Descendant of the Cherokee in PG: Native Americans turn to the modern

Professor and leading theoretician of Native American culture and literature, Craig S. Womack, in his lecture at the American Corner, spoke about his origins, the literature of the indigenous peoples of America, the topics they most often write about, as well as his interaction with students at the University of "Imori" in Atlanta.

“I belong to the very large Muskogee Creek tribe, and I have partial roots from the Cherokee tribe. I grew up with stories about my family, our traditions, all our customs. The stories and novels of our writers are largely based on the traditions and religion of our community," said Womack, adding that the number of members of the tribe from which he originates is constantly increasing.

He believes that the literature of the indigenous peoples of America is important today because it is studied at all faculties of English language and literature.

"I would like that in addition to the past, which is a rich and inexhaustible treasure trove of topics, we also write about the current life of the natives"

"The importance of our culture and literature is that it is studied all over the world, it is studied by all students who study English language and literature. Indigenous literature and culture has very important and good writers, some write about the traditions of the indigenous people, some about religion, symbolism that is only related to our tribes.

I admit that there is a lot of philosophy and mysticism in the novels that belong to that type of literature, which may be difficult to understand right away. However, I try to bring my culture closer to my students in Atlanta, to try to get them interested in the essence of novels or stories that we cover in class through one way of interaction.

I also try to tell them a lot about my tribe, my traditions, the way I grew up, the culture that is cultivated in my tribe, and so far I manage to attract their attention and interest them in the culture and literature of the Native American peoples," said Womack.

They don't forget their roots

He said that the most common and challenging topics for writers are the past of the indigenous people.

"I grew up speaking English, as a child I read a lot of stories and novels in that language"

"I would like to write not only about the past, which is a rich and inexhaustible treasury of topics, but also about the current life of the indigenous people. Today, the descendants of the natives are facing the modern way of life in America, but they never forget their roots, their traditions and above all, they respect their culture", explained Womack.

Answering questions from the audience, whether it is difficult for him to write in English, Womack answered that it is not.

"I grew up speaking English, as a child I read a lot of stories and novels in that language, so it is absolutely not a problem for me to express my emotions in English, because I can say that it is almost my mother tongue," Womack explained.

The interview with Vomak was conducted by Dr. Marija Knežević from the Faculty of Philosophy in Nikšić.