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Joseph Bruchac published “Ellis Island” as part of his poetry collection Entering Onondaga (1978). In the poem, a speaker contemplates their ethnic identity in the context of America’s most famous immigration hub, Ellis Island. The speaker recognizes “the two Slovak children” (Line 2) who became their grandparents. It addresses the conditions immigrants faced when they disembarked at Ellis Island, such as “long days of quarantine” (Line 4). The poem also portrays the children’s first encounter with one of America’s most famous statues and landmarks, the Statue of Liberty. The speaker thinks about their European identity, but then slowly shifts into a reflection about another key element of their identity—their Native identity. The European and Native identities momentarily conflict as the speaker acknowledges “Lands invaded” (Line 22) as ownership and property rights became common due to European influence. The poem concludes with the speaker’s acknowledgement that their native identity often overrides their European ancestral memories.
Poet Biography
Born October 16, 1942, writer and storyteller Joseph Bruchac is best known for his work focusing on the Indigenous peoples of America. Bruchac was born in Saratoga Springs, NY. He is of English, Slovak, and Abenaki descent.
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By Joseph Bruchac