In Green Grass Running Water, King discusses the importance of standing against ‘rules’ and the ‘authorities.’ Eli Stand Alone, in GGRW, stands against the company that is going to build the dam in order to protect the Blackfoot people’s rights to their land. Although Eli turned away from his native culture, it is interesting how he returns to the reserve and wishes to protect his mother’s house where the dam was to be built. He continually refuses to relinquish his mother’s homestead. His ‘no’ corresponds with Elijah Harper’s ‘no’ to the Meech Lake Accord. However, Clifford Sitfton, the supervisor of the dam, ignores Eli’s story and says, “Nothing personal,” and that it’s all for the good of the country.
King uses the character Eli Stand Alone to allude to Elijah Harper, who was the Minister of Northern Affairs in Alberta. He faced a similar situation as Eli in GGRW when he stood against ‘rules’ that abused Native people’s rights. In 1990, he stood against the Meech Lake Accord and effectively stopped it from proceeding. The Meech Lake Accord was “a constitutional amendment package negotiated to gain Quebec’s acceptance of the Constitution Act, 1982." Just like Eli Stand Alone, Elijah Harper insisted that Native People should have had a voice in the discussions regarding the Accord and rejected the Accord.
Further reference to the character of Eli is revealed in his conversation with Clifford Sifton:
“ 'And he didn’t want the man on his mother’s porch.'
‘looks like you’re think about building a dam.’
‘That’s right,’ said Sifton. ‘she’s going to be a beauty.’
‘This is my mother’s house.’
‘Your sister said you might want some things out of it before we tore it down.’
‘She built it herself, log by log.’
‘If there are any big pieces, sing out,
and I’ll send some of the boys to give you a hand.’ ” (pg 114)
This conversation is very disturbing. Although Sifton does not acknowledge or hear the words of Eli when he speaks of his mother’s house, Eli continually stands firm in his rejection of his mother’s house being destroyed in order to build the dam. Sifton, however, does not hear a word that Eli is saying. Eli Stand Alone represents the entire First Nation people’s in North America whose voices have not been heard because no one has been listening to what they have to say. In fact, they have been silenced.
Another allusion to Eli is the character, Elijah, in the Bible. Perhaps, King may be alluding to Elijah in the Bible since Elijah too stands alone in the midst of chaos. In the Bible, Book of Kings, Elijah stands defending the worship of Yahweh (Jewish God) over Baal. Although no one listens to Elijah, he stands firm in his belief and challenges the worship of Baal. This situation is similar to that of how Eli stands firm and challenges the people who are disturbing the Native’s land. Elijah, in the Bible, too is taken away in a whirl wind to heaven (2 Kings 2:9-12). Similarly, Eli is taken away with the breaking of the dam, but continues to ‘stands alone’ in protecting the Native territory/ his mother’s land.
King uses the character Eli Stand Alone to allude to Elijah Harper, who was the Minister of Northern Affairs in Alberta. He faced a similar situation as Eli in GGRW when he stood against ‘rules’ that abused Native people’s rights. In 1990, he stood against the Meech Lake Accord and effectively stopped it from proceeding. The Meech Lake Accord was “a constitutional amendment package negotiated to gain Quebec’s acceptance of the Constitution Act, 1982." Just like Eli Stand Alone, Elijah Harper insisted that Native People should have had a voice in the discussions regarding the Accord and rejected the Accord.
Further reference to the character of Eli is revealed in his conversation with Clifford Sifton:
“ 'And he didn’t want the man on his mother’s porch.'
‘looks like you’re think about building a dam.’
‘That’s right,’ said Sifton. ‘she’s going to be a beauty.’
‘This is my mother’s house.’
‘Your sister said you might want some things out of it before we tore it down.’
‘She built it herself, log by log.’
‘If there are any big pieces, sing out,
and I’ll send some of the boys to give you a hand.’ ” (pg 114)
This conversation is very disturbing. Although Sifton does not acknowledge or hear the words of Eli when he speaks of his mother’s house, Eli continually stands firm in his rejection of his mother’s house being destroyed in order to build the dam. Sifton, however, does not hear a word that Eli is saying. Eli Stand Alone represents the entire First Nation people’s in North America whose voices have not been heard because no one has been listening to what they have to say. In fact, they have been silenced.
Another allusion to Eli is the character, Elijah, in the Bible. Perhaps, King may be alluding to Elijah in the Bible since Elijah too stands alone in the midst of chaos. In the Bible, Book of Kings, Elijah stands defending the worship of Yahweh (Jewish God) over Baal. Although no one listens to Elijah, he stands firm in his belief and challenges the worship of Baal. This situation is similar to that of how Eli stands firm and challenges the people who are disturbing the Native’s land. Elijah, in the Bible, too is taken away in a whirl wind to heaven (2 Kings 2:9-12). Similarly, Eli is taken away with the breaking of the dam, but continues to ‘stands alone’ in protecting the Native territory/ his mother’s land.
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