The transmission of indigenous stories is a fraught enterprise. In contrast to Western practices of the free circulation of ideas, many indigenous cultures view their stories as sacred, and have strict rules about who may tell certain tales, and in what settings and with whom they may be shared. Indigenous storytellers and novelists who want to tell contemporary stories also face the minefields of a history of (mis)representation of their cultures' values and practices. Australian literary scholar Clare Bradford picks her way carefully through this minefield, identifying its perils and proposing a self-reflexive practice that enables scholars to approach these works with sensitivity; Abenaki children's author Joseph Bruchac adds his own impressions and frustrations as an author to Clare's frank assessment of the possibilities of criticism, cross-talk, and mutual understanding in the fìeld.
History
Chapter number
23
Pagination
331-342
ISBN-13
9780415965057
ISBN-10
0415965055
Language
eng
Publication classification
B1 Book chapter
Copyright notice
2011, Taylor & Francis
Extent
37
Editor/Contributor(s)
Wolf S
Publisher
Routledge
Place of publication
New York
Title of book
Handbook of research on children's and young adult literature