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How Symbolism has been used to communicate the theme in Miranda's memoir, 'Bad Indians’

Pride in one's culture should always be held dear, as nothing beats owning one's history and traditions. Miranda's memoir, 'Bad Indians,' is an insightful and moving account of her mixed-race identity and intergenerational trauma in her family and community. Miranda draws upon personal reflection, historical research, and oral traditions from her Ohlone-Costanoan Esselen Nation heritage in California to present an intricate portrait of Native American life in California. Miranda employs symbolism expertly in her memoir to convey its central theme: reclaiming and honoring Indigenous cultural heritage against colonization and assimilation.

The basket holds significant symbolic meaning in Native American culture, symbolizing resilience and strength within communities. Deborah A. Miranda describes in her memoir "Bad Indians" how basket-making tradition was integral to Native American identity and tradition. Its loss was one of colonialism's effects on Native communities (Holm et al.). For instance, she describes Aunt Margie's efforts to preserve the basket-making tradition: "My aunt told me stories about hiding her baskets from Indian agents when they were banned" (Miranda 24). Here, the basket symbolizes how indigenous communities have strived to preserve their cultural heritage despite attempts by colonizers to destroy it. Basket weaving represents resistance against colonialism and acts as an expression of ancestral knowledge and cultural identity reclaiming. Miranda mentions how her Auntie Bette "learned basket weaving from her mother, who in turn learned it from hers before" (Miranda 29). Passing down such skills among generations exemplifies resilience and strength within Native American communities. The basket serves as a symbolic reminder of Native American communities' strength and resilience despite colonizers' attempts to eradicate their culture and traditions. Yet, Native American communities continue to flourish despite colonialism's efforts. Miranda mentions how basket-making traditions were one-way Native people could resist assimilation and express cultural identities (Miranda 23). As such, the basket is a beacon of hope for Native American communities as they restore traditions and cultural practices over time. Deborah A. Miranda demonstrates in her memoir how the basket serves as a powerful symbol of resilience and strength in Native American culture, serving to represent cultural identity, resistance against colonialism, and cultural revival. Additionally, this symbolic object is a constant reminder of Native American communities' strength and resilience while offering hope for the future as they preserve and revitalize traditions.

Throughout this book, the landscape symbolizes resistance against colonialism, symbolizing both tribes' struggles against oppression and their strength in facing it head-on. Miranda writes, "The land was stripped, yet people still had their stories" (Miranda 19). This quote demonstrates how the landscape represents resistance against colonialism. The land was taken from tribal groups, but their traditions live on. The landscape stands as a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience of Native American tribes despite attempts at cultural assimilation. Miranda's connection to her land is a potent reminder of colonialism's impact on Native American communities. She writes, "My heart beats for this land, and its pulse runs through my veins" (Miranda 29). This quote highlights the profound relationship that Native American communities share with the land and how colonialism has altered this bond. Miranda's relationship to the land symbolizes how difficult it can be for tribes to maintain their cultural practices and traditions under colonialism while serving as an expression of cultural identity for them. Miranda emphasizes the significance of maintaining Native American cultural practices and traditions through this quote: "We had a deep connection to both our surroundings and to their stories that had come about due to them" (Miranda 67). This statement underscores why Native Americans must preserve their cultural practices and traditions.

Landscape serves as a visual reminder of Native American communities' rich histories and traditions and the need to transmit these to future generations. Furthermore, it represents hope for their continued existence; Miranda writes, "We are still here." Miranda 176). This quote illustrates how Miranda's connection to the land symbolizes Native American cultural practices returning. Landscape serves as a source of strength and resilience for Native American communities and a constant reminder. The text offers an in-depth account of colonialism's impact on Native American communities in California. The landscape symbolizes resistance against colonialism, symbolizing its oppressive effects on Native American communities and their ability to overcome them. Miranda's deep connection to his native land serves as a potent reminder of colonialism's impact while at the same time representing cultural identity and future hopes for his nation.

The author uses the body as an icon of resistance against colonialism. Through personal experiences and family history research, Miranda examines how Native American bodies have been objectified, commercialized, and brutalized. The author begins her narrative by emphasizing her body as a site of resistance, writing: "I am a bad Indian because I wear lipstick and high heels" (Miranda 4). This statement challenges stereotypes of Native American women as unfeeling and cold-blooded (Theobald )while affirming her right to express herself however she chooses. By accepting herself fully while resisting conformity to narrow standards of Native American identity, the author becomes an icon for cultural preservation. The author also explores the historical context of Native American bodies as objects of fascination and exploitation by European colonizers. European colonizers saw Native American bodies as exotic and primitive, treating them like scientific specimens for display purposes or use in scientific experiments. According to her explanations, objectifying Native American bodies was part of an attempt by European colonizers to dehumanize and control Native American people."Colonization did not raise questions of gender; on the contrary, people living under colonization had their gender erased...