Introduction
Zitkala-Sa is an American Indian writer from the Yankton Sioux tribe. It is one of the first collectors of North American Indian folklore, whose major works include “Tales of the American Indians” and “Old Indian Legends.” Tecumseh is a Shawnee warrior and chief, who was born in the family of one of the leaders of the Indian people. When Tecumseh was six years old, they were attacked by Virginian settlers in violation of the peace treaty, outnumbering the Indians by two or three times (Smith, 2015). This event significantly affected the character and future viewpoint of Tecumseh.
Main body
The roles of both of the mentioned characters are shaped around supporting the Indian tribes, withstanding the impact of Whites, and preserving peace. Namely, Zitkala Sa has gained prominence as an advocate of multiculturalism and civil liberties during the dominant policy of cultural assimilation of American Indians (Rorintulus, 2018). The literary works of Zitkala-Sa are one of the first autobiographies of American Indians, which are not covered by a translator or editor. As for Tecumseh, his role is also limited by the concerns about the well-being of Indians. However, this person managed to overcome these borders and focus on peace among people regardless of their cultural origin. When the young man was 15 years old, he joined the military units that attacked the American river caravans (Smith, 2015). After one of the battles, the Shawnee captured the enemy and brutally executed him. This angered Tecumseh, and he dared to shame his comrades, becoming a principled opponent of torture and execution of prisoners of war.
In 1924, John Coolidge, US President, signed into law the Indian Citizenship Act. The members of the Society of American Indians advocated this; however, several tribes, for example, the Iroquois, did not share their views on this issue. Two years later, Zitkala Sa founded the National Congress of the American Indians with her husband and remained its chair until her death (Rorintulus, 2018). Developing the ideas of Pan-Indianism, Zitkala-Sa had the point of view that Indians should not only influence the decisions on national policy issues but also be actively involved in the government to protect their rights to land and cultural heritage.
According to historians, Tecumseh planned to build an independent Indian state and called on the indigenous population of North America to unite. Trying to bring his intentions to life, he tried to negotiate with the United States authorities and allied with the British colonists, but they eventually abandoned him on the battlefield. Having failed to achieve a reaction from the governor, Tecumseh began to unite the northeastern tribes of the country to oppose the seizure of their lands with a united front (Smith, 2015). The leader of the Shawnee tribe attracted thousands of allies to fight the enemy. At the same time, Tecumseh negotiated with Harrison, offering to peacefully resolve the conflict, but each meeting with a government official ended the same way – the refusal to accept the conditions of the Indians.
Conclusion
To conclude, Zitkala-Sa and Tecumseh are the representatives of the Indians, who struggled to help their nation to survive during the period of battles with the Whites. Both of them were supposed to have predetermined lives, but they managed to develop leadership skills and overcome social barriers. While Zitkala-Sa became a prominent writer and activist, Tecumseh can be considered an effective leader and politician, who contributed to the relationships between Indians and Whites.
References
Rorintulus, O. A. (2018). Gender equality and women’s power in American Indian traditional culture in Zitkala-Sa’s short stories. Humanus, 17(2), 138-149.
Smith, E. O. (2015). The Western captive and other Indian stories. Broadview Press.