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Abstract

American Indian written expression presents paradox. Trie literary traditions of indigenous peoples are, in a real sense, timeless. Basic features and stylistic devices, such as trie ritual of oral storytelling, trickster figures, sacredness of place, and fluid time remain largely unchanged. Yet American Indian writings have also been subject to historical transformations that have come with European contact: writing, translation, English language expression. Resisting colonialism and the imposition of stereotypes is also a literary technique of survival.

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Authors

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Michelle Pagni Stewart Yvonne Atkinson

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© 2009 Michelle Pagni Stewart and Yvonne Atkinson

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Hafen, P.J. (2009). Survival through Stories: An Introduction to Indian Literatures. In: Stewart, M.P., Atkinson, Y. (eds) Ethnic Literary Traditions in American Children’s Literature. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230101524_3

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