The novel Shell Shaker by LeAnne Howe describes two similar murders that took place in the 18th Century and 1991. These murders were the result of internal conflicts within a Native American tribe called the Choctaw. In the 18th Century story, a young woman named Anoleta was accused of murdering her husband’s second wife. The second wife was in the Chickasaw tribe. Her relatives called for revenge by death. Anoleta’s mother, Shakbatina, sacrificed herself for peace. Similarly, the 1991 story had the same plot outline, Auda Billy was involved with a corrupt man named Redford McAlester. McAlester was a corrupt chief for the Choctaw tribe, who illegally money laundered for the Mafia. Auda took it upon herself to murder McAlester, yet once she was incarcerated her mother, Susan Billy, assumed responsibility. These plots had similar elements, one of them being women’s role in the tribe.

Always found it odd that until this point in my education I have never encountered a historical account from a Native American’s point of view. I guess in this context history is always written by the victors. This is why Tracks by Karen Louise Erdrich intrigued me so much, despite the fact it is a fiction novel. It is the only account I can use to compare my potentially tainted views on Native Americans, or more broadly on American history. The best source that reflects my image is the fire dance in the movie Peter Pan. Another source that reflects my stereotypes is U of I’s retired mascot, Chief Illiniwek. Thus, my images of “religious ceremonies” were proven inaccurate by the novel. Although the religion in the Nanapush kin does not apply to all Indian religions, it gave me a more accurate description than an out of date Disney movie and a retired university mascot.

Andrew Jackson’s policy of removal on the Native Americans succeeded, but left the country in disarray.