The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven Book Read Discussion 5/21/11
Reflections and Recommendations
Genetically we are less than one percent different than each other, yet those differences are often the
focus.
Issues of alcoholism are a concern for many indigenous people.
Some concerns about negative images relating to alcoholism arose about the book from the tribe and
others when the book came out.
The author mentions in the book that he is focusing on his own experiences with alcoholism, while
expressing concerns that some may see a stereotype versus his goal of sharing his reality for others to
understand. Context is mentioned in his introduction – regarding state induced self-destruction in the
reservation’s situation.
Page 19 in introduction addresses these questions relating to alcoholism, where Alexie mentions that
the book is autobiographical. Was Frank McCourt writing a stereotype in Angela’s Ashes? Both are
speaking their own truth.
Page 21 of introduction also pointed out that his stories are his own views.
First story focuses on the love involved in the relationships of the characters; in “Every Little Hurricane”
and some of the other stories.
The book shares tribal history in the storytelling and conveys a lot of caring for each other among the
people in the book, in spite of the poverty that they live in.
Page 2 in the first story – saw that the uncles fighting was an expression of caring.
Our challenge may be to accept his story when it is so different than our own, for some of us.
Violence of whites towards native people a subtext, more outspokenly expressed in the film, “Half of
Anything” that was shown today.
Similar line about hurting the ones you love in “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.”
Issue of internalized oppression – the violence done to you and your people over generations becomes
internalized rage. It is “safer” to express it towards those you know and love than confront the powerful
oppressors.
Page 185 – story with the same title of the book. The pain of words being just as bad as physical hurt is
mentioned.
Men and women were given the same social weight, either can be warriors.
Page 178 – “sharing dark skin doesn’t necessarily make two men brothers.” Issue of skin color being a
superficial divider is mentioned.
Person of native and African-American background expressed that when she was traveling the white
travel agent was surprised when she expressed a desire to travel in areas where there are others of
native American or African-American to feel safe, that there are folks who will help if there is difficulty.
If your culture has been erased, then you seek to have a vision quest to find those connections.
Discussion of chapter called “A Drug Called Tradition.” Do you not fit if you don’t follow traditions, and
some vision quest cultures do include use of psychedelics. Sometimes native people may follow the
idea of vision quest being from mainstream or new age cultural ideas. Wadiyah refers to a book called
“Playing Indian.” Hunger to find what is authentic may lead to following other’s ideas. Film shows Alexie
talking about his hair as a symbol of his identity he had when he was younger, and how he cut it when
his father died and has now kept it short. Hair as a symbol of culture in relationship to white dominant
culture, an expression of a different identity.
Some people with Indian background don’t want to express that identification because they are then
confronted with the stereotypes – “You don’t look Indian.”
Page 182-183 – being pulled over due to stereotypes based on skin color and appearances, which makes
it so hard to be free of those for people of color.
Page 150 – “survival equals Anger x Imagination.” Imagination is the only weapon on the reservation.
The question is trying to put it in a pretty way, when the reality is systemic oppression.
If can’t imagine a different view, people follow the societal expectations put upon them to not succeed,
to succumb to alcoholism, etc.
Page 151 – reflecting the story that has been given us, with the words about the mirror.
Commodity crops is another theme in the book – potatoes are basic part of reservation culture, that
weren’t available in this country before. Physical health problems are related to this shift in food and
drink availability now provided by white culture.
Recommendations
There is some history of Native American culture being more present on our campus that doesn’t exist
now that the people who set up these events no longer work here. Would be nice to revive some of
those activities.
Native American art is not present on our campus much, however there is a totem pole in the Wellness
Center.
Would be good to have more native American faculty and staff. How many people with some indigenous
background don’t identify with that limited part of their background, especially due to the boarding
school history? There is still the taking of the native children off of the reservation and away from their
culture by CPS, which has been in the news recently. Are their folks now on our campus who are not
visible? One person mentions being 1/16th Native American.
Perhaps there could be outreach to students who identify with certain affinity groups to let them know
that some support is available on campus in terms of clubs, etc.
Has there been a class that focuses on native culture? One Integrated Studies class did focus on this
topic, and some aspects are covered in NW culture class that is frequently taught.
How can we make the invisible more visible?