Killing each other?

I believe that Sherman Alexie's purpose of this book, wasn't to reveal a certain killer or make him look just Indian, but that he was trying to make a point by saying that both the whites and the Indians are killing each other: he does this through the two sets of masked men especially.  The motif of the blue eyes and the owl feathers just throws the reader off of the main purpose.  I think he is trying to say that to this day Indians still hold a grudge towards whites.

Hm...

I felt like the whole book pulled me in to find out who the Indian Killer was, and why the owl feathers and the scalping was involved, and incorporated to the Indian Culture.  But then we find out that the killer might not even be Indian, himself.  Another thing that boggled me was that there were two sets of masked men, something that confused me as to whether it was Reggie's group, or Aaron's.  Who else feels like the book strung us along for no point at all in the end?

Sherman Alexie's Next Book

If you liked Indian Killer, Sherman Alexie is coming out with another book soon, titled, The Magic and Tragic Year of My Broken Thumb.

http://ajummaspad.blogspot.com/2009/04/magic-and-tragic-year-of-my-broken.html

Other examples.

It's fun to read all of our likes and dislikes about the Indian Killer, but I also found a site that shows the views of other readers.  It gives examples of Native American fictional novels, and Native American authors as well.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52878.Indian_Killer

Confusion

I just don't understand why Alexie doesn't name the killer. The story was good, a quick read up until the end. It provided no closure whatsoever. As a book over all, I was confused. Nothing ever connected. 

Why do David Rogers' two cousins rob and kill him. It seems a little too coincidental. I think it would make more sense if some random person just killed him.

Humanism

Is an ethical concept that discusses the values of all people based on decision making abilities of right from wrong without a divine authority.

Do we have to blog after this week?

Soo..

My last post was a fail haha, but what did everyone think about Indian Killer?!

Presentations

So about our presentation tommorow...its a breif summary of our topic and either a handout or a power point right??

Is Wilson the Killer?

In the novel, there are many references of Wilson "feeling the child's weight in his arms", and "seeing the face of that man when the knife slid across his throat"... are these just intensely descriptions about Wilson's complicated thoughts?  I feel like these are little hints that Wilson is very capable of these killings.

have...

any of yall seen the movie Jeepers Creepers? When i was reading the part of Marks testimony he was saying that the Indian Killer was not a he or a she that it was an It. He was also saying how he thought he had wings and could possibly fly. Then when the Indian Killer killed Edward he ate his heart. It really reminded me of some similar traits of Jeepers Creepers.

"a flesh-eating creature in the isolated countryside that is on the last day of its ritualistic eating spree"

Who is the Indian Killer?

so now that we are getting closer to the end of the book does anybody have an idea on who might be the killer? Is it John or is it Wilson? I just dont know know. I think it's Reggie.

Little Quiz

I have noticed that there are many similar aspects of Indian Killer throughout Part 3 that can be compared to Love Medicine and Edgar Mint. Can you all figure out what they are? 

3 masked men

Is anyone else a bit confused about the three masked men?  First we find out that it's Reggie, the deaf kid, and another, with their baseball bats and attacking the college student on the Indian Heritage Football Field.  But then we also find out that Aaron, and his two friends are suiting up in the same colored masks (blue, purple, and as they described, the "leader" in white (which happens to be Reggie and Aaron that wear the white).  Am i just confused or is their an underlying meaning to these masked men, are they trying to trick the reader?

"...We give millions and millions of dollars to these Indians and expect them to know what to do with such wealth."

Truck's statements are designed to obscure the truth and create anger between whites and Indians. His tirade against casinos is especially incendiary because he compares Indians to 4-year olds who don't know what money is. I thought you'd be interested to know how irresponsible lots of people are with their money. Here's an article about lottery winners who lost their millions in a very short time. And here's an article from 2006 with interesting statistics about the average American's saving habits (they don't - they save less than $400/year).

Serial Killers

This is another website about male serial killers,  you may find it interesting.     http://www.mwilliams.info/archive/2007/05/criminality-race-and-why-most-serial-killers-are-white-males.php

the owl

I found this information on a Native American Zodiac Calender:

Owl Native American Animal Symbol Owl: Nov 23 – Dec 21
Changeable and mutable as the wind, the Owl is a tough one to pin down. Warm, natural, with an easy-going nature, the Owl is friend to the world. The bearer of this Native American animal symbol is notorious for engaging in life at full speed, and whole-hearted loves adventure. This can be to his/her detriment as the Owl can be reckless, careless, and thoughtless. Owls make great artists, teachers, and conservationists. However, due to his/her adaptability and versatility – the Owl would likely excel in any occupation. In a supportive, nurturing environment the Owl is sensitive, enthusiastic, and an attentive listener. Left to his/her own devices, the Owl can be excessive, overindulgent, bitter, and belligerent. Learn more about Owl totem meanings here.

