Editor Paula Gunn Allen discusses her volume, Voice of the Turtle, an overview of American Indian literature, from early oral histories to bestsellers. Voice of the Turtle explores the works of 17 authors, of which Connie and Paula discuss four, including "A Red Girl's Reasoning" by E. Pauline Johnson, "The Promised Visit" by Grey Cohoe, "First Days a Carlisle" by Luther Standing Bear, and "Snowfall" by D'Arcy McNickle. Paula relates that the works covered in this volume are centered on the act of transforming something from one condition to another, but not in the Jungian sense, both for the individual and for the culture. Connie and Paula also discuss the importance of the spirit world, both to Paula and to the indigenous American cultures covered in Voice of the Turtle. Allen relates that her ultimate goal in putting together this volume of Native American literature was to remind Americans that Native Americans are still here contributing to a vibrant and rich American culture.
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