For all its cultural significance, Thanksgiving remains surprisingly absent from much of literature, especially when compared to the abundance of Christmas stories that dominate the shelves. Gathering to share a meal and give thanks is a beloved custom for many families. Still, it often glosses over the holiday’s fraught origins—the histories of the Native communities who inhabited this land long before European settlers arrived. In his celebrated 2018 novel, There There, Tommy Orange gives voice to these communities, weaving a poignant and urgent narrative that highlights their stories, struggles, and resilience.
The novel intertwines the lives of twelve characters, each navigating the complexities of their Native American identity while living in the urban landscape of Oakland, California. Through their stories, themes of heritage, belonging, and survival emerge, revealing the challenges of maintaining cultural ties in a world that often marginalizes or distorts Indigenous experiences.
Take Orvil Red Feather, a teenager yearning to reconnect with his roots. With the adults in his life intent on shielding him from their shared identity, Orvil takes it upon himself to learn about his culture. Then there’s Dene Oxendene, an aspiring documentarian committed to preserving Native stories and ensuring their history endures. In contrast, Opal Viola Victoria Bear Shield struggles with embracing her heritage, as doing so forces her to confront the painful past that continues to haunt her.
These individuals and others find their lives converging at the Big Oakland Powwow. For some, the event symbolizes cultural celebration and tradition. For others, it becomes the setting for an unforeseen tragedy.
In There There, Tommy Orange crafts a powerful and intricately woven story of a community shaped by the weight of its collective trauma. Initially, juggling the perspectives of twelve characters felt a bit disorienting as I worked to keep track of each individual’s story. However, as their narratives began to intersect, I became captivated by their journeys, eager to see how Orange would bring them together.
The Big Oakland Powwow serves as the novel’s focal point, providing a clear trajectory for the narrative while heightening the tension as the event draws near. What should be a day of cultural celebration is overshadowed by an impending foreboding, adding a gripping layer of suspense. Themes of displacement, addiction, resilience, and community pulse through the novel, framed by a poignant commentary on the enduring consequences of colonization.
The climax at the powwow is as devastating as it is profound, forcing both characters and readers to grapple with cycles of violence and the strength required to endure. There There is a profoundly moving and deeply impactful novel, one that sheds light on stories often overlooked and challenges readers to consider the layered history of the land they call home.
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(2024, 88)
