This playful story by Leslie Marmon Silko illustrates how two cultures, one indigenous and very much attached to their land, the other foreign and dominant, coexist. When an aging Pueblo Native American dies tending their sheep, his people plan to give him a traditional tribal burial. They deceive a young Catholic priest, who would have insisted on a Christian ceremony, but later find they need something from him. Themes include death, tradition, adaptability (by the tribe as a means of mitigating culture clash) and flexibility (by the priest as a means of being accepted into the community).
An interesting aspect of the story is that Teofilo’s family seem to have anticipated his death before anyone went looking for him. Leon and Ken already had material in their truck (the red blanket, feather, paint, corn meal and pollen) to prepare the body for transportation. Moreover, it appears that his bed and funeral clothes had already been laid out at home to receive the body.
Original Text / PDF / Audio (1,750 words)