Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 1998. [Vol. 5.] Eger Journal of American Studies. (Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 25)

Studies - Szabolcs Szilágyi: Verbal Versus Non-Verbal Aspects in The Rez Sisters and Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing

something across to him, they speak in Cree or Ojibway as if the real means of communication could be nothing but the Native language. Shortly after this, Simon (whether his name has any implication of the Simon of the Bible is yet another question, but if he is anything, he is a solid rock of Native culture) is approached by another man, Zachary, who is looking for an answer in the middle of a Native dance performed by Simon. One would assume, and is fooled for a while to believe, that Zachary seeks Simon's advice for spiritual reasons, and it is quite ironic to realise that it is because Simon worked with 'doughmaking' machines that his help is asked for. In this scene, Simon constantly dives back into the Native language as if it was the only way to retain and maintain his spirituality, and although Zachary understands everything Simon says, his responses are always in English. He (Zachary) is so converted and materialistic at this point of the drama (and by this point of his life) that

—especially from a Native observer's point of view

—one can feel nothing but a strong kind of detachment from him and resentment over his actions. Nevertheless, this kind of behaviour is what will allow him the significant change that he goes through. So by the end, when he questions the existence of any kind of God, he does so out of true feelings for his people as he loses his materialistic view. Besides the occasional Native words that come up every now and then, there are three major scenes when the use of Native language is extensive. The least significant but quite surprising one is the hockey commentary of Big Joey in Dry Lips, who mixes the Native and English languages so much in his speech relating to the action on the ice that one has to stop and wonder at times whether he just mispronounces a word or two or uses a word of a different language. The reason for such a commentary might be multiple: a) as in most cases, the use of their mother tongue reflects that they are emotionally attached to what they are talking about and feel the need to hide behind their original language, or b) perhaps this is the only way they can express emotions, or c) by announcing or reporting the game, which originates in a different culture in their own language, it might become their own. The other, and more important instance, of the use of the Native language occurs in the scene when Nanabush/Patsy is raped by Dickie Bird Halked. Shortly before Patsy (acted by Nanabush) appears, Black 91