One Stick Song Sherman Alexie Analysis

“One Stick Song” by Sherman Alexie should be presented as an authentic piece of Native American text as it meets three main prerequisites set in place by expert Debbie Reese by including extended family in his writing, portraying Native Americans as modern members of society, and describing Native Americans as men, women, and children instead of warrior, chief, and brave.
First, Rees writes, “Family Stories include grandparents, aunts, and uncles (Reese 254). ”Using Reese’s tools for evaluation it is seen that Alexie follows Reese in “One Stick Song”. Alexie displays the importance of extended family when he writes his grandma's reaction to a game he and his friends played in her lawn, “And, believe me, no matter how many kids are running away, my grandma always remembers my name (Alexie 23).” This quote shows that Alexie’s grandma was important in his life and it shows the proximity in which the two lived with each other. Second, Reese states, “Native characters are portrayed as members of contemporary society who engage in the same activities mainstream Americans do (Reese 254).” Alexie’s writing strongly displays this characteristic throughout the text. Alexie best

Alexie displays this characteristic when he writes about his family, “My mother still makes quilts. My wife and I sleep beneath one. My brother works for our tribal casino. One sister works for our bingo hall, while the other works in the tribal finance department...My father is an alcoholic (Alexie 24).” Alexie displays himself as a brother and son, instead of as warrior or brave. By doing so Alexie tells the reader that he is not only a Native American, but his is loved just liked anyone