American Literature

Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)

Native Americans

This collection uses primary sources to explore Sherman Alexie&#39;s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.

An excerpt from an interview with Sherman Alexie in which he discusses moving off the reservation, 2009. 

A photograph of four generations of a Spokane Indian family, ca. 1940. 

The baby pictured is Sherman Alexie, Sr., father of Sherman Alexie.

A photograph of Spokane Reservation in Wellpinit, Washington.

A photograph of Sam Boyd, a Spokane Indian, in ceremonial dress, 1910.

A photograph of an older Spokane Indian named Sam Boyd, ca. 1938.

A photograph of people assembled for an event at the Makah Indian Reservation, 1955.

A photograph of women dancing in Wellpinit, Washington, 1955.

The text of Henry Thomas Cowley’s appointment as a missionary and school teacher for the Spokane Indians in Spokane Falls, 1874.

An excerpt from a news bulletin about improving education for Native American students, 2013.

A news report discussing the Red Lake Warriors, an all-Native American basketball team, 1998.

A reproduction of Robert Leinweber’s painting depicting David and Goliath, 2012.

An excerpt from an interview with Sherman Alexie, 2012.

The text of the agreement between the United States and the Spokane Indians, 1892.

Questions

1. Listen to the [interview with Sherman Alexie](http://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-absolutely-true-diary-of-a-part-time-indian-by-sherman-alexie/sources/987) in which he discusses moving off the reservation. What do you think he means when he says, “Spokane Indians are preconditioned to mourn in a way that other Indians may not”? In what ways does Junior mourn throughout the novel? How does this connect to what Alexie says?
2. Look at the photograph of [people assembled for an event at the Makah Indian Reservation](http://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-absolutely-true-diary-of-a-part-time-indian-by-sherman-alexie/sources/992) and the photograph of [women dancing in Wellpinit](http://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-absolutely-true-diary-of-a-part-time-indian-by-sherman-alexie/sources/993). Why might people like Billionaire Ted and other art collectors be interested in attaining the ceremonial dance outfits the women are wearing in the photographs? What makes clothing art? Why do you think Alexie decided to include the scene at Grandma’s wake where Junior’s mother tells Billionaire Ted that the powwow dress wasn’t hers, nor did it even look like it belonged to a Spokane Indian?
3. Look at the [postcard of David and Goliath](http://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-absolutely-true-diary-of-a-part-time-indian-by-sherman-alexie/sources/997). After the basketball game where Arnold beats his former all-Native American team and best friend Rowdy, Arnold realizes that he is playing on the side of Goliath, not David. How does this picture illustrate this analogy? Why would people root for Davids instead of Goliaths? Why does this realization shame Arnold?
4. Junior says, “Reservations were meant to be prisons, you know? Indians were supposed to move onto reservations and die. We were supposed to disappear.” Look at [the agreement](http://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-absolutely-true-diary-of-a-part-time-indian-by-sherman-alexie/sources/999) between the United States and the Spokane Indians. Does the agreement confirm what Junior says about the purpose of a reservation? Now listen to [Sherman Alexie’s 2012 interview](http://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-absolutely-true-diary-of-a-part-time-indian-by-sherman-alexie/sources/998). How true are Junior’s words? Does Junior’s desire to leave the reservation challenge the common media portrayals of Native Americans? Is Sherman Alexie blasphemous for writing about the Native American community with a critical eye? Explain.
5. Junior leaves Wellpinit for Rearden because of the quality of education he can receive at a white school versus a reservation school. Read about [Henry Thomas Cowley’s experience](http://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-absolutely-true-diary-of-a-part-time-indian-by-sherman-alexie/sources/994) as a school teacher for the Spokane Indians and listen to the [news bulletin about improving education](http://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-absolutely-true-diary-of-a-part-time-indian-by-sherman-alexie/sources/995) for Native American students. Do you think Junior should have left? Would you have left? Are we, as a society, doing enough for Native American students? Think about the quality of your education. After having read about Junior’s experience at Wellpinit’s school, identify some things about your education that you have taken for granted.
6. Compare the two pictures of Sam Boyd. What conclusions can you make about life on the reservation based on these photographs of the same man taken nearly thirty years apart?


Activity

Ask students to listen to the [report about the Red Lake Warriors basketball team](http://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-absolutely-true-diary-of-a-part-time-indian-by-sherman-alexie/sources/996). Then ask them to create a newspaper article or deliver a live report after Rearden vs. Wellpinit’s first basketball game. Finally, have them create one for the rematch.


Teaching Guide: Exploring *The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian*

Resources

1. [Spokane Tribe of Indians](http://www.spokanetribe.com/) website.
2. “[The Toughest Indian in the World: Writer Sherman Alexie Mixes Humor With His Anger](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-toughest-indian-in-the-world/),” 60 Minutes. 
3. [Sherman Alexie](http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/sherman-alexie), Poetry Foundation.  
4. [Sherman Alexie’s acceptance speech](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6AbxJxDoI8) for the National Book Award (starts at 3:55). 

Overview

Published in 2007, and winner of the National Book Award, Sherman Alexie’s coming-of-age novel *The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian* gives readers insight into life on an Indian reservation. Alexie calls his gritty, dark novel “reservation realism.” The protagonist, Arnold Spirit, Jr., deals with abuse, bullying, poverty, alcoholism, and senseless violence; however, his humor and spirit remain hopeful. Junior leaves the reservation in search of a better education and a way out of his oppressive life, ultimately finding a new identity. This primary source set includes photographs, text documents, and interviews with Sherman Alexie that provide context for thematic elements within *The Absolutely True-Diary of Part-Time Indian*.

English

*The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian* by Sherman Alexie

absolutely-true-diary-part-time-indian-sherman-alexie_02_c71c2033f209d4102e8401e738f5be55.jpg

Lewis, Richard T., “Spokane family-- four generations, Washington, c.1940,” Digital Public Library of America, https://dp.la/item/c71c2033f209d4102e8401e738f5be55.

A photograph of four generations of a Spokane Indian family, ca. 1940.

Cite this item

Tips for Students

Item 2 of 13 in the Primary Source Set The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie