Reader: Dominique Corpus
Respondent: Andrea Dodd
Recorder: Lisa Runnels

“I Have Not Signed a Treaty with the United States Government”

 By Chrystos

Biographical Information:

Chrystos was born in San Francisco, CA, on November 7, 1946.   And is a Native American (Menominee/Lithuanian).  Instead of growing up on the reservation, she was reared in the city around Black, Latin, Asian, and White people and identifies herself as an Urban Indian.  Since 1980, she has been living on Bainbridge Island, Washington.  Chrystos is a self-educated writer as well as an artist who designs the covers of her own books.  Her work as a Native land and treaty rights activist has been widely recognized and the political aspect is an essential part of her writing.  The other dominant aspect of her work is lesbianism, which is outspoken and personalized in her “love-and-lust” poems.  

Literary Objectives:

Obj. 1b. “Voiceless and choiceless”

Obj. 4.  To register the minority dilemma of assimilation or resistance

Obj. 7a. Primary definition: “American Dream” or “Immigrant” culture

Interpretation:

Chrystos work as Native land and treaty rights activist definitely speaks out in this poem. The poem depicts unhappiness, resistance toward assimilation, and a total disregard for the “American Dream.” The title and first three stanzas acknowledge how her ancestors were not contributors to United States and its treaties regarding the American Indians which focuses on Obj. 1b.  Chrystos also disregards the idea of being considered a United States due to the exiling suffered from American Indians due to the establishment of Indian reservations (Obj. 4).  Therefore, Chrystos considers the “American Dream” an “illusion” a “nightmare.”

Questions:

  1.      Is the author sharing the minority experience or denying assimilation?

  2.      Is the author’s poem insinuating “Loss and Survival” or “Loss and Resistance?”

Responses:

Student: She is suggesting the white people should assimilate to their culture.  I like the description of Americans.  We cannot see things from other peoples point of view.

Student: She does not agree with any of this.  What about the colors and feet?

Student: It could be the gray and black of the streets.

Student: The “Don’t Tread on Me” flag came to mind.

Dr. White: The poem, Walking the Soft Red Earth, could be a contrast.

Respondent: She is trying to say we have no traditions or values.

Dr. White: In traditional cultures the older the better. 

Student: We house these papers and this goes against the oral traditions.

Student: She mentions “grandmothers” and this indicates all female authors.