Pushing the Bear: A Novel of the Trail of Tears

Because “Tennessee” is the longest chapter in the text, the author uses the very form of the novel to reflect the physical and emotional toll on the characters as they trek across the state. As they attempt to survive, the characters are met with such harsh conditions that the length of the chapter reflects both the physical journey and the mental and emotional turmoil of this experience. As Maritole recounts, “People continued to die every day, especially children and the old ones […] It seemed we would never get them buried” (84). The journey creates devastation for the Cherokee Nation as many of the people succumb to the harsh conditions. Maritole’s depiction of the grim realities behind these deaths illustrates the fact that the Cherokee must navigate the pain of their grief in addition to the physical hardships of the cold and snow. The farther they travel from their home in North Carolina, the more removed the characters feel from their culture and heritage, and Maritole thinks that her community is “marching west towards darkness, towards death” (58). As the journey continues to create destruction for their people, the characters become resigned to the trail itself. As Maritole suggests, the journey feels as though they are being led to their deaths because they have all been forced out of their land and can barely process the immense losses they suffer on the trail.

The length of the chapter also allows space for the text to explore other narrative techniques, such as lists of supplies and an excerpt from a Christian periodical called The Baptist. The excerpt from The Baptist creates a harsh tone of irony by depicting the colonialist belief that converting the Cherokee people to Christianity would allow “for the salvation of the noble-hearted Indian” (111). By incorporating this article, the structure of the novel allows outside views of the Trail of Tears to make an appearance among the firsthand accounts of the journey, thereby highlighting how the displacement and erasure of the Cherokee people is perpetuated by the settlers and the United States government. The novel also provides multiple views of the resettlement process, examining the nuances of the journey itself and illuminating the myriad effects it has on the country. In this instance, The Baptist article illustrates how the influence of Christianity perpetuates the belief that Indigenous cultures are harmful to the country, for the conversion of Indigenous peoples is characterized as a “salvation” for the Cherokee Nation: one that blatantly overlooks the ongoing injustices that the Cherokee people are suffering. The presence of Reverend Bushyhead also convinces the white population that converting the Cherokee people to Christianity is possible, and his attitude perpetuates the misperception that the Cherokee people do not believe in Jesus simply because they are not aware of the Christian God. This assumption callously dismisses the inherent validity of the Cherokee beliefs and heritage.

The novel also illustrates the importance of land within Cherokee culture and establishes key differences from the perspective of the white settlers. For the Cherokee people, their land connects them to the Earth, their culture, and even their history. These profound ties are the impetus for The Clash Between Indigenous Culture and Governmental Policies. Maritole’s sister-in-law, Luthy, looks to the Earth and the natural environment to survive the trail. In her desire for enough meat to satisfy her hunger, she finds herself thinking about her “uncle of the Deer clan” who wears “antlers on his head” while hunting, and as she carries a basket, she asks, “Fill it, Great Spirit, with deer meat” (63). Luthy’s thoughts reflect the depths to which she values her connection with the land, and her memories also depict traditional Cherokee rituals and practices. Because she has been forced from her home, Luthy’s desires represent her struggle to survive even as they demonstrate the Cherokee people’s trust and connection with the land itself. However, during the long trek of the Trail of Tears, the Cherokee people are also forced to adopt a lifestyle that runs counter to the rhythm of the land, and they cannot participate in their usual practices. For example, later in the chapter, Luthy states that they must wait to bury their dead because “the ground was too rocky and there was no coffin” (66). On the one hand, they cannot bury their loved ones and community members because of the physical lack of a coffin, but the image of the rocky ground symbolizes the new disconnect between the Earth and the Cherokee people. The physical journey also forces them to face harsh winter conditions that cause many people to die before they can complete the journey. As the Cherokee Nation faces the forced loss of their land, they struggle to hold onto their sense of self and their collective identity.