Page 7, Chapter 1: The Misrepresentation of Wolves
I chose this chapter heading for good reason; I totally felt this way myself! In fact, from television shows, movies, and books, I saw that both wolves and American Indians were being misrepresented.
Like Colin listening to his mom read children’s books with wolves in them, I, too, had a strange feeling that something was not right. Except I was learning that both cultures were not being treated or characterized fairly. Wolves and Indians were mostly being shown as aggressive, mad killers, always in bunches and always ready to attack! “Savage”, as they were referred. And then, at one miraculous point in time, these two seemingly different characters, were displayed in a more positive light. Whether television shows, movies, or books, the American Indian and the wolf were finally being portrayed as civil, community and family focused, plus totally respected.
In Initiation Dream I hope to continue the same message.
This coming-of-age story may contain the typical high school romance (involving a teenage werewolf), shapeshifting, and the evident battle of good against evil, but it also includes a touch of what I learned from the new image of two awesome cultures; the positive representation of Native American and Wolves. When living close in touch with nature, we, as humans, are not so different from the animals around us. Even today, that should be our goal: be civil with each other, be community and family focused and, in doing so, gain respect.
Cartoon image was not drawn by me, but by Irana Nasrin. Thank you Irana.
