Where are all the native scribes?
by Gilbert Oskaboose

Hey, am I the only Indian in Canada with an opinion to share and a computer to write it out with? Where is everybody else? Where are all those young people going through Journalism schools and those angry young warriors of both sexes on the front lines?

I've been at this writing business for quite a few years now and I'm getting tired, worn out and discouraged. And Hell, I haven't even begun to scratch the surface yet. There is so much more to be said, so much unspoken. Where are the Elders? Where are the children? Where are the Teachers? Where are the storytellers? Where are the rabble rousers and the shit disturbers?

Writing is not difficult. It's easy. All you do is sit down in front of a typewriter or computer and wait till the blood starts oozing out of your forehead, then you start banging it out till you got something. What about all these oratorical skills we're supposed to be famous for? Can't that be translated into writing skills? C'mon, blind me with your verbal footwork. Thrall me with your eloquence.

The downside of an oral tradition is that nothing ever gets put down for posterity, for the ages and future generations. It's nice if you have a kindly grandfather or grandmother who's knee you can learn on, but what happens if your grandparents are gone before you come along. The magic circle of learning is broken. We really can't rely on this system anymore. My grandfather was gone long before I came along and my Dad felt I should be learning the new skills like English in a Indian residential school. Where did that leave me? We absolutely must get into writing and recording things for posterity, for the succeeding generations.

People are reinventing their own spirituality overnight. People are becoming pipe-carriers and medicine people overnight. That is not right. Those things take years of study and learning and personal sacrifice. Ceremonies are being recreated as they go. No one seems to be sure what is the proper way to conduct them. No written history to refer to. Ceremonial costume and dress are becoming a crazy patchwork and mix of Woodland, Western, Pacific Coast and Hollywood style. Nobody wants to say anything about these things because we're all on thin ice and nobody wants to rock the boat, speaking of badly mixed metaphors.

Now, where was I? Oh yes, writing. Where are all the writers in Indian Country? I know you're out there someplace. I've gotten hundreds of letters and thousands of emails in my lifetime. Many of them were written by some damn fine writers, whether you call yourselves "writers" or not.

May I offer a bit of advice to first time writers? Stick to what you know and know well. Stay in your own comfort zone and you will do well. If you wish to go beyond that zone be prepared to do some good research on any subject you wish to write about. Know that if you totally alienate a Chief and Council or any official that source is closed to you forever. You can never go back. If you're going to burn your bridges behind you, make damn sure you got a good boat waiting. Forget about becoming rich and famous. It probably will never happen. Learn to love writing instead.

Don't sweat the small stuff... and beyond being alive or dead, everything is small stuff! Develop a thick skin, a protective rind. I often say that this is not fat on me, it's skin that's six frigging inches thick! Don't take yourself too seriously. Believe me, in the larger scheme of things, you are really not all that important. Learn to laugh at yourself at times. Enjoy your craft...and your readership will enjoy you as well.