The
Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Introductory Webquest
To get
the most out of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, you
must have background knowledge about Sherman Alexie, the Spokane Indian Tribe,
and the history of Native Americans in the United States. Answering the
questions below will help you better understand the culture and appreciate the
novel. Use only the websites that we have indicated in order to answer the
questions.
Notes
on Sherman Alexie: https://sites.google.com/site/alexiewebsite/teachingnotes
Tribal Enrollment
1.
If
you ask the U.S. Census Bureau, state governments, various federal government
programs and agencies, and tribal governments who is Indian, why will you get
different answers?
2.
Why
are these definitions artificial?
3.
How
many tribal governments are federally recognized in the United States today?
Historical Basis
for Anger In Alexie’s Work
4.
According
to Arnold Krupat, what does Alexie write about?
5.
Krupat
notes that Alexie’s purposeful use of rage is strategic, a style of Sartre’s
“anti-racist racism.” What do you think “anti-racist racism” is?
6.
Are
you surprised to learn that Native Americans as a composite are the only
in-country ethnic group that the U.S. has declared war against, 1860-1890? Why
or why not?
7.
Seen
from a native point of view, why are some of existing reservation seen as
P.O.W. (Prisoners of War) camps?
Alexie’s Moral Vision
8.
Based
on all Alexie has said, written, and accomplished, how do the author’s describe
his moral vision?
9.
How
does Alexie send a message of hope and reconciliation to both Indian and
non-Indian readers?
The Spokane Indians: http://spokanetribe.com/
10. Who are the Spokane Indians?
11. Click on the “About” tab to learn
about the tribe’s reservation. In the early existence of the Spokane Tribe, how
much land did they have?
12. When, how, and by whom was the
Spokane Indian Reservation created? What do you think the motivation of those
in power might have been?
13. What is the size of the Spokane
Indian Reservation today and how many members does the tribe have?
14. On the map below, circle the
a.
ancestral
territory of the Spokane Indians with striped lines
b.
current
territory of the Spokane Indian reservation with a solid shape
“Insult or Honor?” The Controversy over
Indian Mascots: http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/indepth/upfront/features/index.asp?article=f020810_mascots
15. Why are some Native Americans
opposed to high school and college teams using Indian names for their mascots?
16. What do you think? Are Indian
mascots offensive to Native Americans?
17. What problems have Indian
teenagers been facing?
18. Which of the statistics do you
find the most disturbing? Why?
19. In your own words, what is the
subject of the novel?
20. Is The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian a semi-autobiographical
work? Why or why not?
21. What similarities exist between
Sherman Alexie and the character Arnold Spirit?
Censorship,
Controversy, and The Absolutely True
Diary of a Part-Time Indian:
22. Why do some parents in Westfield,
N.J., want The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian banned from
the town’s high school?
23. Liz Griesmer is the 11th
grade editor of the literary magazine at Westfield High School. How does she
defend Alexie’s book from these attacks?
Reflection
24. What have you learned today that
has made the greatest impression upon you? Please explain why.
