SPOILER ALERT FOR THOSE WHO CARE:
I want to be nice. I want to be nice, patient and appreciative. I really do. But, by the Shining Ones, I am not happy right now. And when I say Shining Ones, I mean the ones who founded the Natchez government nineteen-millenia-ago. Anyways, what I am mad about right now is the novel Sacred Mounds written by Jim Metzner. Both Cunv Hvtke and I, probably Hutke more than I, were very excited about this novel. It was the first novel about the Natchez that would include the language. And Jim talked with Hutke!
So, in my mind, that meant one thing: cultural accuracy. I thought, here we go, finally someone who is going to tell the truth about the Natchez people and not perpetuate the lies that Europeans say about the Natchez and other natives to make themselves comfy.
Oh, I was wrong. So wrong. I was mistaken. I need to stop acting like I'm a victim.
However, I can't deny that I feel baited and tricked. This story perpetuated the lies about the Natchez people, while laying a trap for the Natchez people by having talked with Hutke and including the Natchez language within the novel. I recently discussed this novel with two good friends of mine who are eastern Natchez, being John Lentz and Laura Susong. I remember Laura being unsurprised, saying that lots of non-natives don't want to hear the truth, but instead their own fantasies. White people can't handle the truth. It is said, but unfortunately true. When will there ever actually be a good novel?
That reminds me. Jim Metzner talked about how he used a lot of documented sources about the Natchez people. Which was written by Europeans who wrote things to fit their own fantasies. "The People of..." series, which is written by the Gear couple, is at least tolerable compared to Sacred Mounds, in my opinion. Yes, they perpetuated the same myths that Metzner did. However, at least they were trying to be careful because of their being scientists and all (but seriously, archaeologists and anthropologists, you need to actually TALK with natives and learn about their culture from THEM, not European-sources). Also, at least they didn't include the idea of a white savior.
Yeah, Salvador Samuels is essentially a white savior in this novel. I don't care if I spoil the novel right here, don't read it, please. It's not a good idea. Anyways, during the whole body/time-swap, it's revealed that Skyfisher is neglectful towards his wife, Tell Me a Story. And then Salvador "Lewis" Samuels steps in and does the opposite. Then, at the end, Tell Me a Story body/time swaps with a modern-Natchez named Inez Delos just so she could be with Lewis, most likely. And Lewis is a white old man from New York, ugh!
I remember Laura mentioning, in reaction to what I told her, was that white people just seem to prefer the idea of a "noble savage" over the true image of the Native American. If that's the kind of story you want, then go read Sacred Mounds, but if that's not the case and you instead want the truth, then avoid this novel. Welhaken etoxo, mvto.