The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

1. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Grade 5 eBook

2. Learning Outcomes Chapter 1: Students will be able to identify the key points of the book. Chapter 2: Students will be able to identify literary elements throughout the book. Chapter 3: Students will be able to identify the meaning and explain the drawings throughout the book. Compelling Question Compelling question: What role did cultural conflict, personal versus external, play in the book?

3. About the Author Sherman Alexie was born on October 7, 1966 on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, Washington. His father was a member of the Coeur d’Alene tribe and his mother was of Colville, Flathead, Spokane, and European-American heritage. Alexie was born with hydrocephalus, or a large amount of cerebral fluid in the cranial cavity of the brain. When Alexie was just six-months old, he had to have surgery and was not expected to survive. If he did survive the surgery, he was expected to have mental disabilities. His surgery was successful and he did not suffer any disabilities. Table of Contents Introduction: About the Author/Book………………..2-4 Background…………………5-6 Chapter One: Book Summary…………………...7-14 Chapter Two: Literary Elements………………........15-26 Chapter Three: Influence of Artwork……………………27-32 Activity………………………...33 References……………………34 1 2

4. Alexie’s father was an alcoholic, who would often leave the house for days at a time. Alexie’s mother worked at the Wellpinit Trading Post. Alexie has said that his life at the reservation school was challenging because he was picked on all the time by other kids. Alexie was nicknamed “The Globe” due to having a large head from the hydrocephalus he suffered as an infant. Because of his health problems, he was often excluded from many school activities. More interesting facts about Alexie and the book can be found at: https://prezi.com/fwn7aiwlyct-/the-absolutely-true-diary-of-a-part-time-indian-ten-interesting-facts-about-sherman-alexie/ About the Book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a semi-autobiographical story of Alexie’s young life and experiences as a Spokane/Coeur d’Alene Indian living on a reservation in Wellpinit, Washington. Click on this link for a book trailer of this book! 3 4

5. For commentaries about the book Click on this linkand this link! The first white people to contact the Spokane were explorers. White settlers were stealing the Spokane tribe’s land. By the 1860s, settlers were pushing out the original inhabitants, such as the Spokane Tribe. The Spokane Indians, among many other Indians, were given English names. The Spokane Tribe made a number of agreements with the federal governments in the late 19th century. In 1877 the Lower Spokane relocated to the Spokane Reservation which was declared a reservation in 1881. In 1887 the Upper and Middle Spokane agreed to move to the Colville Flathead Reservation, leaving Lower Spokane Indians.  Some Background about Spokane Indians The Spokane tribe is named after the city of Spokane. Originally, the Spokane Tribe of Indians lived along the Spokane River in three bands known as the Upper, Middle and Lower Spokane Indians. A long time ago, Spokane Tribal members hunted, fished and collected roots and berries to feed their families throughout the year. 5 6

6. Chapter 1: Book Summary Junior is witty and intelligent. He dreams of becoming someone important. He draws and calls himself a cartoonist throughout the book. He wants to escape the cycle of poverty and alcoholism on the reservation. : The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” is a semi-biographical story about a fourteen year old Indian boy named Arnold Spirit Jr. and his life. Arnold is lives with his family on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Welpinit, Washington. This is a map image that shows Wellpinit, Washington, where the Spokane Tribe has their reservation Arnold (who goes by “Junior” on the reservation) was born with hydrocephalus, or too much water on the brain which effected his eye-sight, and caused him to have some brain damage. He also used to have seizures, but has not had one in seven years. 7 8

7. Surprisingly, Junior’s parents allow him to transfer to Reardan but cautiously tell him that the other Indians on the reservation will not be happy with him. Reardon is a rich, all-white school 22 miles away from the reservation. Junior’s best friend, Rowdy, does not support his decision to leave the reservation and becomes his worst enemy upon hearing the news. Rowdy’s father abuses alcohol and hits him. He is a very mad and violent boy. But, Rowdy has been Junior’s best friend since they were born. Junior receives a 30-year-old geometry book on the first day of high school in Wellpinit. His dreams are shattered when he gets this book because he realizes that this is the best their tribe can afford. Junior throws the book and it hits the teacher. He is expelled from school. The teacher (Mr. P) comes to see Junior at home and encourages him to leave the reservation. Mr. P sees a lot of potential in Junior. 9 10

