The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian Journal Chapters 1-2

Some Points of Interest Thus Far…

Respond, when possible, with stories about how you can personally relate.

On Bullying

• “Yep, I belong to the Black-Eye-of-the-Month-Club.”

• “You wouldn’t think there is anything life threatening about speech impediments, but let me tell you, there is nothing more dangerous than being a kid with a stutter and a lisp.”

• “Everybody on the rez calls me retard about twice a day.” … Further reading on why the word “retard” is taboo.

• Respond to what the Government says about bullying.

Health

• “...the Indian Health Service only funded major dental work once a year, so I had to get all 10 teeth pulled in one day.” Research and respond to the story of Suzie Walking Bear Yellowtail. Do you think she’d approve of the IHS’s treatment of Arnold?

Hobbies

• “... when you draw a picture, everybody can understand it.” Do you agree? Research and respond to the Indian Painted Rocks no doubt done by Arnold’s Ancestors.

• “...my cartoons are tiny little lifeboats.” What is your tiny little lifeboat?

Race

• “Just take a look at the world. Almost all of the rich and famous brown people are artists.” Why do you think this is?  Who is your favorite rich and famous brown person?

• “We indians really should be better liars, considering how often we’ve been lied to.”

Take a moment to appreciate the historical significance of this statement. According to the PWNA, “over 500 treaties were made with Native Americans, primarily for land cessations, but 500 treaties were also broken, changed or nullified when it served the government’s interest.”  

Story of the Broken Treaty of Canandiagua.

The 1972 “Trail of Broken Treaties”

Parents

• “I can’t blame my parents for our poverty because my mother and father are the twin suns around which I orbit and my world would EXPLODE without them.” Respond to the idea that forgiving our parents is one of the hardest things we have to do in life, but necessary on the road to adulthood.    

• “...nobody paid attention to their dreams.” Whose responsibility is it to pay attention to dreams? Can someone help make your dream come true? What is your dream? What help will you need along the way to realize it?

Pets

• “A bullet only costs about two cents, and anybody can afford that.” Is it easier to try and destroy a problem rather than fix it? Can you think of any real life examples of this? Rocket’s story.

• “[Oscar] taught me more than any teachers ever did.” What has your pet taught you? How can this be just as important as what we learn in school?