Dancing on the Rim of the World: An Anthology of Contemporary Northwest Native American Writing (Sun Tracks) [Paperback]

Andrea Lerner (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Lerner claims that this anthology of prose and poems by 34 writers is an attempt to represent "the continuity of American Indian culture, art, and literature" and renounce "the myth of 'lost' Indian culture." However, because the editor fails to define what the elements of this tradition are or to examine the question of continuity between an oral tradition and a written one, the attempt does not succeed. Many of the writers collected here practice forms of poetry that are largely structured on European models. The poet that's the only name she has/pk Chrystos, on the other hand, who describes herself as "proudly uneducated," exemplifies resistance against Anglo culture and political domination: "Everything the United States does to everybody is bad / No this US is not a good idea yep, no period,apparently she's against punctuation too/pk We declare you terminated." Other poets, such as Phil George, employ techniques that allude to an oral tradition: repeating rhymes, list-making and call-and-response. Whatever its shortcomings, this is, nevertheless, a variegated anthology that gathers a wide range of Native American voices. Lerner is a doctoral student in comparative American literature.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

At The Burn On The Oregon Coast by Jim Barnes
Contemporary Native American Poetry by Jim Barnes
Near Crater Lake by Jim Barnes
One For Grand Ronde, Oregon by Jim Barnes
Bare Bone Winter by Gloria Bird
Nine Months Waiting by Gloria Bird
Enoch Speaks Of Omens by Gladys Cardiff
Pretty Bird by Gladys Cardiff
Dixon Direction by Victor Charlo
Flathead River Creation by Victor Charlo
Frog Creek Circle by Victor Charlo
The Milltown by Victor Charlo
Dear Mr. President by Chrystos [pseud.]
I Have Not Signed A Treaty With The United States Government by Chrystos [pseud.]
In The Grief River by Chrystos [pseud.]
Meditation For Gloria Anzaldua by Chrystos [pseud.]
Out The Top I Go by Chrystos [pseud.]
Winter Evening by Chrystos [pseud.]
First Of February, New Snow by Jo Whitehorse Cochran
From My Grandmother by Jo Whitehorse Cochran
Halfbreed Girl In The City School by Jo Whitehorse Cochran
Lover's Note by Jo Whitehorse Cochran
Nearing Winter by Jo Whitehorse Cochran
Danger Point, Bainbridge Island by Robert (20th Century-) Davis
Drowning by Robert (20th Century-) Davis
Into The Forest by Robert (20th Century-) Davis
Leveling Grave Island by Robert (20th Century-) Davis
Soulcatcher by Robert (20th Century-) Davis
Montana Burial Wind by Debra Cecille Earling
Summer Humming 1946 by Debra Cecille Earling
Summer Of Bees by Debra Cecille Earling
Winter Keeps by Debra Cecille Earling
The Dieter's Daughter by Anita Endrezze-danielson
I Was Born. by Anita Endrezze-danielson
The Light That Passes Through Stones by Anita Endrezze-danielson
The Map-maker's Daughter by Anita Endrezze-danielson
October Morning Walk by Anita Endrezze-danielson
Fields Roll Away. by Maxine Franklin
The Man Who Shot Ravens: Three Views by Maxine Franklin
Skagit River Spirits by Maxine Franklin
Wyoming Remembered by Maxine Franklin
An-himh Hi-hi (white Winter) by Phillip William George
Grand Entry by Phillip William George
Ice Fishin' Is Our Mission by Phillip William George
Northwest Natives: Where Have All Our People Gone? by Phillip William George
Thumbing Guy by Phillip William George
Ancestress by Janet Campbell Hale
All Medicine by King D. Kuka
For The Old Men Then And Now by King D. Kuka
Untitled by King D. Kuka
Afraid As A Child by June Mcglashan
Devil's Night by June Mcglashan
Ever Have One Of Those Days? by June Mcglashan
Night After The Storm by June Mcglashan
Seagull Egg Story by June Mcglashan
A True Story by June Mcglashan
The Wait by June Mcglashan
Bainbridge: She Thinks Of Home by Dian Million
Currency by Dian Million
The Highway by Dian Million
Invocation by Dian Million
Christmas Poem by Nancy Neal
Julie-anna by Nancy Neal
Old Tillicum by Duane Niatum
Round Dance by Duane Niatum
Son, This Is What I Can Tell You by Duane Niatum