Gladiator vs. Apache

I thought this was cool

the battle between a Gladiator and an Apache Indian, I thought the Gladiator was going to win

information on Black Kettle...(Reggie says he is him when he is attacking the old man) 

http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_c/blackkettle.htm

Whether you can drink milk or not is determined by heredity

Scroll down a little to the part about lactose intolerance

Do we still have a quest on part 2 tomorrow?

Serial Killers in Washington State

This is really interesting It's the same link I gave you in class on the handout.

Bolo tie

Mark's PJs

Alexie makes a few references to Mark's favorite PJs, the one with the blind superhero Daredevil on them. In case you were unaware, Daredevil's secret identity is Attorney Matthew Murdock, who was blinded by radioactive waste as a young boy. The waste took away his eyesight, but raised his other senses to superhuman abilities.
The series was made awesome by Frank Miller; therefore, everyone should go read it.

Below: Matt Murdock's superhuman senses in action.

Field Trip Suggestion

We should all go to an indian casino since we only have to be 18 to gamble there!!! FIELD TRIP!

A Real Spokane Serial Killer: Robert Lee Yates

I was watching a show over break about a real Indian Killer in Spokane, Washington from 1975-1999. This killer mainly killed street walkers, unlike the Indian Killer. He killed 16 people during his spree, and was apprehended in April 1999. Robert Lee Yates is currently on death row at Washington State Penitentiary. His execution was set for September 19, 2008, but a judge postponed it only 8 days before.

link to the national indian gaming website. Some may find this interesting. http://www.indiangaming.org/

Effects of Indian Casino's

This site gives the social and economic impact Indian Casino's have.

http://www.nber.org/digest/feb03/w9198.html

READ THIS ARTICLE OVER BREAK!!

Read this article on Indian Gaming laws

And please don't forget that your HW is to read the handout on Camas and Part II chapters 1-17.

Sonic Memorial

Sonic Memorial has an article about the Mohawk Indians.

http://sonicmemorial.org/sonic/public/mohawk/mohawk.html

Bird and Martha

Does anyone think it was weird that Reggie's dad has an Indian sounding name,Bird, and is white?
His mother Martha on the other hand is Indian, and she has more of a white name.

Do you think Alexie did this intentionally?
Maybe I just over analyzed it.

I think it's sad that Bird pounds his ridiculous thoughts into Reggies head so much that Reggie's view of reality is distorted. Reggie feels that if he accomplishes somethin good that it is because of his father, and if he does something wrong he attributes it to his mother.

Apple Jacks

I noticed that Reggie and Marie ate Apple Jacks for dinner in chapter 11.  I had a random flashback to Love Medicine and thought about Lipsha sharing this cereal with King Junior. 

Digging up camas roots

This came from a very interesting website that talks about why the camas roots are so valued in the Spokane culture. The particular section that I have put down here is about the tools used:

Digging camas, a job which fell to the girls and women, was hard work. Nearly six inches down in soil which was apt to be hard at that time of the year, they were difficult to get out with the simple digging sticks used for the purpose. These sticks were carefully made, usually of yew wood about 3 feet long, lightly curved, with a sharp 3-sided business end and a D-shaped handle of horn or antlers. The main shaft was nearly 2 inches thick, a strong and efficient tool. http://www.wellpinit.wednet.edu/sal-hist/reading.php?iinclude=../sal-hist/foodcama.txt

this website cited this source to be from: Food and Medical Plants of the Colville Area from the book of Steven Doyle

Buck and Bird

Reggie's father is named Bird and Aaron & David's father is named Buck. How does Alexie create other parallels between the two men?

The Deer Hunter

Have any of you considered that Buck could be the killer? He is certainly portrayed as being full of anger. And Aaron is a hateful guy who was willing to kill as a kid and continues to watch violent movies (like this one). There is certainly a reason that Alexie has this movie and this scene playing in the apartment. What does it mean? What is he getting at? How is this movie analogous to the violence in the book and the power dynamics as well?

Injuries Among Iron Workers

From 2003-2005, about 69 per every 100,000 iron workers in the United States were killed on the job. Iron work had the highest rates of death during this time period followed closely by power installers.

http://www.elcosh.org/docs/d0100/d000038/sect35.html

Has anyone else considered that Marie could be the killer

Has anyone else considered that Marie could be the killer?  She expresses her hate for white men all the time, and it was a white male who died.

