Journal | Il Tolomeo
Journal issue | 26 | 2024
Research Article | Preserving Cultural Heritage in Indigenous Pandemic Fiction: “Coming-to” Stories of Resistance in Cherie Dimaline’s The Marrow Thieves
Preserving Cultural Heritage in Indigenous Pandemic Fiction: “Coming-to” Stories of Resistance in Cherie Dimaline’s The Marrow Thieves
Abstract
This study intends to investigate Indigenous pandemic fiction through an analysis of The Marrow Thieves by Métis writer Cherie Dimaline. By depicting the journey of the Métis protagonist Frenchie, the novel explores Indigenous identity in a dystopian scenario where non-Indigenous people have succumbed to a plague affecting the ability to dream. Taking into consideration Jan Assmann’s concept of cultural memory and N. Scott Momaday’s depiction of the power of language, the paper would focus on the role of storytelling and linguistic heritage in the process of ‘survivance’ of Indigenous identity. The novel outlines dreams as spaces of resistance bound to the protection of cultural identity, by also revisiting the history of forced assimilation through the Residential School System. Frenchie’s journey presents the act of dreaming as the ultimate symbol of hope in a posthuman scenario where humankind has lost control over the Earth.
Submitted: June 9, 2024 | Accepted: Sept. 30, 2024 | Published Dec. 9, 2024 | Language: en
Keywords Indigenous pandemic fiction • Cherie Dimaline • Dreaming • Cultural heritage • Storytelling
Copyright © 2024 Elena Bastianoni. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Permalink http://doi.org/10.30687/Tol/2499-5975/2024/01/010