Yellow Pine Cliff Song by Duane Niatum
Hanblechia by Nila Northsun
Hunter by Nila Northsun
Sometimes by Nila Northsun
Two Worlds by Nila Northsun
What The Anthros Don't Hear by Nila Northsun
The Catch by Sandra Osawa
The Makahs by Sandra Osawa
My Song by Sandra Osawa
To Igogaruk by Sandra Osawa
Two Brothers by Sandra Osawa
Death Takes Only A Minute by Agnes Pratt
Empathy by Agnes Pratt
May 1977 by Agnes Pratt
Reverie by Agnes Pratt
So Quickly Came The Summer by Agnes Pratt
Summer '76 by Agnes Pratt
The Orphanage Lost by Vickie Sears
Front Street. by Glen Simpson
Overnight At Boundary House, 1984 by Glen Simpson
The Shaman's Words by Glen Simpson
Steamers On The Yukon, 1944 by Glen Simpson
Stick Dance, Nulato by Glen Simpson
Yukon River by Glen Simpson
The Drums Touch by R. A. Swanson
An Old Man Asks by R. A. Swanson
Two Sisters by R. A. Swanson
The Wanderer's Prayer by R. A. Swanson
We Are All Warriors. by R. A. Swanson
When The Spirit Moves You. by R. A. Swanson
Gaal Comes Upriver by Mary Tallmountain
Koyukons Heading Home by Mary Tallmountain
The Spy's Nest by Mary Tallmountain
Untitled Poem by Mary Tallmountain
Afternoon Vigil by Earle Thompson
Dancer by Earle Thompson
Design In Blue by Earle Thompson
She Walks In New-born Leaves by Earle Thompson
Spirit by Earle Thompson
Vigil by Earle Thompson
Whale Song by Earle Thompson
Coyote, Hanging In A Museum, Comes Off The Wall by Gail Tremblay
It Is Important by Gail Tremblay
Light Shakes. by Gail Tremblay
The Returning by Gail Tremblay
Broken Tradition by Vince Wannassay
Higher Power by Vince Wannassay
Murder On The Tri-met by Vince Wannassay
Observations by Vince Wannassay
Treaties by Vince Wannassay
Christmas Comes To Moccasin Flat by James Welch
The Only Bar In Dixon by James Welch
Riding The Earthboy 40 by James Welch
Thanksgiving At Snake Butte by James Welch
Blending Wind & Stones by David Whited
Damn Moon; She's A Hard One! by David Whited
Empty Rats In The Cupboard by David Whited
The Modoc Kind Of Remind Me Of The Nez Perce. by David Whited
December On The Coast by Ramona Wilson
Passing Battlefields by Ramona Wilson
Second Goodbye For Sue by Ramona Wilson
Spokane Museum by Ramona Wilson
Hand Into Stone; In Memory Of Elizabeth Thompson Pitt by Elizabeth A. Woody
In Memory Of Crossing The Columbia by Elizabeth A. Woody
Of Steps To Drowning by Elizabeth A. Woody
Originating Fire by Elizabeth A. Woody
-- Table of Poems from Poem Finder® --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 266 pages
• Publisher: Univ of Arizona Pr (October 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816512159
• ISBN-13: 978-0816512157
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,631,627 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars THE EARTH'S CENTER, August 12, 2000

By 

Bonita L. Davis - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dancing on the Rim of the World: An Anthology of Contemporary Northwest Native American Writing (Sun Tracks) (Hardcover)

Place plays an important part in the literary scope of the authors represented in this anthology. Contained in this volume is a collection of poetry and prose pieces by contemporary Native American writers of the Pacific Northwest.

Native American literature has been stereotyped as being primitive, naive and exotic. The theme of " The Vanishing American" is the typical literary description given to Native American works. It is the purpose of this volume to deconstruct such myths that have been imposed by outsiders. The pieces challenge the social, political and mores of American society.

The majority of this text contained poetry. I assumed through the title that there was an equitable mix of both but that wan't the case. I found the title misleading and wished there were more prose pieces. For those interested in Native American Poetry for study, particularly of the Northwest, this is an excellent text and I recommend it. For those of us who are more interested in prose, I would say find another anthology specializing in the region with prose writers. In any case this work will open your eyes in looking at Native American writing, in particular poetry, from a contemporary perspective.