lesson at that), of sorts. The type of history lesson that is not taught in white public schools. Another important point that Welch brings up in his book is the importance of the women to the tribes. While not the most glamorous of positions, what with having to deal with all of the dirty business of raising and keeping a family together, polygamy, almost subservient beings to the outsiders looking in, the cleaning of the buffalo hides, etc... etc.. the women are the one's who keep the tribes ways of life going, as they are the one's making sure everyone else is taken care of. The last point of merit that was presented was the introduction of guns and horses to the Native life. This is what really set everything in motion in terms of socially deconstructing the rest of the tribes.
Cook’s article was a very easy read, while still being incredibly informative. I really enjoyed Welch’s use of the history of his ancestors, as I believe Cook did as well.. For the reader, it “provides a basis for a new understanding of the past and the forces that led to the decimation of the Plains Inidan tribes,” (441). Fool’s Crow is the unauthorized history book for those willing to take a look. Which goes hand in hand with how the women were portrayed. If one looks hard enough, as Cook explains, one can see that while at first glance, Plains Indian women “were just slaves and beasts of burden” yet welch “presents them as fully rounded women,
“A Tapestry of History and Reimagination,” by Barbara Cook, is a very interesting article to read. When reading it after Fool’s Crow, it allows for a new perspective to be brought to the table as well as to view the book in through a new lens. Welch is able to construct a story by presenting a type of history lesson (while a very entertaining history lesson at that), of sorts. The type of history lesson that is not taught in white public schools. Another important point that Welch brings up in his book is the importance of the women to the tribes. While not the most glamorous of positions, what with having to deal with all of the dirty business of raising and keeping a family together, polygamy, almost subservient beings to the outsiders looking in, the cleaning of the buffalo hides, etc... etc.. the women are the one's who keep the tribes ways of life going, as they are the one's making sure everyone else is taken care of. The last point of merit that was presented was the introduction of guns and horses to the Native life. This is what really set everything in motion in terms of socially deconstructing the rest of the tribes.
Cook’s article was a very easy read, while still being incredibly informative. I really enjoyed Welch’s use of the history of his ancestors, as I believe Cook did as well.. For the reader, it “provides a basis for a new understanding of the past and the forces that led to the decimation of the Plains Inidan tribes,” (441). Fool’s Crow is the unauthorized history book for those willing to take a look. Which goes hand in hand with how the women were portrayed. If one looks hard enough, as Cook explains, one can see that while at first glance, Plains Indian women “were just slaves and beasts of burden” yet welch “presents them as fully rounded women,