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Introduction to The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Introduction to The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. By: Mr. Afram. Washington state. Washington’s natural beauty. The Author.

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Introduction to The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

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  1. Introduction to The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian By: Mr. Afram Washington state Washington’s natural beauty

  2. The Author • Sherman Alexie, Jr. was born in 1966 on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, WA. Like Arnold, Alexie was born with hydrocephalus and suffered from seizures as a child (Alexie). www.nndb.com Sherman Alexie

  3. The Author, Con’d • Alexie was a bright student and attended Reardan High School (Alexie). • Despite his struggles (both with health and alcoholism), Alexie has achieved great success. He wrote a screenplay for Smoke Signals, an award-winning film at Sundance. Alexie at a book reading

  4. Setting of the Novel Wellpinit is located in northeastern Washington, approximately forty-four miles outside Spokane. Wellpinit is very close to both Idaho and Montana.

  5. History: Exploration and Disease en.wikipedia.org • Some historians estimate that treatable European diseases (such as smallpox measles) decimated nearly 80% of the Native population. • For example, from 1618 – 1619, smallpox wiped out nearly 90% of the Massachusetts Bay Indians. bepast.org

  6. The Gov’t and Indians • Trail of Tears • After the Indian Removal Act of 1830, Indians were forced from their native lands. • The Choctaw, originally from the Deep South, were moved to Oklahoma. • Of the nearly 17,000 Choctaw who were moved, historians estimate that 2,500 to 6,000 people died. www.pbs.org This painting depicts the forced relocation of the Cherokee

  7. The Gov’t and Indians, Con’d • Wounded Knee Massacre • On December 29, 1850, the Lakota Sioux agreed to leave their home in South Dakota and be relocated (by train) to Omaha, Nebraska. • Due to a misunderstanding with a deaf Indian, the US Gov’t opened fire and killed nearly 300 men, women, and children. en.wikipedia.org Deceased Sioux were buried in a mass grave

  8. Issues Facing Indians Today • Poverty • Economists estimate that most reservations have an unemployment rate between 50% to 90%. (LA County’s current rate is around 12%.) • The Bureau of Indian Affairs attempts to address the poverty, but the organization is criticized for being inept and corrupt. mendotadakota.com

  9. Issues, Con’d • Poor Education • Nearly 54% of all Native Americans drop out of high school, thus ensuring that students do not have the skills for success. • Ironically, Indians remain a popular mascot for high school teams. lefthookjournal.wordpress.com

  10. Issues, Con’d • Obesity • Nearly 30% of all Native Americans are obese. This is partially due to the consumption of gov’t subsidized food, as well as the prevalence of fast-food restaurants in low-income areas. Finally, many critics argue that poor education is to blame. honorindians.com Junior’s favorite food!

  11. Essential Questions • How does my past influence me? • How do people’s pasts influence their beliefs, actions, and future? • How do people tell their stories? Wellpinit, WA

  12. Works Cited Alexie, Sherman. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New York: Little, Brown and Company 2009. Print. Alexie, Sherman. "Sherman Alexie, Officially." Sherman Alexie, Officially. Sherman Alexie, 2012. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://www.fallsapart.com/>. "Sherman Alexie." Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 14 Oct. 2012. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherman_Alexie>.

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