Shell Shaker: Powerful Women Shell

Shell Shaker: Powerful Women

Shell Shaker is one book that can be read from different angles because the novel is essentially a skillful interplay of various themes. These themes offer a wide range of viewpoints on misuse of power, corruption that is integral part of power itself, women who transcend traditional roles to change the destiny of a nation and history's influence on the present etc. In short, the novel narrates two separate events at different points in time, and simultaneously offers an insight into the power of people who react to horrific events to introduce change and to stop corruption. Among these people, it is the women population that is shown with greatest resilience and immense strength that transforms an entire nation and its destiny.

Throughout the novel, the author, LeAnne Howe has paid a tribute to the women of the Indian tribe Choctaw who exhibit great power and strength when apparently everything else has failed to bring peace and control the flow of violence. Readers with some knowledge of Indian tribes would not find it strange that these women actually enjoyed such influence because in most traditional societies, when insurmountable obstacles appeared, women would resort to centuries old ceremonies and practices to invoke the spirits or higher powers. In short they enjoyed power by virtue of their strong belief system and their strict adherence to old practices and traditions.

In Shell Shaker, the title actually bespeaks of a practice that old women of Choctaw would adopt to dispel the influence of evil. Women peacemakers of Choctaw tribe in the old eastern town of Yanabi practically laid the foundation of this practice when Shakbatina's Grandmother used Shell Shaker to trap evil and stem the incessant flow of violence that was grounded in the evil spirit of Osano. While the men fought through other means, Grandmother focused on this ceremony as her sole weapon of attack. She tried to invoke the pity of the Miko Luak, fire god to bring peace in her land. Her prayers were granted when Itilauichi, the Autumnal Equinox informed her that: "Through your sacrifice of blood, you have proven yourself worthy. The things you desire for the people will be given"(p 2).

With Grandmother, the peacemaking tradition originated among women of Choctaw tribe and over the years, women used this ceremony to counter evil force of Osano. Red Shoes, who had actually turned evil by virtue of coming under Osano's influence, gave rise to an unfortunate situation in which two tribes of Choctaw and Chickasaw clashed with each other over their death of a woman belonging to the latter tribe. On this occasion, Shakbatina decided to light the peacemaker's torch once again by resorting to the practice of Shell Shaker. This was she followed in the footsteps of Grandmother and declared: "I am a Shell Shaker. I know when it is my time to return to the earth... I will sacrifice myself, knowing that peace will follow between our two tribes"(p 4).

The story then shifts to modern times where we see Shakbatina and Red Shoes' descendents waging war against each other in Old Durant Oklahoma and the year is 1991. Women of Billy family who were descendents of Red Shoes take on the responsibility of invoking the power of Shell Shaker.

Auda knows the dance. Every spring she shakes shells with other Indian women in Southeastern Oklahoma. Although most women now recycle evaporated milk cans in place of turtle shells, the dance still spiritually reconnects the earth and Indian people during Green Corn time. But this Shell Shaker's song is different, it stirs an older memory coming to life inside her.

In this manner the tradition continues even in modern times and women continue to influence Choctaw destiny by resorting to old practices and ceremonies. In these times, women apart from their adherence to old beliefs have also learned other means of attaining power. They are now properly educated for example Auda Billy have a PhD in history and they also professionals in various fields.