5] “To raise the question of ‘authenticity’ is to challenge not only the narrative but also the ‘truth’ behind Salish ways of knowing “(Carlson 59). Explain why this is so according to Carlson, and explain why it is important to recognize this point

~The Importance of understanding Salish Storytelling

Carlson in writing “Orality about Literacy: The ‘black and white’ of salish history”, discuss’s the differing interpretations between the white account and the Native account. It is evident that the Natives have been continuosly questioned on their background history and this is both concerning and important to recogize in order to put history straight. Why is there the underlining assumption when the western stories and the Native stories differ, that the western story is the correct one. In the Native way of understanding the past there is “no authentic or inauthentic swoxwiyam, only beter remebered/conveyed or less well remembered/conveyed swoxwiyam.”( Hanna, Darwin, and Mamie 57) This is extremly important in moving forward and understanding the Salish accounting of history. As well as recognizing that they have a equal voice in telling their stories. When we question the authenticity of the Salish way of knowing we are also questioning the Salish peoples right to tell their very own stories. This is important to recgonize as it changes the whole conversation on whether we take the Salish people seriously or not. This plays an important role in not only understanding the past but also moving forward and is something historians and story tellers alike have to grapple with. It is evident therefore that in both Western and Salish society history is important. While ways in telling history or stories differ both emphasize the importance in either society. This leads us to the reality that raising the authenticity question is a faulty conclsuion and something we have to be aware of. Questioning the autheniticty of the natives stories we see is  unfair as we read that “‘If a story was imperfectly recalled it was wrong for {Salish historians} to ‘guess’ meaning, to pad, improvise, paraphrase or omit. It was better not to tell it at all for it was dangerous to omit scenes and to shorten myths.”(Hanna, Darwin, and Mamie 59) An important part of understanding Salish history is to understand the Spiflaxem, this is the ” non-creation stories,  which tell of the history, way of life, and cultural teachings of teh Nlhazkapmx people. These particular narratives were chosen because the elders thought that they were important to tell.”(Hanna, Darwin, and Mamie 1) This is important to recognize as it becomes clear that this was nonfabiracted and important to the Salish people. Ignoring certian elements of the Salish History is problamtic even though there are issues that we are not used to from our cutlure. Understanding where they are coming from and hearing more of their stories is important and questining the truth of these stories is clearly offensive to the storyteller. While the Salish people may have a different way in order to authentisize a story there is no reason to question what is being said and how the story is being told.

Works Cited

Hanna, Darwin, and Mamie Henry. Our Tellings: Interior Salish Stories of the    Nlha7kapmxPeople, UBC Press, Vancouver, B.C, 1995;2014;1996;.

Carlson, Keith Thor. “Orality and Literacy: The ‘Black and White’ of Salish History.” Orality & Literacy: Reflectins Across Disciplines. Ed. Carlson, Kristina Fagna, & Natalia Khamemko-Frieson. Toronto: Uof Toronto P, 2011. 43-72.