The very first quote stuck a nerve that set a tone for the entire memoir. "A nation is not conquered until the hearts of its women are on the ground. Then it is done, no matter how is brave its warriors nor how strong their weapons" (3). Particularly the line about the women's hearts being on the ground is powerful. Women in many cultures tend to be the heart and song of the society and are responsible for keeping the families going, supporting the men and keeping peaceful ties within the group and outside of the group. When the community of women are disbanded and can no older assemble to perform these duties the nation must truly be irreparable. Especially in the tribal Native American culture the women have the role of cooking for visiting friends and acquaintances "keeping the peace", tending to the families even extended families, like grandchildren, children etc. and being strong guiding hand for men and reliable for running the household.
This quotation returned later in the memoir with the declaration the author feels for her surviving nation, "Well, the hearts of our old full-blooded women were not on the ground. They were way up high[literally on top of Mount Rushmore and figuratively] and they could still encourage us with their trilling, spine-tingling brave-heart cry which always made the hairs on my back stand up and my flesh break out in goose pimples whenever I heard it, no matter how often" (80). The author here directly says that her people were not laying down and being submissive or baking down. They have fight in their hearts, she also mentions how older generations, such as grandmothers are joining their AIM movement to reinforce culture and tradition as well as add new tradition. They are in the process of rebuilding and reconstructing their culture, qualities driven by women who are natural multi-taskers and problem solvers. The women the author was talking about in this instance was a 90 year old woman standing on Mount Rushmore trying to take back the Black Hills, these are the women who take a stand and beat the truest of the true blood through their hearts for their people.
I also noticed the strength produced via women in this novel. While the other books we've discussed so far have looked at gender roles, specifically that of women, we haven't viewed a culture yet that sees women in the way the Native American culture does. Now, obviously every culture is different, but you're right in that there is strength in their character. A scene I found particularly powerful was when Mary punched a male teacher for trying to beat down her character. At such a young age she carries that inability to be beaten down; a fire she carries on throughout the book.
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