the lone ranger and tonto fist fight in heaven

4.4.11

quiz

1. Victor has a troubled and conflicted relationship with his father. Describe one scene from the first half of the book that typifies this struggle and discuss both Victor and his Dad (Arnold’s) point of view.

2. Victor and Thomas-Builds-the-Fire have seemingly different stances on Indian tradition. Explain each and give an example.

backdrop for book

• US-Indian relations/history

• dispossession + land grab

• treaties

• reservations

dispossession

• international context: struggles for sovereignty

• definitions and claims of sovereignty

• international law

• constitutions

• treaties

• recognize relationships between states

• US Constitution

• Article VI, Section 2 of the Constitution declares treaties to be “the supreme law of the land” and

• “judges in every state shall be bound thereby”

• 371 treaties between US and Tribes

treaties

discounting sovereignty

• contradiction of sovereignty in US

• Marshall Trilogy (1821-1832)

• “doctrine of discovery” (no right of soil)

• established “trust / ward relationship”

• denied property rights -- limits sovereignty

• by 1840s--manifest destiny

• treaties upended

National Acts

• Indian Removal Act (1830) -reservations

• Dawes Act (1887)

• blood quantum

• state sponsored discrimination

• consequences to today = who counts/federally recognized

mascots

brands

toys

noble savage / new age

dominant versions of Indians in US

• stereotypes

• popular culture--very little

• “authenticity trap”

• sets stage for Alexie’s narrative

• “reservation realism”

Alexie