"Lost in the World" is a essay base on a collection of poem - Exercise in lip pointing.

As human beings, we can always look at the past, examine the present and envision the future of humanity by reading our cultural stories. But what if these stories do not represent reality? Unfortunately, this is really what is happening in Canadian Indian cultures nowadays, and what Annharte is wanting to change through her poems in Exercise in Lip pointing. She is trying to portray Indians realistically, and is fighting against the stereotypical way in which Indians are depicted. Throughout the centuries, Native Indians have struggled to retain their natural identity, traditional beliefs and social status in our society. However, despite the efforts, the negative stereotypical images about Indians are being encouraged and propagated through museums, media, as well as movies.

There are people suggesting that Canadian society prefers to keep the Indians in museums. Museums are places where human achievement is celebrated; also they provide a sense of history.

Antisemitic caricature shortly after the big bang ...

Indian

Cute Indian Woman Sitting

However they firmly place Indians in the past, separating them from our contemporary cultural experience. It is difficult to be heard in the present when someone is always suggesting that real Indian culture only exists in museums. In museums, Indian culture is portraying in a primitive and savage images. The depictions of warriors, hunters, chiefs and dancers of the past are only emphasizing parts of the Indian history. The strength and beauty of their cultures during peaceful time are being ignored. The reason why such stereotype images are being produced in museums is mainly the displays and photographs are not truly shown to the audiences; it is to ensure that museums will have the control over the message that is ultimately created and passed on to the audiences. And so that, the visitors will believe the images they see in museums will be the true facts of the past. Yet,