Leslie Marmon Silko Language from the Pueblo Perspective Reid Gómez Kalamazoo College

“each word that one is speaking has a story of its own, too.” “Often the speakers, or tellers, will go into these word stories, creating an elaborate structure of stories within stories. this structure… informs contemporary Pueblo writing and storytelling as well as the traditional narratives.” “This perspective—of story within story—the idea that one story is only the beginning of many stories and the sense that stories never truly end…”

“Contrary to popular belief, the true name for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe is Yoeme: which means "The People" in our native language. Our ancestral homeland is along the Rio Yaqui in Sonora, Mexico. Like all indigenous tribes throughout the New World, ours is a long and bloody history. Our fertile river valley in Mexico was sought after by Mexican and white settlers alike. We trained ourselves to fight, withstand pain, and die if necessary to protect our lands and family life. As a result, Yoemes were repeatedly selected for extermination, slavery and deportation by first the Spaniards, then by the Mexican Government.”

“Pueblo expression resembles something like a spider’s web.”

“This story, I think, suggests something about why the Pueblo people are more concerned with story and communication and less concerned with a particular language.” “…the particular language being spoken isn’t as important as what a speaker is trying to say, and this emphasis on the story itself stems, I believe, from a view of narrative particular to the Pueblo…” “—that is, that language is story.”

“The ancient Pueblo people sought a communal truth, not an absolute truth. for them this truth lived somewhere within the web of differing versions, dispute over minor points, and outright contradictions tangling with old feuds and village rivalries.”

“One day a story will arrive in your town…”