Part 3 Section 3 Summary and Analysis

The third section of "The World We Live In Now" narrates two legends that have survived the White Man's socio-cultural influence and continue to play an important role in contemporary Indian culture.

"The Deer Woman" (Ponca) The introduction to this story describes the cultural sophistication of the Ponca people, the belief that Deer Woman still exists, and also the belief that until Deer Woman is captured, "no Indian woman will be really safe away from her family."

The first part of the story describes how, in the time before the White Men came, the Deer Woman would insinuate herself into the annual ritual dances of the Ponca people. She always looks the same: long black hair, a white buckskin dress, and with deer hooves instead of feet. Men, it's told, would be unable to look away from her dark...