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Garry Gottfriedson
What Old Man Magpie
Said To Old Lady Crow
Old Man Magpie boasted to Old Lady Crow of how beau-
tiful his voice was compared to hers. He went on to brag that he
could even sing her songs better than she could. She responded by
saying, “ Itisn’t the sounds which are important, but the meaning of
the messages which are important. “
Old Lady Crow must have had the astuteness to foresee
what was about to happen in the literary world. In the last decade
numerous writers from different ethnic origins in this country have
emerged to spread their words throughout the universe.
Two of these writers are: W.P.Kinsella, the author of many
stories including Dance Me Outside, who is Canadian white; and
Jeannette Armstrong, author of the well known novel Slash, who is
Okanagan Native born. The two writers have one thing in common
--- thebeautiful sounds they express through their work. Something
significant in their works is that both writers are distinct voices in
their genre of writing. They focus their work on contemporary
Native style as is evident through the development of their charac-
ters. Though both writers focus on Native style, there is a distinct
contrast in ‘ voice ‘ between Anglophone Kinsella and Native born
Armstrong.
W.P.Kinsella’s pace throughout his work is fast moving.
This genre of writing is incorporated by many Anglo writers and is
used primarily for entertainment. Action oriented novels very sel-
dom draw the audience to clear resolution but are effective in
preventing boredom. Kinsella’s focus may be Native based, but
unlike Native writers, his characters are disconnected from their
environment. He has developed a knack for mimicking (sometimes
to extremes) the turn-of-the-century broken English/Indian lingo,
which he uses throughout his novels. He achieves this through dia-
logue and scenes created for his characters such as Silas Erminskin
and Silas’ buddy, Frank Fencepost, who are central characters
throughout Dance me Outside.
Kinsella writes, ‘I am used to Papa get drunk, but I guess I
hope Wilbur was not the same. We a long way out of town when I
remember we forgot Wilbur’s Hat.” (33) - We hardly get off the bus
downtown when Frank’s boots with metal heels slip on the slushy
160
What Old Man Magpie
Said To Old Lady Crow
Old Man Magpie boasted to Old Lady Crow of how beau-
tiful his voice was compared to hers. He went on to brag that he
could even sing her songs better than she could. She responded by
saying, “ Itisn’t the sounds which are important, but the meaning of
the messages which are important. “
Old Lady Crow must have had the astuteness to foresee
what was about to happen in the literary world. In the last decade
numerous writers from different ethnic origins in this country have
emerged to spread their words throughout the universe.
Two of these writers are: W.P.Kinsella, the author of many
stories including Dance Me Outside, who is Canadian white; and
Jeannette Armstrong, author of the well known novel Slash, who is
Okanagan Native born. The two writers have one thing in common
--- thebeautiful sounds they express through their work. Something
significant in their works is that both writers are distinct voices in
their genre of writing. They focus their work on contemporary
Native style as is evident through the development of their charac-
ters. Though both writers focus on Native style, there is a distinct
contrast in ‘ voice ‘ between Anglophone Kinsella and Native born
Armstrong.
W.P.Kinsella’s pace throughout his work is fast moving.
This genre of writing is incorporated by many Anglo writers and is
used primarily for entertainment. Action oriented novels very sel-
dom draw the audience to clear resolution but are effective in
preventing boredom. Kinsella’s focus may be Native based, but
unlike Native writers, his characters are disconnected from their
environment. He has developed a knack for mimicking (sometimes
to extremes) the turn-of-the-century broken English/Indian lingo,
which he uses throughout his novels. He achieves this through dia-
logue and scenes created for his characters such as Silas Erminskin
and Silas’ buddy, Frank Fencepost, who are central characters
throughout Dance me Outside.
Kinsella writes, ‘I am used to Papa get drunk, but I guess I
hope Wilbur was not the same. We a long way out of town when I
remember we forgot Wilbur’s Hat.” (33) - We hardly get off the bus
downtown when Frank’s boots with metal heels slip on the slushy
160
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