Starting off with the choice of color for the book jacket, I wanted to stick to the theme of nature and how Talty infuses it into the work. This proved to be difficult at first because there was no particular color usage by Talty that was linked to meaning. Instead, I wanted to focus on major themes and what colors came to my imagination. So, although it was never explicitly used in the language or course of the story, when I think of nature, I immediately think of the color green. My reasoning for such ranges from the color of the grass we walk on every day to the color being considered on the “natural” side of color grade. If you look up “natural” colors online, most options are shades of greens, beiges, yellows, and blues. Getting more granular, I chose this shade as an artistic move to have the cover pop. It catches the eye and compliments the other figures I included on the page.
Setting plays a major role in how Dee is connected to the earth, his culture, and himself. There are multiple significant locations in the story including the sweat lodge, the reservation’s tribal museum, and the rez (where all characters reside). Due to the multiple locations that all play a role, I had a hard time deciding which images either spoke to me or were on the hierarchy of importance. To avoid having to cherry pick I decided to make a map-like image that could point to multiple locations. In the middle of the page there is a direction post with three labeled posts, including rez, sweat lodge, and the museum. I believe that these three locations are central to Dee’s story and character development. In the next few paragraphs I will be unpacking each location in respect of their function in the plot. Also, how these locations either point to or stand as representations of larger issues with Native American culture or history. Bigger picture, I have also included the image of the earth within my book cover. Obviously all these locations are found on earth because that’s where humans reside, but there is also a deeper meaning. In Talty’s story the earth acts a symbol for connection, whether that be between individuals or individuals and the earth. For Dee’s character it represents both. He is not only disconnected from his family, friends, and himself, but also the earth itself. I argue it suggests that addicts who are in recovery must reconnect with themselves and the space around them for healing. In a larger context, I think this story presents an example of what oppression does to minority groups over time and still today.
The first location to unpack is the rez (or known as reservation), which is where the entire story takes place. Reservations are historically known as sections of land sanctioned by the U.S. government for control and conflict management. Also, to guarantee that the U.S. was justified in their claiming of land outside these plots of land. All in all, it has proven that reservations have done more harm than good. In modern times, the main issue with reservations is that they are not properly funded or looked after by our government, more specifically the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This has been the cause of multiple on-reservation issues such as health care access, substance abuse, inadequate living conditions, and overall poorer quality of life. We see this in Talty’s story mainly with multiple characters even besides Dee himself. We see the struggle of multiple other characters including Fellis, Daryl, and Ralph. What I believe Talty’s intention in doing this is to paint an accurate picture of what modern reservations are like, but also to point a finger at the generational trauma subjected to natives. The level of internal and external struggle readers see Dee and other characters deal with represents real-life natives in our society today. Therefore, the reservation is not only the story’s main setting but an indicator of the larger issue and reality Talty is urging readers to see.
The first image I want to dive into here is the roadside tribal museum in the story. On the surface level, the tribal museum acts as a testament of Native American culture and history. As with the myriad of museums that exist, one can imagine they are full of artifacts and other culturally significant objects. A specific object mentioned in Talty’s text that was said to be in the museum was a root club, which were/are used during ceremonies and special events. One factor important to note is that locations such as the museum are a main funding source for reservations. Where they operate mostly on government aid and funds, the rest comes from tourism. As one imagines, this fact then puts a monetary value on the history and culture of Native people. Also, that their history is seen as entertainment for the U.S. (mostly white) audience. The museum allows culture to be something profitable both for the government and, sadly, for Natives themselves. Readers even witness Dee and Fellis planning to rob the tribal museum of their root clubs for profit. If anything, this shows the profound traumatic impact white society has on Native people and culture. The tribal museum suggests that our society cares more about the profitability of Native people over their livelihood or living conditions. In a more literary perspective, the location and its purpose helps demonstrate how Dee is disconnected from Penobscot culture. He does not identify that stealing artifacts from his own people for profit is an issue. Overall, the tribal museum is used as a setting location with greater purpose. It demonstrates the continuation of oppressing, profitizing, and objectifying Native people even in the 21st century; where it’s believed Native conflict is our past.
The other location I chose to include on the cover is the sweat lodge, which is more specifically located on the outskirts of the reservation at Ralph’s house. Sweat lodges are a culturally significant place for Native people because they are a method of purification or cleaning. Often, ceremonies are held where individuals would gather together in song or prayer. The intentionality behind these sweat lodges is that it offers the individual opportunity for forgiveness, guidance, or appreciation of Native ancestors. Overall a way to connect with history and nature while trying to change one’s life or pattern of behavior. It is also said that they represent the “womb of Mother Earth” according to Native American Connections. As we understand from the story, Dee is dealing with sobriety from substance abuse. Although it is never explicitly stated, it is inferred to be some drug given that he is taking methadone to wean off. In the moments before the sweat lodge scene, Dee is depicted as unraveling at the seams and clearly going through withdrawals. He’s disoriented and really unaware of what he’s done when approaching Ralph’s home, and when entering the sweat lodge. What readers see from this is a pivotal moment in Dee’s character development. After his first experience of hiding in the sweat lodge, readers actually see Dee return. I say this is pivotal because Dee actually sweats with Ralph in this last scene. This moment shows, because of the cultural meaning of sweat lodges, Dee is making an effort to reconnect. Not only reconnecting with his own identity in overcoming addiction, but also his culture and nature. He has a moment inside the “cold earth walls” (Talty 217) that allows him to begin his change as a character. This change would have not likely happened without the role of the sweat lodge as a vehicle for connection on various levels. It is in this setting we see the most evolved version of Dee’s character throughout the story. In a bigger picture, I think it demonstrates society’s need to give former addicts second chances and hope for forgiveness. Without it, society is left with disconnected and withdrawn individuals such as Dee at the beginning of the story.
