D'Arcy McNickle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
D'Arcy McNickle
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | January 14, 1904 St. Ignatius, Montana |
| Died | October 10, 1977 (aged 73) Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| Occupation |
|
| Alma mater | University of Montana (1921–1925) Oxford University (1925–1926) University of Grenoble (1926–1933) |
| Notable works | The Surrounded The Hawk Is Hungry and Other Stories |
D'Arcy McNickle (born January 14, 1904 – died October 10, 1977) was a very important person for Native Americans. He was a talented writer, a strong activist for Native American rights, a college professor, and an expert in anthropology (the study of human societies and cultures). He was part of the Salish Kootenai nation. McNickle is especially known for his novel The Surrounded.
Contents
Who Was D'Arcy McNickle?
D'Arcy McNickle was born on January 14, 1904, in St. Ignatius, Montana. He grew up on the Flathead Indian Reservation. His mother, Philomene Parenteau, was Cree-Métis. She came to Montana after a conflict called the 1885 Riel Rebellion. His father, William McNickle, was Irish.
Early Life and Education
D'Arcy went to mission schools and boarding schools. When he was 17, he started studying at the University of Montana. He loved learning languages like Greek and Latin. This love for language made him want to become a writer.
After college, in 1925, McNickle sold his land on the Flathead Reservation. He used the money to study in Europe. He went to Oxford University in England and the University of Grenoble in France.
Working for Native American Rights
When D'Arcy McNickle came back to the United States, he lived in New York City for a while. In 1936, he published his first novel, The Surrounded. That same year, he started working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). This government agency works with Native American tribes.
He worked with John Collier, who was in charge of Indian Affairs. During this time, Collier encouraged Native American tribes to have more self-government. McNickle became an expert in many areas of Native American policy. He helped create the National Congress of American Indians in 1944. This group works to protect the rights of Native Americans.
By 1950, McNickle was a top leader at the BIA. He also started writing non-fiction books. These books were about Native American history, cultures, and government policies.
Important Contributions
In 1952, McNickle became the director of American Indian Development, Inc. This group worked with the University of Colorado at Boulder. He also worked with other Native American groups. These groups were fighting for civil rights and working together more closely.
McNickle helped write the "Declaration of Indian Purpose." This important document was for the 1961 American Indian Chicago Conference. It outlined what Native American tribes wanted for their future.
Later, in 1966, McNickle moved to the University of Regina. He helped start a new anthropology department there. In 1972, he helped create the Center for the History of the American Indian. This center is at the Newberry Library in Chicago.
D'Arcy McNickle had two daughters, Antoinette Marie Parenteau McNickle and Kathleen D'Arcy McNickle. He passed away in October 1977.
Legacy and Recognition
D'Arcy McNickle received many honors for his work.
- In 1963, he won a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship. This is a special award for people doing important work.
- In 1966, the University of Colorado gave him an honorary Doctor of Science degree.
- In 1984, the Center for History of the American Indian was named after him. It is now called the D'Arcy McNickle Center.
- The library at Salish Kootenai College was also named in his honor. This college is a tribal college on the Flathead Reservation.
- He was named a fellow of the American Anthropological Association. This means he was recognized as a leading expert in anthropology.
His Books and Stories
D'Arcy McNickle wrote many short stories and novels throughout his life.
The Surrounded
His most famous book is his first novel, The Surrounded (1936). It tells the story of Archilde León. He is a young man who is half-Salish and half-Latino/white. Archilde returns to his family's ranch on the Flathead Indian Reservation.
He finds it hard to connect with his father, who is not Native American. He also struggles with his mother, who is a traditional Salish woman. She has started to follow her culture more closely. Their relationship becomes difficult when they are sad that he wants to leave for a big city.
Archilde starts to feel more at home on the reservation. An elder named Modeste teaches him stories about Salish history. He makes up with his father and learns to follow his mother's Salish traditions. At the end of the book, he is wrongly blamed for two murders. He gives himself up to the police. This ending shows the meaning of the book's title, The Surrounded.
Other Writings
The Hawk Is Hungry and Other Stories (1992) is a collection of 16 short stories. These stories show how many different kinds of writing McNickle could do. The collection includes:
- "The Reservation"
- "Hard Riding"
- "En roulant ma boule roulant..."
- "Meat for God"
- "Snowfall"
- "Train Time"
- "Montana"
- "The Hawk Is Hungry"
- "Debt of Gratitude"
- "Newcomers"
- "Man's Work"
- "Going to School"
- "The City"
- "Manhattan Wedlock"
- "Let the War Be Fought"
- "In the Alien Corn"
- "Six Beautiful in Paris"
- and "The Silver Locket".
Organizations He Helped
- National Congress of American Indians (N.C.A.I)
- American Indian Development, Inc.
His Books
Fiction Books
- The Surrounded (1936)
- Runner in the Sun: A Story of Indian Maize (1954) - This was a novel for young adults.
- Wind From an Enemy Sky (1978)
- The Hawk Is Hungry and Other Stories (1992)
Non-Fiction Books
- They Came Here First: the Epic of the American Indian (1949, revised edition 1975)
- The Indian in American Society (for National Congress of American Indians, 1955)
- Indians and Other Americans: Two Ways of Life Meet (1959)
- Indian Man: A Life of Oliver La Farge (1971)
- Native American Tribalism: Indian Survivals and Renewals (1973)
- An Historical Review of Federal-Indian Relationships (American Indian Policy Review Commission, 1975)
Important Meetings
D'Arcy McNickle was involved in the American Indian Chicago Conference in June 1961.
- He helped create the Declaration of Indian Purpose at this meeting.
