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Since I thrive in chaos, this post is going to read very ironic. But let me give you a little history into my interests as a child. It will make sense later.
In fifth grade my class read, I Am Regina by Sally Keehn, a brief synopses:
"A first-person narrative based on the true story of a young woman held by Indians from 1755-1763, related with all the impact of a hard-hitting documentary. Entering an impoverished Indian village, ten-year-old Regina has difficulty forgetting the murders of her father and brother, which she had witnessed. Gradually memories fade, and she truly becomes Tskinnak, no longer remembering even her beloved mother's face. Her days are filled with minding Quetit, a younger captive entrusted to her care; with providing for the needs of her household; and with worrying about the future. It becomes apparent that the Indians, for whom she cares a great deal, are being betrayed in their relations with the white men. When the American army frees the captives and arranges for them to rejoin their birth families, Tskinnak regrets deserting the tough old woman who has raised her. The images of the white women rejoining their families, many of whom are now strangers, are memorable. Regina/Tskinnak's story is a dramatic one, while the portrayal of the Indians' fate is simply told; the combination makes wonderful reading. Readers will hardly realize how much they're learning in the pleasure of the story. --Susan F. Marcus, Pollard Middle School, Needham, MA"
I remember reading the book and feeling like I was Native American. I still feel it.
Now that I'm an 'adult' I need to start learning more about how I can take care of myself and others. I'm not a parent, but I may become one. I don't want any 'odd shifts' in the world, even if they're not your stereotypical visions of catastrophy, to knock me down because I have no clue in how to survive without a supermarket and a plastic card.
I need to adapt to a non-city world with soil and prey. Watching Man Vs. Wild or Survivor Man on Discovery doesn't count. I need to get my hands dirty. Get over the fear of killing another animal. Learn how to grow beans and grain and herbs. How to collect fresh water and store it. How to heal without modern medicines. How to build shelter, even permanent shelter.
How many people know how to do all these things, especially the feeling and knowledge of building your own home? I want that feeling. I don't want to be stuck in a house that was designed by non-creative contractors who will never know what it is like to live in their own creation. A creation they have probably built a thousand times over.
I know a woman by the name of Carrie. She lives in Windowrock, Arizona. She inherited a large plot of land by her mother, who was the female chief of her tribe. Carrie built her own house on this land. She told me that I could visit her anytime. I may take up her offer if I feel she is the best person to teach me how to build my own.
As for chaos. I love it. I wouldn't mind seeing the 'end of the world' no matter how violent and destructive. But if I can survive it and carry on, I will. I don't want to become a scavenger who walks in fear and lives everyday as if it's my last.
In fifth grade my class read, I Am Regina by Sally Keehn, a brief synopses:
"A first-person narrative based on the true story of a young woman held by Indians from 1755-1763, related with all the impact of a hard-hitting documentary. Entering an impoverished Indian village, ten-year-old Regina has difficulty forgetting the murders of her father and brother, which she had witnessed. Gradually memories fade, and she truly becomes Tskinnak, no longer remembering even her beloved mother's face. Her days are filled with minding Quetit, a younger captive entrusted to her care; with providing for the needs of her household; and with worrying about the future. It becomes apparent that the Indians, for whom she cares a great deal, are being betrayed in their relations with the white men. When the American army frees the captives and arranges for them to rejoin their birth families, Tskinnak regrets deserting the tough old woman who has raised her. The images of the white women rejoining their families, many of whom are now strangers, are memorable. Regina/Tskinnak's story is a dramatic one, while the portrayal of the Indians' fate is simply told; the combination makes wonderful reading. Readers will hardly realize how much they're learning in the pleasure of the story. --Susan F. Marcus, Pollard Middle School, Needham, MA"
I remember reading the book and feeling like I was Native American. I still feel it.
Now that I'm an 'adult' I need to start learning more about how I can take care of myself and others. I'm not a parent, but I may become one. I don't want any 'odd shifts' in the world, even if they're not your stereotypical visions of catastrophy, to knock me down because I have no clue in how to survive without a supermarket and a plastic card.
I need to adapt to a non-city world with soil and prey. Watching Man Vs. Wild or Survivor Man on Discovery doesn't count. I need to get my hands dirty. Get over the fear of killing another animal. Learn how to grow beans and grain and herbs. How to collect fresh water and store it. How to heal without modern medicines. How to build shelter, even permanent shelter.
How many people know how to do all these things, especially the feeling and knowledge of building your own home? I want that feeling. I don't want to be stuck in a house that was designed by non-creative contractors who will never know what it is like to live in their own creation. A creation they have probably built a thousand times over.
I know a woman by the name of Carrie. She lives in Windowrock, Arizona. She inherited a large plot of land by her mother, who was the female chief of her tribe. Carrie built her own house on this land. She told me that I could visit her anytime. I may take up her offer if I feel she is the best person to teach me how to build my own.
As for chaos. I love it. I wouldn't mind seeing the 'end of the world' no matter how violent and destructive. But if I can survive it and carry on, I will. I don't want to become a scavenger who walks in fear and lives everyday as if it's my last.