Silko's writing is saturated with the facts and traditions of her Laguna Pueblo heritage. As well, Silko's writing also exhibits the influences of contemporary American society. She does not live separated from the world; rather, even as she has delved mentally and spiritually into the roots of her native heritage, she remains deeply involved with the outside world, and currently teaches at the University ofArizona in Tucson.

But to understand Silko's writing it is necessary to briefly outline the historical place of the New Mexico pueblo tribes. The groups of American Indians collectively known as the Pueblo groups inhabit the Southwest, particularly the present-day states of New Mexico and Arizona. These tribes built permanent structures as their community dwellings. These "pueblos" are in essence apartment buildings in which tribe members live. In addition, each pueblo had at least one "kiva," an underground room in which religious...