Sharing Cultures, Sharing Stories, Sharing Lives, Sharing Respect: An Examination of the Gift Cycle in "Fools Crow"

Abstract

Although Welch uses Fools Crow and Fast Horse to depict how actions within the gift cycle and telling stories simultaneously construct and strengthen the American Indian identity, the story gift embodies the personal investment, emotions, and history of the storytelling – this enables the culture to survive and flourish by passing on their traditions and culture through the medium of telling stories. Welch not only examines the cultural dynamics of gift giving, storytelling, and giving stories in his American Indian narrative Fools Crow, he personally shares himself by describing the history, customs, beliefs, and practices of his tribe.