3 Poems by Buffy St. Marie

Alicia Erickson

Jacqueline Reed

English 107

22 October 2012

3 Poems by Buffy Sainte Marie

An artist of First Nations decent, Buffy Sainte Marie was born in 1941. In “An Anthology of Canadian Native Literature in English, the editors write a brief summary of her life and career (pg. 166). Her foster-mother was Mi’kmaq although Buffy remembers her childhood as being very white. It was not until her late teens was she adopted by the Cree Nation. Buffy wrote many lyrical works pertaining to First Nations historical issues. Kinzua Dam is one of which appears in both “My Country Tis of Thy People You’re Dying”, and “Now that the Buffalo’s Gone”. Another popular track, “Universal Soldier” became an anthem for the peace movement. The singer/songwriter toured internationally drawing crowds in the thousands, yet in Canada and the United States she could only find audience on Reserve. As it turned out the two Governments had her music blacklisted, along with many other artists which forbade radio-air time. This information is found on her creative native biography site. Buffy wanted to bring awareness to the public about First Nations issues so she became involved with the American Indian Movement (AIM). She worked hard to eradicate stereotypes and prejudices forged in society through her music. The majority of the royalties from her music have been donated to charities for Native education including one Buffy founded called the Nihewan Foundation. For five and a half years Buffy also became a regular performer on Sesame Street where she worked at educating children about First Nations cultures. The following tracks showcase the many different atrocities the First Nations have experienced since “Columbus set sail out of Europe” (line 14, My Country).

Universal soldier was written in 1962. The opening verse uses the actual height parameters and age brackets of soldiers to show that across religions and cultures, across languages and ethnicities – a soldier is common to all. You can also see how ridiculous fighting really is when you are fighting a War for Peace in the quote “kill you for me my friend kill me for you.” (line 8). Buffy makes historical reference to World War II, and wants you to think about the whole picture of these events. This song is not focused First Nations issues, or any particular country’s wrong-doings. Rather, Buffy is raising ethical issues surrounding current events. St. Marie wants the audience to take personal responsibility for their actions and societal ideals. 

He’s the one who must decide who’s to live and whose to die

And he never sees the writing on the wall

He’s the one who gives his body as a weapon if the war

And without him all this killing can’t go on (Verse 4/5; 13-20)

If society never “sees the writing on the wall” how can one learn from the past? How can society learn from their mistakes? This line points toward a certain ignorance society holds toward history. Verses 5/6 make historical reference to World War II and Julius Caesar to show that without each individual soldier taking up arms, all this killing cannot go on. Through this writing you can see how history is influenced by its people. In today’s society, one cannot blame the authorities because we live in a society that allows for the election of its politicians therefore this song speaks to the audience about seeing one another as equals, and looking past cultural differences. The next two poems are more focused on specific issues such as land claims, but all three carry the same theme of taking an individual responsibility throughout.

            The title of Buffy’s next song “My Country Tis of Thy People You’re Dyeing” is a satirical reference to “America: My Country Tis of Thee” which used to be one of the United States national anthems. The opening verse is asking the audience “[n]ow that you’re finally wond’ring how can it be real”, now that you can see how the First Nations people have been stereotyped and “starved in their splendor” what are you going to do to right these wrongs? In verse two St. Marie makes reference to residential schools and the cultural “genocide basic to this country’s birth” (line 16). Under the Indian Act residential schools were implemented to kill the Indian in the child where many were abused physically, sexually, and emotionally. Children were taken from their homes, their families only to be stripped of their languages, their cultures. These children were taught to “despise their traditions” (line 11). When the Government illegalized the potlatch system First Nations people suffered a tremendous loss to their culture in that they could no longer distribute wealth, pass down traditional names or songs or celebrate the passing on of a loved one. The author utilizes Kinzua Dam as a more present-day example of how the First Nations people were unethically severed from their traditional lands. Buffy eloquently leans on Kinzua Dam as the symbol for these continued struggles faced by First Nations today. Again St. Marie asks the audience who is directly responsible for current events such as the Canadaigua Treaty being broken by Kinzua dam. Not only does Buffy ask who is responsible, she also asks the audience how you will help us now that you know that our people have been discriminated against for centuries. In verse three St. Marie elaborates on how ‘Uncle Sam’ made a bargain for the west (line 21)

Blankets for land, now the treaties attest,

Blankets for land is a bargain indeed

But the blankets were those Uncle Sam had collected

From small pox-diseased dyeing soldiers that day;

And the tribes were wiped out and the history books censored. (lines 24-8)

This verse concludes with the statement that ‘our blood runs the redder though our genes have been paled’, (line 31) meaning that First Nations have grown stronger even though their genes have lessened. This points out the perseverance seen in the First Nations peoples even as “the white nation fattens while others grow lean (line 34).  The next verse uses irony to show how by helping the colonists survive and settle North America the First Nations people were given just enough rope to hang themselves. The author is saying that it is only now that even ‘the graves have been robbed’ that society is asking First Nations how they feel about these issues. Again Buffy St. Marie raises the ethical issue of how society has discriminated against the First Nations people. The final verse symbolizes how just like an invasive species, white society has stolen First Nations lands and failed to nourish the Peoples heritage. St. Marie concludes the poem by saying “And it’s only now that our poverty’s profiting you and my country tis of thy people are dying” (lines 56-7) that you have come to listen to this story.

            The “Now That the Buffalo’s Gone” track is an address to you Proud Good Lady, and Proud Good Man who would claim Indian heritage if only for the Rights (line 4). The author uses contrasting language to emphasize the distinction between First Nations and Non- First Nations. St. Marie asks the audience to listen to her words if you “really care where we stand and you feel in your hearts for these ones” (lines 11-2). Verse three makes historical reference to Western society’s victory in Germany during World War II. This verse implies that history may be written by the victors but you can still consider all the facts. Buffy uses this verse to showcase an American hypocrisy. These people she is addressing do not care for nor participate in First Nations culture, yet they insist that they do. This verse compares the Wests response to Germany to its founding of the United States and Canada. Buffy says ‘you left them their pride, and you left them their lands’ (lines 17-8) even though Hitler’s reign resulted in the death of millions. In comparison when colonists came to North America, the First Nations helped them survive and settle while the colonists’ response was to take more land by force if obligatory. Concludes the poem by asking the audience if the victory in Germany is enough to express a significant change in Uncle Sam or ‘is he still taking our land’? The classic stolen lands and broken promises lament is accentuated again by Kinzua Dam. This event brings the topic of First Nations Land Claims close to home.

            In conclusion, through these three specific songs by Buffy Sainte Marie, one can get a grasp on the scope of the various Native issues at hand. All the cultural, political and historical references Buffy uses clearly show the audience how she feels toward current events as well as what she thinks about societal ideals. Throughout these three works assimilation is implied, not named. You can view this as a First Nations trait, where whole ideas are not constrained to one definitive word. In order to do this St. Marie repeatedly asks the audience to take an individual responsibility for each current event or issue she brings up. Buffy’s songs were written at a time when First Nations issues were swept under the rug. The last residential school shut down in 1996, which was well after Buffy wrote these songs (Wikipedia “Residential Schools”). Land was still being stolen from First Nations peoples and the Governments were still pulling ridiculous moves like fighting a War for Peace. Step by step the colonists’ relentlessly pursued a cultural genocide, the effects of which you can still see today. The struggles Buffy St. Marie talks about are not somewhere in the distant past. The ethical issues St. Marie raises are not those of someone other than or separate from us. They are the ethical issues society must deal with today, now that the buffalo’s gone.

Works Cited

Sainte Marie, Buffy “Universal Soldier” pg. 166-7 An Anthology of Canadian Native Literature in English. Eds. Daniel David Moses and Terry Goldie. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2005. Print

Sainte Marie, Buffy “My Country Tis of Thy People You’re Dying” pg. 168-9 7 An Anthology of Canadian Native Literature in English. Eds. Daniel David Moses and Terry Goldie. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2005. Print

Sainte Marie, Buffy “Now That The Buffalo’s Gone” pg. 169-7 An Anthology of Canadian Native Literature in English. Eds. Daniel David Moses and Terry Goldie. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2005. Print

“Residential schools” Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia n.d. web. 21 Oct. 2012

“Universal Soldier annotated lyrics: Buffy Sainte Marie” Creative Native N.D. Web 9 Oct. 2012

“Bury My Heart at Kinzua Dam” David L Grant N.D. web 12 October 2012

Analizing an Allegory, or "A Torchy Story"

Alicia Erickson

Jacqueline Reed

English 107

December 17^th 2012

Analyzing an Allegory, or “A Torchy Story”

In “An Anthology of Canadian Native Literature in English 3^rd Edition” edited by Daniel David Moses and Terry Goldie, the most interesting short story one might come across is titled “Mermaids” by Richard Van Camp. The introductory hook includes the main character Torchy all beaten up and down on his luck; as well as Stephanie who is waiting outside of the Range Hotel in yellow gumboots in the middle of a Yellowknife winter. Van Camp chose to use an allegory of why God killed the mermaids to suggest that all choices have consequences.

God killed the mermaids because they were more beautiful than God. Men worshipped mermaids and mermen. They forgot about God and anytime man forgets God, He reminds them that He’s still there. That’s why he brought AIDS. Because we forgot. (pg. 560)

In this story Torchy is at a turning point in his life, where he will have to make choices for the betterment of others. The plot follows events in a backward manner as memories are introduced non-chronologically. As Torchy’s story continues it is evident that he is influenced by his mother in his childhood, his grandfather’s loneliness, and his brother Sfen’s suicide.

Torchy’s mother makes choices that affect her children in their adult lives. By choosing to stay with abusive partners while her children were growing up; Sfen and Torchy struggle to create healthy relationships later in life.

One of my mom’s boyfriends felt guilty, I guess, for beating on all of us. [He bought chips, beer, as well as one pair of flippers] for me and Sfen. Mom needed shades to hide the love he put on her. ‘You’re gonna have to learn to share’ she called weakly as we ran from the car ‘You two are brothers and brothers share.’ (pg. 565)

Lacking a good role model Torchy choses vices such as cocaine or gambling, over a healthy life-style while Sfen searches for a father figure through homosexual relationships. As children the boys learned to depend on one another for support because all the usual or expected supports had been taken away. When Sfen’s sexuality robs him of his health, he chooses to end his own life rather than die of AIDS later on. The consequence of this act is that Torchy loses the only person he feels connected to. “Now Sfen is where the fish sleep. At the lake, by the river bed. My brother who loved mermen.” (pg. 564) Torchy repeatedly makes reference to his mother only to say she was cursed. ‘My mother was cursed the day she bore me and I am faint with envy of the dead.’ (pg. 560) This statement expresses Torchy’s belief that his very existence is toxic; he feels he would be better off dead. By losing himself in drugs, alcohol and gambling Torchy is able to forget his grief, just like the sailors forgot about their God when they saw the mermaids and the mermen. There was going to be a big bingo in Yellowknife; eighty grand cash. The day before the bingo game Torchy works up the courage to ask his grandfather to bless his hands.

Snowbird is described as the loneliest man in the world. It is said Snowbirds wife had recently passed away, and the men say a prayer in manner of greeting; Snowbird in Dogrib and Torchy in English. The character role Snowbird plays is to show Torchy how his life will be if he does not change his ways. Torchy says “I was disgusted by how lonely he was. He was starving for someone to talk to.” (pg. 561)  When Torchy says he is willing to split half of the money with him, willing to make his long lost grandfather rich, if Snowbird could only bless his hands Snowbirds reply is:

‘Do you know what I wish?  I wish someone were to visit me and read to me the bible. It is such a beautiful song sung with so many voices. I could make tea and we could talk after.’ (pg. 562)

