The Voice of Changing Woman: The Contemporary Literature of Native American Women

Abstract

As a creator of the Navajo people and as a representative of change, the mythical figure of Changing Woman adequately represents the nature of the contemporary poetry of Native American women. These poets, influenced by an oral tradition of Indian literature and by their place in two cultures (Anglo and Native), incorporate both Indian themes and modern feminist themes in their poetry. Typically Indian themes include an attachment to landscape and nature, the conflict of bicultural identity, and allusions to Indian heritage and history. Matriarchy, relationships between mothers and daughters, and attitudes toward men are some of the basic feminist themes found in the poetry of Native American women. The Indian and feminist perspectives are inseparably joined to produce a poetry that is rich and unique, distinctively Native American and distinctly feminine.