ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses depictions of Indigenous peoples in a corpus mainly consisting of works by Norwegian immigrant authors (1839–1925), as part of a broader discursive process of immigrant identity construction. By using language-technological tools, it explores predication strategies – the ways in which subjects are defined, described, evaluated or characterized – and identifies typical patterns such as (1) generalization or conflation of Indigenous groups, (2) dehumanization and demonization and (3) harmonizing and romanticizing. These representations are further examined as integral parts of larger genre-related narratives, including historical accounts of early Viking voyages to America; popular pioneer histories focused on settlement, land development and involvement in conflicts (such as the Sioux War of 1862); and literary explorations of cultural preservation and challenges in the new land. The analysis shows that authors pursue various goals: to position Norwegians as descendants of the first explorers of America, as rightful owners of the land and as simple peasants or members of the working class – at times even drawing parallels between immigrants and Native Americans.