8. Junior endures racism upon starting school at Reardon. He eventually gains respect of some popular students at the school by “winning” a fight with a big athletic boy and pretending to have money. While attending Reardon, the alcohol-related deaths of Junior’s Grandmother, sister, and his dad’s best friend, Eugene, overwhelm him with grief. New friends and their insights motivate Junior to stay determined to reach his goals. For Trivia Questions and Quizzes about the book: click on this link! Junior is a good basketball player and made the Varsity team at Reardon. He is their star shooter on the team. His team has to play against Wellpinit, where his old best friend, Rowdy, is the star player. These basketball games mirror the rivalries between Native Americans and whites. 11 12

9. In this book, Alexie candidly shares his struggles in living and identifying with other Indians as well as other cultures. For more information about the Spokane Tribe visit: http://spokanetribe.com/reservation Junior earns respect from both communities as he fights to find his place in life. In the end, his identity is created by leaving the tribe, independence, and accepting his roe as a “part-time Indian”. Junior discovers that these two worlds have more similarities than differences. • Discussion Questions: • Why is the book titled The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian? • What do you think is the author’s main message? • Write a cinquain poem about the main idea of the book. 13 14

10. In the book, Junior transfers from the Spokane Indian Reservation school in Wellpinit, Washington to attend an all-white school 22 miles away in Reardon, Washington. Fun Fact: Spokane means “children of the sun” Junior, a 14 year old boy, tells the story of his life growing up on the reservation. He is humorous and sad at the same time. Junior has many sad stories about his family and other members of the Spokane Tribe being injured or dying due to alcoholism. Throughout the story, he yearns and strives to not be like his fellow tribe members, while also still remaining loyal. Chapter 2: Literary Elements The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a semi-autobiographical book. This means that the author wrote based on some of his experiences but some experiences are still made up. 15 16

11. Junior loves to play basketball and makes the Varsity team upon transferring to Reardon. Junior tells the story of a couple of rivalry games against Wellpinit in which the reader is left on the edge of their seat, wondering who will win! Audience prediction is geared toward Wellpinit winning but, Reardon wins the game! This leaves the audience surprised and gives hope that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. “And you’re a bright and shining star, too, he said. You’re the smartest kid in school. And I don’t want you to fail. I don’t want you to fade away.” This basketball game is changing moment in Junior’s life. A person that Junior credits with helping him change his life is Mr. P. In the story, Mr. P says this to Junior: In the final game against Wellpinit, Wellpinit had been undefeated and Reardon had only been defeated by Wellpinit. Throughout the game, the audience is left wondering what is going to happen and who will win the game. 17 18

12. Junior often refers to his best friend Rowdy. He discusses their experiences and adventures that happened when they were growing up together. One example of this is when Junior reminisces about Rowdy and him climbing the old, tallest, ponderosa pine tree. He says: “When we were little, like ten years old, Rowdy and I climbed that sucker.” Another example is when Junior tells the story of being born hours apart from Rowdy. He says that they have rarely been apart since the day they were born. Junior says that he has mostly spent time with Rowdy at his house. Mr. P also makes predictions about his friend Rowdy’s life and how he is just going to get “meaner and meaner”. He wants Junior to get out of the reservation and make something of his life. On page 43, Mr. P goes on to say that Junior will find more and more hope the farther he gets from the reservation. . 19 20

13. In the book, Junior is constantly trying to find his place in the world. He decides on his own that he is capable of leaving the reservation to attend a “better” school. This is despite what other Indians of his tribe will think of him. Junior knows that he may be bullied in Reardon because of where he comes from and he is scared. However, Junior is also bullied at Wellpinit and he is willing to take the risk. He knows that as a whole, Spokane Indians are poor, do not leave the reservation, and often die an alcohol-related death. Junior’s relationship with other characters in the book play a vital role on his decision to go to Reardon. Cultural differences between Indians and the rest of the community are present throughout the book. There are both problems that happen out in the community or world and emotional or feel-based issues. Junior experiences grieve and sadness through mourning family members and family friends. For true examples of conflicts between Spokane Indians and the state of Washington visit this link! 21 22

