Encounters between Native Americans and Whites in James Welch's Historical Novels Fools Crow and The Heartsong of Charging Elk

Abstract

This thesis examines encounters between Native Americans and whites in James Welch’s historical novels Fools Crow and The Heartsong of Charging Elk. I wish to show that the encounters are forced and happen against the background of imperialism and colonialism, and occur between peoples of unequal powers. In the novels, traditional Native American culture is profoundly affected by the encroaching whites, who believe they have a God-given right to colonize and settle Indian land. The novels illuminate that the peoples involved in the encounters have incompatible worldviews and values. The Blackfeet in Fools Crow view nature as sacred and as common property, while the whites favour private property, and think nature is there for them to exploit. These irreconcilable views cause clashes between the peoples, and eventually lead to a devastating massacre. Fools Crow shows that the Blackfeet fear dislocation and assimilation. In The Heartsong of Charging Elk, the Lakotas are dislocated and about to be assimilated into white culture. The protagonist, Charging Elk, leaves America with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show, and in France, he learns that the French look upon him as a savage belonging to a vanishing people. Charging Elk is assimilated into French culture, but The Heartsong of Charging Elk shows that he is able to keep his Lakota identity. In spite of all the hardships Fools Crow and Charging Elk experience, both novels indicate hope for the future.