By blessing Torchy’s hands to win the big bingo game in Yellowknife, Snowbird hopes to gain quality time with his grandson before the end of his life. Snowbird implies that to be a rich man is not measured by how much money you have in life, but by how many people you have to love and care for. Snowbird instructs Torchy to ‘make sure you drop some tobacco when you get to Yellowknife. Say your name out loud after you land so your soul can catch up with you and don’t forget to wash your hands after you win.’ (pg.560-1) Torchy wins the bingo game alright but he does not stop there. After winning the initial eighty grand Torchy keeps on winning every hand he plays at the casino no matter what the game. To end the night Torchy buys a room at the Range Hotel with two prostitutes. Torchy is awoken suddenly by a pair of devils claws because he forgot to wash his hands after winning all that money. It takes a moment for Torchy to realize that these are his own hands choking off his windpipe.

The devils claws were on me. The same hands that won me eighty grand plus were digging through my throat. But I got the tub going. I got it going and put those claws under the bloody water for a long time until they turned back to my hands. When I went back to the room, the twins had vanished with all my money. (pg. 563)

Torchy’s injuries appear to be extensive when he leaves the Range Hotel and Stephanie; a nine year old girl who takes him in off the street, does not know that they are self-inflicted. It feels as though Van Camp purposely makes the audience uncomfortable with Torchy’s meeting of Stephanie. This child is obviously neglected, so when Torchy comes into her life accidentally, suddenly the audience is afraid for this innocent young girl. There is also an immediate connection between the two individuals. Stephanie’s character serves as the antidote to both Torchy and Snowbirds loneliness. When Torchy sees Stephanie outside the Hotel, he is immediately struck by the evidence of neglect she wears and relates to her abandonment. In the apartment, Stephanie plasters Barbie Band-Aides on the tattoos Torchy had smoldered off with a car lighter (pg. 558-9) in hopes of making him feel better. Torchy notes the urea foam furniture as highly flammable and wonders where Stephanie’s mother may be.

[She rests her head on my shoulder]. Jesus, this kid trusts me. Doesn’t she know who I am? Eleven o’clock at night and she’s here with me.’ (pg. 559) I lift Stephanie and place her on the sofa. Where’s Stephanie’s mom? Doesn’t she know guys worse than me walk the streets? Some guys would be pulling their junk looking at her. (pg. 560)

Instead of taking the story to a disturbing level, Van Camp choses to tell a story of reaching out to others in times of need. “I’ll be your sister Torchy if you be my brother.” (pg. 564) Torchy’s choice to take Stephanie to Simmer affects more people than just the two of them although Snowbird will get his wish. His grandson will return to his home for tea and stories; and he will also have a girl to lead him to the places he wishes to go now that he cannot see for himself.

“Mermaids” by Richard Van Camp is an interesting short story because it showcases how all choices have consequences. While Torchy and Sfen were growing up their mother’s lifestyle affected various choices the boys made later on in their lives. The boys struggle to create positive relationships and fail to deal with stress in a healthy manner. Sfen’s suicide negatively affects Torchy. The main character turns to vices to forget his grief over the loss of his brother. When a bingo game in Yellowknife turns sour, Torchy’s decision to take in an innocent nine-year-old girl will change his life for the better. Snowbird, the medicine man who blessed Torchy’s hands says, “Please remember your Grandpa” (pg. 562.) in hopes of receiving quality time with his grandson before the end of his life. Torchy’s narration is concluded with Stephanie asking Torchy to “[t]ake me with you Torchy… I don’t want to stay here anymore. I’m scared all the time. I’ll wash floors, I’ll cook, [and] I’ll clean.” (pg. 565) This is ironic because Stephanie is actually rescuing Torchy from himself. The amount of trust this girl has for Torchy is astounding. In order to set things right, Torchy has to learn to let the past go and reach out to other people in his life.

Work Cited:

Van Camp, Richard “Mermaids” pg. 557-565 An Anthology of Canadian Native Literature in English – 3^rd Edition. Eds. Moses, Daniel and Terry Goldie. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2005. Print.