Poverty On Arnold's Reservation Thesis

The Origination and Impact of Poverty on Reservations
The prevalence of poverty in Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is driving force in better understanding the development of the characters and the plot. Not only is this issue illustrated within the novel, but it is a hardship faced by Native American reservations all across the United States. The novel shows not only how poverty can impact one individual, but also how poverty is a reoccurring issue that can make a mark on entire families and communities. The question that begs to be asked: What caused many Native American reservations to be put in this constant state of retrogression in regards to poverty and money? In order to answer this question, it is

crucial to look at many of the examples throughout Alexie’s book. Understanding these happenings, while also reviewing scholarly articles that deal with the issue of poverty on actual, real-life Native American reservations, will allow us to better understand the problem at hand.
Poverty is dominant force within Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.

Poverty on Arnold’s reservation has dismantled nearly all hope. The reader sees this early on when Arnold is discussing his drawings and cartoons. Arnold says, “no matter how good I am, my cartoons will never take the place of food or money. I wish I could draw a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or a fist full of twenty dollar bills” (Alexie 7). It’s interesting to see that despite Arnold’s talent, it is almost as if he is willing to throw it all away for more food or money. This is very same mindset adopted by many men and women faced with poverty. It is also clear that being in poverty not only impacts physical factors such as food, but also emotional and mental factors. Arnold says; “It sucks to be poor, and it sucks to feel that you somehow deserve to be poor… It’s an ugly circle and there’s nothing you can do about it” (11). This just shows how powerless some of the people on the reservation were, specifically children. With Arnold’s position as a child and student, he was extremely limited in what he could do to help his family’s money situation. This is important to examine because children being poor is what starts the “ugly circle” as Arnold refers to it. Children begin to become hopeless and lack motivation, and this can potentially carry on into their adult lives. In addition to this mental and psychological impact, Arnold takes note of his parents being destined

to fail. He says that his parents “dreamed about being something other than poor, but they never got the chance to be anything because nobody paid attention to their dreams” (11). This is yet another examples of the “ugly circle.” Children’s minds are so easily able to be shaped, formed, and even manipulated. Eventually, as time passes, the lack of care and attention from outside forces will (and did) make a difference concerning Arnold’s parents. In order to understand the fictional occurrences in Sherman Alexie’s book, it is important to understand what is putting these Native Americans in the position of poverty.
In order to fully understand the issue of poverty on Native American reservations, it is crucial to look at the numbers and statistics surrounding the dilemma. According to IndianYouth.org, some tribes report unemployment rates as high as 85% (Indian Youth). Keeping this in mind, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says that “Native Americans have the lowest employment rate of any racial or ethnic group in the U.S.” (Indian Youth). Aside from employment rates, the website says that in 2011, there were around “120,000 tribal homes lacking access to basic water sanitation” (Indian Youth). These alarming numbers are further proof that the issues in Alexie’s book are being faced by real-life citizens on a daily basis. It is important to comprehend the fact that poverty on Native American reservations if often times a generational problem that is inherited from year to year.
When discussing the prevalence of poverty on Native American reservations, one must look at its origination. In establishing Native American reservations, the United States government selected and allocated specific plots of land. In doing this, it was normal for government officials to place Native American tribes on land that lacked the soil and vegetation needed for substantial farming techniques. “American Indian Poverty in the Contemporary United States,” by James J. Davis, Vincent J. Roscigno, and George Wilson, says “these locales, by virtue of minimal economic development, limited political autonomy, and marginalization from urban labor markets, produced very high rates of deprivation” (6). Farming, traditionally one of the most historic working practices in Native American history, began to dwindle. The lack of farming resulted in poverty due to joblessness. For many Native Americans, this is all they knew how to do when it came to work. A large number of Native Americans simply did not maintain the education needed to find employment elsewhere. Thus begins the circle of poverty. This problem originated with the creation of reservations, and has continue ever since. This is clear when Arnold says, “My parents came from poor people who came from poor people who came from poor people, all the way back to the very first poor people” (13). Even Arnold, a relatively young adolescent, understands the generational problem that is poverty. He understands that no one wants or desires to be poor, they are simply born into it. The United States government played a major role in the origination of Native American poverty on reservations.
The desire to escape poverty can be considered one of the most important themes in the novel.

Without Arnold’s drive and motivation, he may not have ever considered attending Reardon. The books allows us to see how poverty impacts the overall dynamic of families and communities. Arnold’s hope and perseverance for a better life show that change is possible, and the generational chokehold that is poverty can be broken within Native American reservations. Granted, not all children will have supporting parents such as Arnold’s. More importantly, the lesson to be learned is that in order for other people to help you, you must, in turn, help

yourself.
The topic of poverty on Native American reservations is one that is illustrated and explored tremendously throughout Sherman Alexie’s novel. Exploring the issues within the novel help the reader to understand that these very same issues are prevalent on U.S. reservations in today’s society. In order to fully understand this occurrence, it is important to learn about the facts and statistics surrounding Native Americans and their placement on reservations. The constant cycle of poverty on Native American reservations continues to strangle and dismantle motivation and hope on a daily basis. Arnold’s experience with poverty is depicted through his experiences with family, friends, and education, just to name a few. His hatred for poverty is apparent, and his understanding of poverty as a generational issue is what ultimately allows him to break free in order to give himself the opportunity to reverse the spell.