My thoughts: Helen Hunt Jackson, Zitkala Sa

--Helen Hunt Jackson Response: "From A Century of Dishonor"--

What stood out to me the most in the article was that The Ponca were able to maintain a positive attitude through all of the commotion between them and their neighboring enemies of the east (pale faces), west (Pawnees), north (Sioux), and south (Osages and Konzas). Although the United States negotiated a peace treaty with them and placed them under their protection, The Poncas were very much left alone to defend themselves and avoid danger.

--Zitkala Sa Response--

Gertrude Bonnin's mother sought after a higher level of education for her daughter, allowing Gertrude to be taken by the missionaries who came to the Indian reservations to allow others to embrace the pale faces way of life. It seemed as though she felt de-culturalized when she was told not to speak her native language and to abandon her style of clothing, as well as cutting off her long hair; however, she held on to her native roots, and later on in life she became an accomplished writer as well as a musician. She also involved herself with a number of Indian Organizations that sought to enhance the lives of the Indians.
What amazed me the most was that she was able to get the experience of going to a new land, taking in what she had to take in, and then turning that knowledge into something that would benefit the people of her homeland the most.