Native Americans have a very rich culture. Full of struggles, disputes, and successes, each life story embraces tradition and spirituality. However, during the nineteenth century, they strived to have their voices heard because foreigners undermined them. The indigenous people experienced many hardships that caused a sense of insecurity and led them to question their own identity. In "You Can Go Home Again: Sequence" and "Waiting at the Edge: Words Towards a Life," Mary TallMountain and Maurice Kenny search for their identity. The guidance of their fathers, reconnecting with nature, and expressing themselves by writing guided both TallMountain and Kenny to the path of rediscovering themselves. .
By reconnecting with her father, TallMountain realized and continued her pursuit in finding herself. TallMountain states, "I learned much from him about how to forgive, to sharpen my perceptions of human beings, to love" (9). She finally had a father figure to look up to, for his absence affected TallMountain growing up. From him, she discovered how to become mature and understood not to hold onto the anger and discontent inside. She realized how to let go of any resentfulness towards her past, accept it, and move on. TallMountain appreciated the guidance of her father because it helped her refine her thoughts on her past and enhanced her ability to become more open minded. Letting go allowed her to clear her mind from the inner conflict within that clouded her judgment and become more receptive to learning how to forgive and feel compassion. More importantly, she learned to accept that she could only absolve her wrongdoings. TallMountain's father mentored her and opened her up to the warmth of affection, unfamiliar to her while growing up. With a heavy burden lifted from her shoulders, TallMountain searched for her identity. .
Kenny, like TallMountain, had his father's guidance.
