D'Arcy McNickle - (1904-1977)
|
I. Biography D'Arcy McNickle was seen as a pioneer through the eyes of book readers, publishers, and fellow authors because he was an Indian writing about Indian conflicts. Although
there were other attempts, no one else had broken the barriers by revealing the already visible problems of the white and Indian conflicts. McNickle had a strong sense of
who he was and where he came from. He fought for Indian rights through his books and his actions. William D'Arcy McNickle was born on January 1904 in St. Ignatius, Montana. McNickle's
heritage consisted of Scotch-Irish from his father, and French Canadian and Cree (Metee) from his mother. Although the family was Cree, they were adopted into the Salish-Kooteni (Flathead) tribe.
McNickle is considered to be one of the most educated Indians of his generation. He attended the University of Montana, Oxford University in England, and the University of Grenoble in France.
After receiving his education, he worked as an editor and writer for several years in New York City and Washington D.C. In 1936, McNickle accepted a position with the United
Stated Bureau of Indian Affairs and strove to improve the relationship between Indian communities and the United States Government. He also helped shape official policies so
they were favorable to Indians. McNickle was widely recognized as an expert on government policies concerning Indians. McNickle also served as the director of American Indian Development Inc., and as a
professor of anthropology at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. At the time of his death, he was the program director for the Newberry Library's Center for American History, Chicago.
McNickle is praised for his use of Indian material by critics and has moved even unsentimental people with his works. McNickle is hailed by his reviewers for his
understanding of the differences between Indian and White perspectives. II. Literary Works The Surrounded (1936)-The difficulty between two peoples
Runner in the Sun (1954)-Describes how one boy's willingness to depart from tradition results in benefits for his entire tribe. Wind From an Enemy Sky (1978)-Shows McNickle's concern for tribalism and highlights
how the White and Indian people have constantly misunderstood each other The Hawk is Hungry and Other Stories(1992)-Collection of short stories that touches on misunderstandings between cultures.
Indians and Other Americans (1959)-Explores causes of negative relations between Whites and Indians. Indian Tribes of the United States (1962) revised as Native American Tribalism
(1973)-Looks at American History and Indian-White contact from an Indian point of view. Indian Man (1971)-Biography of Oliver LaFarge, a White Pulitzer prize winner and an advocate for Indians.
This essay was submitted by a student of Steve Gardiner, a teacher at Billings Senior High School in Billings, Montana.