Loss of Land and Identity
In Tracks, Erdrich delves into the experiences of both individual American Indians and the erosion of a tribe's land and identity during the pivotal years from 1912 to 1924. Throughout the story, Native Americans grapple with diseases and starvation, with many losing their land and homes because of yearly land fees and taxes. Their ties to their ancestors are broken, and the mythological importance of the land is diminished as loggers transform its landscape.
Internal Conflict and Betrayal
While the white characters in Tracks frequently come across as unsympathetic, particularly in the incidents surrounding the rape of Fleur Pillager and her subsequent loss of home and land, the economic and governmental forces of dispossession are portrayed as being more influenced by Native Americans than by whites. Erdrich emphasizes how Native Americans contribute to the unraveling of their own communities. Pauline Puyat, a mixed-blood and one of the novel's two narrators, represents the damaging effects of white influence on her life, especially through the Catholic Church, which she has internalized alongside Native American myths related to place. Her distorted understanding of Christianity is more life-denying than the tribe's land-focused myths. To pursue life as a nun, Pauline abandons her culture, language, daughter, and lover. Instead of depicting a God of love, the narrative presents a deity associated with sexual torment, vindictiveness, envy, sadism, and pride. Additionally, some Native Americans betray their community for favors from whites, as seen with Bernadette's interactions with the Agent, and Nector and Margaret's misuse of funds collected by others to pay taxes on their land.
Corruption of Love
The corruption of love depicted by Erdrich in the novel is perhaps even more insidious. Fleur Pillager and Eli symbolize the core of the tribe, but when their love becomes tainted by the danger facing their land, Fleur embarks on a nomadic existence. Even Nanapush, a senior tribal leader and the novel's co-narrator, experiences betrayal from Margaret, a close friend and the woman he loves.
Tragedy Over Political Statement
Given the numerous victims, one might assume that Tracks is a reformist melodrama featuring innocent victims and evil oppressors. Yet, the irreversible nature of the losses portrayed makes Tracks more of a tragedy than a political commentary.
Struggle for Survival
Survival is a central theme in Tracks, where characters contend with both natural and man-made adversities. The inhabitants of the Matchimanito reservation confront not only environmental challenges like famines and epidemics but also the darker shadows of historical genocide, dispossession, and deprivation. These multifaceted struggles test their resilience at every turn.
Despite the looming threat of external forces encroaching on their land, the tribe's cultural guardians resist with remarkable tenacity. Fleur Pillager, renowned for her strength and determination, directly challenges the lumber crew, effectively thwarting their exploitative intentions. Her actions symbolize a defiant stand against the erosion of their ancestral territory. Meanwhile, Nanapush takes a different approach by engaging in political advocacy, campaigning vigorously for the role of tribal chairman. His efforts represent a strategic fight to preserve the tribe's way of life through leadership and governance.
Cultural Conflict
The relentless struggle for survival, tinged with the tragic, intertwines deeply with cultural conflict. In this context, Pauline's half-formed Christianity stands in stark opposition to the traditional wisdom of Nanapush, who, despite his deep roots in native culture, possesses an astute understanding of white society. This clash highlights a broader conflict: the native way of life, which inherently values tribal kinship and harmonious interaction with the environment, is under siege by the encroaching white culture, characterized by its nuclear family structures, relentless exploitation of natural resources, and a legal system often wielded as a tool of oppression.
Amidst this cultural battleground are the mixed-blood individuals, straddling two worlds...
(This entire section contains 219 words.)
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and often oscillating between them. As they navigate this complex terrain, they are drawn to one cultural pole or the other, yet this adaptation is not without its costs. Symptoms of dysfunction and confusion abound, manifesting in various tragic forms. Pauline's conversion is emblematic of this turmoil, as are the pervasive struggles with alcoholism, the emergence of incestuous marriages orchestrated for land acquisition, and the eventual loss of this land through deceit.
This disintegration is accompanied by the fragmentation of familial ties, casting a shadow of tragedy that teeters on the edge of pathos. The cultural conflict encapsulates a profound human struggle, reflecting a broader narrative of change, identity, and survival.
Cultural Synthesis
Emerging from the chaotic interplay of cultural conflict depicted in Tracks, there exists a potential for cultural synthesis. This synthesis may originate from the mutual "contamination" between white and indigenous cultural elements. For instance, Pauline's version of Christianity is deeply interwoven with native beliefs and visionary experiences. In contrast, Nanapush, though rooted in traditionalism, remains open to incorporating white practices that may offer a lifeline for the tribe's revival. These exchanges hint at the possibility of a transformative cultural dialogue, fostering a new collective consciousness within the community.
New Consciousness
The emergence of a new consciousness is intricately woven into the contrasting narratives of Nanapush and Pauline. While their perspectives might initially appear dichotomous, they are, in essence, dialogic, engaging in a conversation rather than existing in isolation. In this interplay, Nanapush's story succeeds in reinstating a sense of order and balance, becoming the predominant voice. His narrative finds its audience in Lulu, who embodies the potential for this new consciousness. Caught in the tumultuous currents of her mother’s struggles and her own education at a government-run school, Lulu stands at the crossroads of two cultures, much like many mixed-blood individuals who navigate the space between tradition and modernity.
Nanapush’s encouragement to seek out Fleur serves as a pivotal moment in Lulu’s journey. Despite her initial resistance—illustrated by her literal act of stopping her ears—she cannot escape the pull of her ancestral roots. Her journey signifies a larger path towards reconciling her heritage with her contemporary experiences. Her ability to synthesize these worlds is crucial for the development of a new consciousness that respects and integrates both her lineage and her present circumstances.
Nanapush’s storytelling does more than merely recount the past; it lays down a trail of insights and wisdom that Lulu, and others like her, can follow. Through his tales, he provides the tools necessary for the pursuit of a future where these dualities are not just acknowledged but harmonized, offering a pathway to a consciousness that embraces and unites diverse identities.
