Birchbark House is a great children's book that can help give children an in-depth look of Native American culture. This book gives us, as readers, a brief background how the Ojibwa tribe dealt with issues on land, environment, contact, language, and spirituality. Although all most all tribes had dealt with these issues, this book is great a great tool as a seg-way into learning Native American culture for children.
There are also many examples of assimilation and resistance in this book. The Ojibwa tribe demonstrates assimilation by accepting vaccinations from priests when small pox is an issue, when the main family owns modern weapons such as a gun, as well as the children in the missionary school learning English. Resistance is demonstrated by Old Tallow blaming whites for all their problems such as bad fishing/hunting. Also Fishhook agrees to learn the English language, but under the idea that it will help him to understand future treaties that could be made.
There are also many examples of assimilation and resistance in this book. The Ojibwa tribe demonstrates assimilation by accepting vaccinations from priests when small pox is an issue, when the main family owns modern weapons such as a gun, as well as the children in the missionary school learning English. Resistance is demonstrated by Old Tallow blaming whites for all their problems such as bad fishing/hunting. Also Fishhook agrees to learn the English language, but under the idea that it will help him to understand future treaties that could be made.
