WHEREAS by Layli Long Soldier
In Whereas, Layli Long Soldier manipulates language to create new meanings and retell the store of America’s relationship with Native Americans. By using the 2009 Congressional Resolution of Apology as a reference, Long Soldier is able to explore not just the meaning of the word “apology” but demonstrate the importance of taking accountability for the generations of grief and pain that are often laced within histories of violence. This is seen in the second portion of the collection, where the speaker addresses the movements observed when given an apology. “Whereas when offered an apology I watch each movement…I listen for cracks in knuckles or in the word choice, what is it that I want”(62). However, the narration of the apology given by the speaker’s father on page 65, seems to meet the authenticity and accountability that is being seeked out by the speaker. The father breaks down at the breakfast table and after “centuries in sorry” he says sorry again for many of the things he did not do. The speaker, instead of asking for more just accepts it and moves on.
This is a completely different route she takes from her response to the government issued apology, that is addressed in the book. The reason is why is answered in the resolutions section where the speaker breaks down the meaning of apology and what it means to apologize. The speaker shares that in Native languages there isn’t a word for “apologize” or “sorry” not because people do not apologize but there “aren’t definite actions for admitting or amending wrongdoing” (92). Which leads her to pick apart of the text of the US apology, analyzing how this text is a gesture in the right direction, when it doesn’t seem to admit or amend.
In addition to exploring the meaning of apology, Layli uses form to get her points across. A number of poems are formatted to mimic an official document, like the boundaries poem on page 97, and the language she uses even on the last page of the book is a sign of off sorts to protect the speaker from any legal claims.
“Nothing in this book –
authorizes or supports any claim against Layli Long Solider by the United States or
serves as a settlement of any claim against Layli Long Soldier by the United States here in the grassesgrassesgrasses” (101).
Throughout Whereas, there are also a few erasure poems that help us focus on the parts of Native communities story that the speaker wants to highlight and in others she uses double space which helps the reader digest the information being given. This seems to typically be the case with poems that tend to carry more physical or emotional violence. An example of this in 38 where uses 5 double spaced pages to narrate the hanging of thirty eight Dakota men. The speaker takes her time to include as much information as possible on a historical event and its effects that’s not as often shared in media, but had a lasting impact on the Native community.
Though the speaker lets it be known that she is not a historian, Whereas is a book that breaks down a community’s history while lacing in very personal stories that display the effects of a history of violence. Long Soldier demonstrates that she has mastered language in the sense of being able to explore how meanings of words like apology or Lakota, her tribe can differ based off who’s speaking. As a result, upon reaching the end of Whereas the importance and value of authenticity and accountability is understood.