Nora Dauenhauer "How to Make Good Baked Salmon from the River"

This is a recipe written in a poetic form. The speaker ties spirituality into the process of making a salmon, which is something that makes Native American literature unique in my opinion. A simple recipe gives the reader insight into the spirituality of a group of people and shows their connection to nature. The process of preparing a salmon in this poem is more than merely cooking the salmon, it is enjoying the beauty of the aromas and the look of the fish itself while being appreciative of your surroundings and the abundance of life. The speaker expresses their belief that the salmon, among all other animals, has a soul and should be treated with respect. The speaker gives instructions aimed at two groups of people; one set of directions is from her ancestors who lived on their indigenous lands and fished from the wild, and the other set applies to someone working from a kitchen. Even though times have changed for many Native Americans and they may not be able to follow traditions exactly the way their ancestors had, this poem shows how they keep these traditions alive and how they still have the same beliefs about spirituality and an appreciation for all forms of life.