Marie even said, "She wanted every white man to disappear.  She wanted to bur them all down to ash and feast on their smoke."  

Spoiler: could be Marie

John is the killer?

Does everyone think that John is the killer? I think that someone else can actually be the killer, or maybe he's schizophrenic that he doesn't know he's killing people?

Owl Dancers in Traditional Clothes

A link to a Poem about the Owl Dance

Owl Danceing with Fred Astaire

like it?

What does everyone think of the book so far?

On page 70, David is watching a DeNiro movie in which DeNiro's character is playing Russian Roulette and places the gun to his temple. That could be only one movie he's watching: The Deer Hunter!
/Also, take notice to the red headband.

English Notes

The Tribes of the Pacific Northwest

• Tribes in the Pacific Northwest
• 2000 miles from northern California to the Alaskan panhandle, the Pacific Northwest Coast was originally  home to more than 70 distinct tribes
• Spokane
• Salish
• Tlingit
• Haida
• Nootka
• Chinook
• Makah
• Culture Area
• Burden baskets
• Totem Poles
• Have watchmen on top
• Totem-animal symbol of a family
• Have symbols of people who live in the home
• Were intended to protects communities and homes
• http://www.nmai.si.edu/exhibitions/all_roads_are_good/HaidenHouse.htm
• Chilkat blankets
• Not a rectangle
• Covers but
• The Spokane tribe
• www.spokanetibe.com
• Eastern Washington
• Originally three tribes who lived along the Spokane River at various points
• Salmon Fishers
• Salmon run in late summer
• Seasonally migrated
• Tipis were typical homes for Spokane Indians
• Powwows
• During the summer, the three tribes would meet up to collect foodstuffs together and to  socialize. Today  the Powwow season, June to September, serves a similar social function.
• " A powwow is a gathering of native Americans. It derives from the Narragansett word powwaw,  meaning "spiritual leader"." (Wikipedia)
• Spokane Arts
• Basketry
• Including distincitive basket hates and capes)
• Woodcarving
• Especially ceremonial masks and majestic totem poles
• Weavings
• Including the unusual Chilkat blankets

 

Alexie's Writing

The links for Sherman Alexie's short stories, poems, and essays can be found on this site.  They even show pictures of Alexie when he was younger.   There is an entire section devoted to "ABOUT ALEXIE" talking about his interviews to his Tribal information.  This site gives a good look into who Alexie is. 

http://www.miracosta.cc.ca.us/home/gfloren/alexie.htm

train of thought

Indian Killer, out of the three novels we have read this year, is the best for train of thought.  Alexi depicts his life so perfectly that the reader feels as if they are in that scene, and that moment, experiencing the characters wants and feelings.  How many people can relate to Alexi's story, because of how particular his descriptions are?

what's your favorite book so far this year?

Sherman Alexie receiving National Book Award

Sherman Alexie Receiving the national Book award in 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6AbxJxDoI8

Sherman Alexi's Poems

"Communion"

This is the last poem I will write about salmon,
My tribe’s Jesus fish, our God fish, bedamning
And bedamned. I will no longer examine

And reexamine the sins that doomed our fish.
I will not weep. My pain and fear are banished.
This is my last lamentation, my last wish:

Let my people’s famine become our Eucharist.

“Unkissed: A Fibonacci Sequence Poem

Who
Knew
The man
Would jackknife,
Leave his lovely wife,
And abandon his preschool kids?
He told me once, “I hate my life.” So who knew? I did.

hydrocephalus

the indicated area fills with water which can death, or mental retardation.

What is Hydrocephalus (water on the brain)?

http://www.medicinenet.com/hydrocephalus/article.htm#1whatis
here is a little bit of information on the disease the author had.

Fored Sterilization

It is shocking that the United States was able to allow States to pass forced sterilization laws for nearly 80 years. Even though forced sterilization violates the 8th Amendment AND it was applied to States in 1962, this form of punishment was continued until the early 1980's.

Official

The official website of Sherman Alexis 

http://www.fallsapart.com/

Sherman Alexie Interview

Another interview of Sherman Alexie:
the interviewer is kinda weird

Sherman Alexies Cd

http://cdbaby.com/cd/boyd5

this is the link to Jim Boyd and Sherman Alexies CD...it's titled Reservation Blues

Homework for Wed. April 1

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Sherman Alexie
comedycentral.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor NASA Name Contest

ALSO READ THIS BIOGRAPHY OF SHERMAN ALEXIE: Official Bio at Fallsapart.com

Sherman Alexie

This is a picture of Sherman Alexie, writer of Indian Killer

Sherman Alexie biography 

http://www.fallsapart.com/biography.html