Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Tony Sferrazza
ENGL 1021
7 January 2018
Compatriots is a realistic short story written by Emma Lee Warrior. Although this story
was initially published in 1987, the theme of the story represents the ongoing faultline between
Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. In this case, Warrior focuses specifically on
interpretation of Indigenous spirituality. Much can be learned through the author’s use of a
limited omniscient narrator as it forces the reader to interpret the theme of the story through the
character, Hilda. Through the author’s presentation of two opposing viewpoints, it becomes
clear that when traditional context is removed from Indigenous spirituality, the journey to find its
authenticity is complex.
Warrior creates two distinct interpretations of Indigenous spirituality. The first is through
the Indigenous characters in the story, Lucy, Delphine, and Flora, all of whom allude to knowing
little about their Indigenous traditions. Specifically, Flora mentions that she only knows about
sun-dances, a spiritual celebration, because of a book that she read written by Helmut Walking
Eagle, a German man who married a Blackfoot woman. The author also depicts this lack of
understanding through Lucy’s interpretation of an interaction between Flora and her cousin
Delphine. Lucy acknowledges that both cousins had been raised Catholic and Mormon,
respectively, and had both recently begun “exploring traditional beliefs” (175). This lack of
knowledge of traditional spirituality is confirmed through Lucy’s conversation with Hilda in which
she states “Indian religion just came back here on the reserve a little while ago…” (Warrior 172).
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beginning of the story, Hilda, a German tourist, discusses her eagerness to meet Helmut
Walking Eagle and mentions that “he seems to know a lot about the Indians, and he’s been
accepted into their religious society” (Warrior 171). Hilda demonstrates disassociation in her
perspective of what traditional “Indians” are like as she is blinded from the reality that her
audience, Lucy in this case, is of Indigenous heritage. This lack of awareness propels Hilda to
pursue authentic Indigenous culture as presented through the perspective of a white man,
spirituality. Ironically, as the story transpires, her character displays characteristics that may
demonstrate a deep understanding of Indigenous context and spirituality. The first example is
demonstrated through her willingness to engage with Hilda on the many topics that involve
Lucy’s culture. During one of her conversations with Hilda, Lucy is questioned about her cultural
belief surrounding the upcoming sun-dance (Warrior 172). Sharing and dialogue are two
Lucy accepts her current situation on the reserve without resentment. Lastly, she demonstrates
compassion for her ailing uncle Sonny who asks for money. Though Lucy is not well versed in
formal Indigenous spiritual traditions, Lucy seems to maintain a level of understanding of what it
means to treat people with respect; an important aspect of Indigenous spirituality as stated by
Lucy’s authenticity is profound given the situation and challenges she faces throughout the
story. The reader may miss this given the change of the author’s narrative point of view,
however, in comparison to the way Helmut Walking Eagle treats others, the differences are
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glaring. The anticipation is built up as the group of women enter Helmut Walking Eagle’s tipi and
expectations are further elevated as Flora and Hilda both refer to him as a leader. It is this
seem to get caught up by the “Plains Indian Museum” facade created by Helmut (Warrior 176).
The major difference between the reader’s and characters’ attitude toward spirituality is
this; the reader is invited to have an attitude of disillusionment as a result of Helmut’s elitist
behaviour while the characters demonstrate an attitude of interest and curiosity, possibly
Indigenous peoples moving away from traditional spirituality, the traditional context has been
Works Cited
George, L. (1991). Native spirituality, past, present, and future. In Jensen, D. & Brooks, C.
(Eds.) In Celebration of Our Survival: The First Nations of British Columbia. (pp. 160-169). UBC
Press.
Warrior, Emma Lee. “Compatriots.” Moses, Goldie, and Ruffo 2013 175–82. Print.