Speaking Through The Silence: Voice In The Poetry Of Selected Native American Women Poets

The issue of voice in Native American poetry is vital to understanding the culture and traditions of past and present-day Native American people. The voice of Native American women poets/writers has emerged as a strong force; one that has attempted to remain connected to its ancestral heritage while connecting with modern and post-modern culture. The Native American women poets selected for this study include Leslie Marmon Silko, Luci Tapahonso, Joy Harjo, Linda Hogan, and Wendy Rose. These Native American women poets not only raise concerns particular to their Native American culture, but their voices also address issues of importance and concern for all women. The defining parameters of the concept of voice are examined in relation to key issues surrounding the poetry of Native American women poets. For the Native American woman poet, this allows the incorporation of stories, rituals, and ceremonies that are inherently connected to the importance of the historial, authoritative role as culture bearer and also allows for cultural traditions and values to be incorporated into the lives and stories of contemporary Native Americans, projecting a voice of authenticity and authority. The key issues of authenticity and authority are examined through the voice of intimacy, experience, and historical witness. From a gender perspective, the issues of authenticity and authority are examined through the tribal roles of Native American women as storytellers and culture bearers that emphasize the importance of the woman-line. The poetry of the selected Native American women poets project a commitment to telling the stories "the way they must be told" from a woman's perspective, creating a bridge between the past and present.