Marginalized Narratives: The Representation of Sioux In Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

Abstract

Colonialism has profoundly impacted mainstream society, causing divisions within indigenous communities, especially the Sioux. This study investigates the significance of counter-narratives in supporting marginalized Indigenous communities. Despite the end of the colonial era, indigenous populations are often misrepresented in literature and media, often from the perspective of the colonizer rather than the colonized. This research aims to understand why, even in post-colonial times, Indigenous populations are still mentally subjugated in literature and why they are stereotypically portrayed. The main reason for this biased attitude is cultural differentiation and the inability to understand the culture of the indigenous communities. The study will examine how most literary narratives suppress the voices of native communities and propagate biased white narratives. It will also analyze how the portrayal of indigenous populations in literature, from the perspective of certain characters, negatively impacts them. The research will utilize Gayatri Chakraborty Spivak's concepts of marginalization and Derrick Bell's emphasis on counternarratives. William Kent Krueger's book Ordinary Grace will be an example of how Native American characters with a Sioux cultural background can highlight the marginalization of Dakotans and offer a counternarrative to elevate their voices. As a result of this research, Indigenous counter-narratives must attain an unbiased aesthetic perspective toward the real-world population. This requirement may foster equality and the idea of gratitude among marginalized and non-marginalized groups, respectively, without taking a biased stance toward any group.