American Indian Stories

“Impressions of an Indian Childhood”

Native American Literature

Essential Question

•How does Zitkala-Sa struggle to find peace in a world that is trying to keep tradition yet being forced to change?

Background

• 19th century = time of dramatic forced movement and change for many American Indian tribes

• Ancestral lands were taken

• Many died – murdered, illness, stress, etc.

• Many Native Americans began to worry that their oral traditions would become lost as tribes were torn apart.

Background

• Some Native Americans began writing down their oral traditions in order to save their culture and preserve their history.

• Zitkala-Sa, a Sioux of the Yankton band, is one of the early (1900’s) Native American writers who attempted to make the change from oral tradition to written tradition

• Her work is important because it represents one of the first attempts by a Native American woman to write her own story – on her own.

Close Reading: “My Mother”

• Number each paragraph.

• Vocabulary:

• Underline 5 vocabulary words

• Write a definition based on its context (how it’s used in the sentence)

• Check your definition. If it is correct, put a star next to it. If it is incorrect, write down the correct definition.

Close Reading: “My Mother”

• Question and Think:1. In paragraph (P) 1, what imagery words create a

mental picture?

2. P2 – Why do you think the girl’s mother is sad and silent?

3. P4-5 – Contrast the mother and the daughter at this point.

4. P13 - Hypothesize why the mother does not cry in front of her daughter.

Your Responses will go on INB 17.

Close Reading: “My Mother”

• Marking the Text:

• Using two different colors – highlight descriptive information about the mother with one color, and with the other color, highlight information about the daughter.

Close Reading: “My Mother”• Reflect and Think Critically:• Predict how this experience will affect the

daughter. (INB 17)

• In paragraph 11, the mother is telling her daughter about their forced relocation. She reflects on journeys she has taken before and how the journey of the relocation is different. Think of a time in your life when two similar events had very different impacts on you. Reflect on the journeys. How were they similar and how were they different. Describe how each made you feel. (INB 16)

“The Legends”American Indian Stories

Close Reading – “The Legends”

Step 1: Number each paragraph.

Step 2: Vocabulary:

• Underline 3 vocabulary words

• Write a definition based on its context (how it’s used in the sentence)

• Check your definition. If it is correct, put a star next to it. If it is incorrect, write down the correct definition.

Close Reading – “The Legends”

Step 3: Highlighting and Underlining Key Information

• Highlight or underline descriptions of cultural traditions.

Step 4: Margin Notes

• Write comments in the margins next to details

• you find interesting.

• you have questions about.

• you can relate to.

Step 5: (at end of story pg. 17)Explain the author’s purpose for writing this story (i.e. Why did she write it?). Provide textual evidence for support and explain how it supports your purpose.