Journal 4

Why might this theory, that children who do not survive are actually evil spirits, makes sense to the tribe? what did you find most challenging about chapter 9? why? what did you find most interesting? why?

Question 1:

It might make sense because when a child is miss carried or dies young they are usually sick or unhealthy when born. The tribe really does not like sickness or weakness, so dead or sick babies is not a good omen and bring sadness and depression to the community.

Question 2:

I felt that the most challenging part of the chapter where the flashbacks and the dying children.

The flashbacks where very hard to follow at points. Had to go back a couple pages to understand what was happening and understanding why. The couple pages talking about Ekwefi's miscarriages and sick babies was very sad and i felt a lot of empathy for her.

Question 3:

I found the iyi-uwa part of the story very interesting. It was sometimes hard to follow but interesting for children to have a ceremony for finding a stone that they buried earlier in their life. It was very different from anything from we would do in America, which is why I think it was interesting to me.