Cogewea, the Half-Blood · Chapter
XIII: A Visit to Stemteemä’s Teepee explained
On a quiet Sabbath, the ranch hands depart for town, leaving Cogewea and Densmore behind.
What happens
On a quiet Sabbath, the ranch hands depart for town, leaving Cogewea and Densmore behind. Densmore, seeking to win favor, asks Cogewea to arrange a visit to her grandmother's teepee to hear the promised story. During the visit, Stemteemä performs a peace pipe invocation, and Cogewea explains the sacred history and cultural significance of smoking to Densmore, contrasting it with the vices introduced by the white man. The chapter highlights the tension between tradition and the encroaching white culture, as well as the growing connection between Cogewea and Densmore.
Themes in this chapter
Spirituality and Tradition
The chapter centers on the sacred peace pipe ritual and the preservation of cultural customs, as Cogewea explains the history and significance of smoking to Densmore.
Cultural Conflict and Preservation
Cogewea contrasts the traditional, harmless use of tobacco with the vices brought by the white man, highlighting the clash between cultures and the effort to preserve indigenous practices.
Colonialism and Dispossession
Cogewea criticizes the white man for introducing whiskey, beer, wine, and opium, and for bringing 'glad tidings' of a burning hell, reflecting on the destructive impact of colonization.
Characters to notice
- Cogewea
Acts as a cultural interpreter, explaining the peace pipe ritual to Densmore. She is torn between her admiration for Jim and her growing interest in Densmore.
- Alfred Densmore
Seeks to ingratiate himself with Cogewea and her grandmother by requesting a story. He remains critical of Jim, accusing him of trying to get him killed.
- Stemteemä
Performs the peace pipe invocation before telling her story. She is initially angered by the fishermen who ignore her warnings, but later saves their lives.
- LaGrinder
The foreman who reluctantly joins the boys on their trip to town. Cogewea admires his strength and skill, but her feelings are complicated by Densmore's presence.
- Celluloid Bill
Urges Jim to join the group going to town, teasing him about being tied down.
- Bob
Mentioned as having a new girl, a homesteader, and showing unusual care in his appearance.
Key passages
“But what did you learn the language and books of the pale face for? They do no good unless you make use of them when needed?”
The grandmother questions the value of learning the white man's language if it is not used to help others, as she uses her knowledge of English to save the fishermen.
Highlights the practical value of cultural knowledge and the grandmother's resourcefulness.
“Smoking is the only ideal of our race that the Caucasian has deemed worthy of perpetuation. This, perhaps, is because it has been considered the worst of our vices. But the Shoyahpee converted it into vice.”
Cogewea notes that the only Native custom the white man adopted was smoking, but he turned it into a vice by introducing strong tobacco and other harmful substances.
Critique of cultural appropriation and the negative influence of white civilization.