14. There are several physical fights in the book. These are between Indians and all of the other characters in the book. Junior has an emotional battle with himself many times in the book. One major example of this is Junior’s father’s battle with alcohol addiction. This is shown on page 151. Junior’s father had just returned after disappearing for a week on a drinking binge. “He could have spent that five bucks and stayed drunk for another day or two. But he saved it for me”. This shows that Junior’s father cared about him and loved him even though he disappears to drink. Alcohol is an internal conflict Junior’s father has within himself. The book states “This morning, he limped into our house, slumped in a chair, threw his sprained knee up on the table, and smirked….He had a bandage over his left ear….’Dad said I wasn’t listening…So he got all drunk and tried to make my ear a little bigger”. Rowdy struggles with physical fights with his father throughout the book. 23 24

15. In one drawing, Junior uses this slug to represent his girlfriend, Penelope’s, father who is a racist. He labeled the drawing “Earl: #1 candidate for the Father-of-the-Year Award”. He also labels the slime on the drawing. The slug and the slime are a not to be taken literally and are a way for Junior to express his feelings without saying what he really thinks. In the book, there is language that is used to communicate how Junior is feeling, without actually saying it. The literal meaning of some words are not what the statement means. The author uses this form of communication many times in the book. Junior makes several comparisons in the book. For example, he compares himself to Indian scouts who led the U.S. Cavalry against other Indians. Also, Junior uses his drawings to represent how he is feeling. • Discussion Questions: • What is an example of a metaphor in the book? • What are some of the themes of the book? (there are several possible answers) • What is an example of figurative language in the book? 25 26

16. Chapter 3: Influence of Artwork In this chapter, we will look at some of the drawings in the book, and analyze their meaning. The picture below represents Junior’s struggle between wanting to give himself a better life by attending Reardon High School and understanding the reservation is still where he comes from and his home: The artwork presented throughout the book represents are symbols that represent Junior’s feelings. These drawings have meaning that go beyond what the words express. The drawings also help the reader understand and make sense of the events in the book. The illustrations on the book are really done by an artist named Ellen Forney, who worked with the author to create meaningful artwork that tells a story. 27 28

17. The picture below represents Junior’s view of white people versus Indian people. This also shows how other Indians in the book feel about white people: In the book, white people are viewed as rich, smart, and perfect. They represent hope and determination for Junior. This picture also represents external feelings, as it also shows how our society views Indian people. This is why Indian culture is vanishing. In America, Indian people want to merge into mainstream society and let go of their traditions. Junior strives to “fit in” with white people also. This occurs when he transfers to Reardon High School. He attempts to be “cool” and rich to make friends. He attempts to be like them. 26 27

18. Junior’s parents had dreams and aspirations that were not sought, because they have been stuck on the reservation, living loyally with the Spokane tribe. In the book, Junior describes his mother as intelligent. Junior says at one point his mother wanted to be a school teacher. He says his mother reads books all of the time. Junior describes his father as being a great musician. He says his father still has his old saxophone which he cleans all the time. This signifies that he has not let go of his dream of being a musician. However, Junior knows that his mother and father will never leave the reservation and do anything with their dreams. Below is a drawing Junior does when describing his parents: 29 29

19. When Junior first transferred to Reardon he was feeling down. This is because not only did the people from his own tribe on his reservation think he was a traitor, but the white people at Reardon called him names. Junior faced racism and other challenges upon transferring to Reardon. The drawing below represents how small he was feeling (figuratively) and the stereotypical names the white people called him: The drawing below shows how close Junior and his friend Rowdy were at one time. Junior draws this because he misses his friend and their times together: Discussion Questions: 1.How are the illustrations and cartoons important to the story? 2.How do these drawings represent stereotyping? 3.Describe one of Junior’s drawings and what it represents. 32 31

20. Activity • In a group of 4, discuss “cultural conflict” (in the book and in our society) • As a group, create a newspaper article that expresses concern about the conflict between Indian people and white people. Use evidence from the book to explain and discuss your concern. 33

21. References Alexie, S. (2007). The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian (p. 230). New York/Boston: Little Brown and Company. Retrieved from https://prezi.com/fwn7aiwlyct-/the-absolutely- true- diary-of-a-part-time-indian-ten-interesting-facts- about- sherman-alexie/ Retrieved from: https://bookgrl924.wordpress.com/2009/03/05/the- absolutely-true-diary-of-a-part-time-indian/ Retrieved from: http://loveyalit.com/?p=1213 Retrieved from: http://spokanetribe.com/reservation Retrieved from: http://www.stepspokane.com/tribal-history/ Retrieved from: http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1570.html Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spokane_people Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3QMxf4yySA 34