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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 By: Mr. Afram Washington state Washington’s natural beauty
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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!
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
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>.