“Crows Sun” by Duane Niatum

Crows Sun Story Elements

Major Plot Characters Setting

● A young Native ● Young Thomas ● Navy/Marine base

American boy named ● In a interview
Thomas enlists for the ● The Cook
navy and is sentenced ● The Warden
to 30 days in the “brig”
where he is forced to
meet with the Warden
 Essential Questions:

1. The role of historical trauma and past of colonization shape many common themes in
contemporary Native American literature to portray authentic stories that spread
awareness to society regarding systemic racism. The author (Duane Niatum) drew from
is own traumas as a Native American in the military when creating this story. He's able
to convey such a harsh story since he too struggled when enlisted with the judgement
of having interracial parents and feeling disconnected from his own culture.

2. Native American literature purposefully incorporates a variety of struggles surrounding

identity by reflecting on authentic Native American experiences. Native American
authors navigate the complexities of cultural identity by bringing light to the impact of
generational trauma and present day racism through their work. In this specific case the
author was able to overcome ongoing challenges with racism by embracing his
grandfather's culture and prioritising Native values.
Theme:
The story of “Crows Sun” by Duane Niatum focuses on Thomas’s
internal conflict when faced with direct racism after being enlisted in
the military as a Native American. The author is able to encourage
the understanding of generational trauma in Native culture by
developing the importance of identity within this story.
Cultural Background + Author Background
● Duane Niatum is a Native American poet from the
Jamestown S'klallam tribes
● Niatum was born in seattle Washington
○ Jamestown S'klallam tribes native to the
northern Olympic Peninsula of the state of
Washington
● Cultural values: “S’Klallam” is a Salish term for
“The Strong People.”
○ Tribes vision is to preserve cultural identity as a
strong, proud, and self reliant community while
protecting the tribal sovereignty, self-governing
authority, homelands and treaty rights.
● Occupations: Poet, writer, playwright and editor
Character: Thomas
The interview in this story was test of character for thomas, “The sergeant leans forward, digging for
the way to look through Thomas, Now let me hear you say real loud, “I’m the camp idiot sir!”(Niatum
85) The warden is trying to rattle Thomas by targeting something personal to him which in turn gives
Thomas the choice to either act in emotion and rise above the hatred. Thomas’s following actions after
this criticism shaped a critical part of his identity, as “Thomas calls secretly to cedar crow, the chant
his grandfather gave him as a child”(niatum 82). He chooses to rise above with the help of his
grandfather's wisdom and his cultures perspective. He chooses to not act out of emotion and instead
take the higher road and act accordingly to the sargent, making the warden just that much more upset.
Character: Cook
The author creates a character named cook who although isn't friends with thomas offers him some
valuable help seeing that thomas’s thirty day punishment was far too harsh for his attitude. Cook warns
Thomas of what to expect once in the interview with the ward, saying that “Well, a few of the guys you
tangled with on the base called the brig warden and painted an ugly picture of you”(Niatum 77).
Disregarding the interview Cook priorly said that if he wants to simply stay here without the risk of
more punishments he’ll have to take his advice, this being that “This hole'll be your home for thirty
days, Thomas. And buddy, you’d better watch your mouth in this joint. Do your time with your trap
shut, until your running free”(Niatum 76). The characterization here paints Cook as sturn but caring, he
has no reason to help thomas since there wouldn't be any benefit for himself but he took it upon
himself to step in for Thomas’s sake. The tone of the writing was assertive but the actions behind them
were nothing but thoughtful, making Cook an authoritative character with good attentions.
Character: Warden
Thomas has a mandatory meeting with the Warden of the military base and after admitting this his
parents were biracial, one being native american and the other being white the warden begins to make
comments taunting thomas. “So your father never swam the rio grande. Too fucking bad. He should’a.
Down home where I come from we fry n-ggers like ya’ in chicken fat and feed the remains to the
hogs”(Niatum 82). The warden could’ve been saying this to simply rile Thomas up in hopes of him
losing his patience but it seemed to be purposeful nevertheless. He continues by saying “Who ya’
trying to kid with a name like thomas, boy? Hows a wetback like you got a name like Thomas? Ain’t
it really pancho Villa or Willy Garcia? Ha!”(Niatum 81). The Warden mocks thomas’s race by
insinuating that his culture is not only determined by his appearance but more so that he can’t claim to
be Native when he’s only half Native, leading thomas to doubt the connection to his culture even
further. The warden was a catalyst character that only appeared so that Thomas could a behavioral
choice in regards to the wardens actions.
Conflict:
The conflict in the story is a mental battle between Thomas’s urges to stand up for himself
against the wardens racism or rising above it by looking past others hatred. Thomas rises
above the hate by channeling his cultures values, seeing that someone's actions are a better
display of identity than any argument could be, especially one as foolish as blatant racism.
Significant Symbolism
● Crow - The crow stands for good luck and wisdom in Native American culture, the crow symbolizes
Thomas’s grandfather and the wisdom he lends to his grandson to over obstacles like these.

● Sun - The sun represents healing and peace within Native American culture, The sun symbolizes the
process and choice Thomas made when faced with criticism, choosing to rise above the hatred.

● Eagle - The Eagle represents bravery and strength within Native American culture, The Eagle
symbolizes Thomas and when thomas had the courage to speak to the warden without violence the
eagle had flown away since thomas didn’t needs its bravery because he had his own.

This adds to our understanding on Native American culture because it gives us an idea of the value
and cultural ideals that Native Americans not only valued but strived to act upon. Bids are very
common symbols in Native American literature since they are seen as connected spiritually with
people and the earth from their ability to fly above and around its surroundings.
Final Thoughts:
The takeaway of this story is that although faced with obstacles that are out of our control
we learn to manage them through our own actions which is the only thing we control.
Thomas wasn't going to change the wardens racist ideas and although it might be unfair
and biased it wasn't going to change. Thomas saw this and chose to look past his ideals
since they weren't worth the argument or time. He rose above the obstacle like his
grandfather prompted him to and through this he was able to connect with the culture he
had felt so distant from.
Works Cited!
“Duane Niatum.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/duane-niatum. Accessed 9 Feb. 2024.

Duane Niatum, www.weber.edu/weberjournal/Journal_Archives/Archive_B/Vol_12_3/DNiatumPoe.html. Accessed 9 Feb. 2024.

“Eagle.” St. Joseph’s Indian School, 10 June 2020,

www.stjo.org/native-american-culture/important-animals/eagle-wanbli/#:~:text=The%20eagle%20is%20the%20strongest,worn%2
0with%20dignity%20and%20pride.

Magazine, Smithsonian. “Telling the Story of 19th-Century Native American Treasures through Bird Feathers.” Smithsonian.Com,
Smithsonian Institution, 14 June 2017,
www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/telling-story-19th-century-native-american-treasures-through-bird-feathers-180
963700/#:~:text=and%20species%20adaptation.-,Birds%20are%20integral%20to%20Native%20American%20culture%E2%80%
94they%20are%20connected,impart%20particular%20meaning%2C%20she%20says.

“The Sun Indigenous Symbol: Spirits of the West Coast.” Spirits of the West Coast Art Gallery Inc,
spiritsofthewestcoast.com/collections/the-sun-symbol. Accessed 9 Feb. 2024.