Mourning Dove, one of the first Native authors to publish a novel in English, devoted her life to telling the stories of Native peoples, especially those of the Pacific Northwest. Her dedication grew from childhood experiences, and her autobiography explains the she developed a

resolve to help my people record their traditions and gain all the rights they are entitled to. My memories as a child remain with me yet, influencing all that I do, say, or think. . . . I was always a dreamer about my future and that of my people. . . . Some nights I was the dashing leader of my broken people. Other nights I was going to be wealthy with many cattle and ponies grazing on knee-high bunchgrass along the hillsides, as it was forty years ago. . . . I always bore in mind the teachings of my parents

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Citation: Muntz, Lori. "Mourning Dove". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 19 January 2009 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=3230, accessed 19 March 2024.]

3230 Mourning Dove 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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