The intentions of this book is to give the reader a glimpse of the perceptions a first year teacher's minority experience after receiving the privilege to work and live for 10 months during the 2014-2015 school year teaching High School Science on an Indian Reservation in North Central South Dakota.
Table of Contents
Cultural Awareness
Arrival
Dogs
School
Neighbors
Contacts
Churches
School Orientation
Businesses
Living Conditions
Sports
Nature
Statistics
Elders
Panhandlers
Objectives and Topics
This work provides a personal, observational account of the author's experience as a teacher living and working on an Indian Reservation in North Central South Dakota between 2014 and 2015, focusing on cultural encounters and daily life.
- Personal experiences with cultural adaptation and teaching challenges.
- Observations of living conditions and social dynamics on the Reservation.
- Interactions with neighbors, students, and local elders.
- Reflections on the intersection of Native traditions and Western institutional structures.
Excerpt from the Book
School Orientation
The school orientation was fun and very culturally educational. Orientation occurred during a 4-day event where about 15-20 new teachers met to observe the School District’s towns served. I do not remember the names of all the towns but they had interesting names like Bullhead, Dogs Town, and Cannonball. I remember being told that most of the parents abandon their children to Grandparents, Aunts, and Uncles because they are partying and going to the Casino to gamble.
Going through one of the towns I remember a little girl looking out of a picture window of a home that didn’t appear to have any furniture in it. She appeared rather forlorn and full of grief. Just about everyone on the Reservation, if not everyone, suffered from generational grief, both young and old alike. You could see the grief in the eyes of the students and through their facial expressions. In every town or village there were unsupervised children running around the streets. At the end of the journey we visited the pizza place in Mobridge which seemed pretty ironic.
The teachers also took a long ride on the school bus over the plains on a dirt road to visit Sitting Bulls supposed burial spot past the Sundance ceremony area. Everyone got out to pay respects. Some placed cigarettes (tobacco) on the grave where there were little stone remembrances, a headstone, and stained by rain cigarettes. There was also an old wooden cabin by the grave that no one lived that was presumably Sitting Bull’s residence.
We were told the story of how he was murdered by agents informed by some fellow Sioux who were not living in accord with the Chief, Sitting Bull. We were told how he had been erroneously accused of a crime. Murdered for it as he came out of his house.
Summary of Chapters
Cultural Awareness: Describes the author's prior, limited exposure to Native American culture before arriving at the reservation.
Arrival: Details the author's relocation to McLaughlin, SD, and initial impressions of the housing and environment.
Dogs: Explores the role of pets in social interaction and the challenges of free-roaming dogs on the reservation.
School: Outlines the author's experience teaching high school science and the daily routines of school life.
Neighbors: Profiles the various individuals living in the same apartment complex and the author's social interactions with them.
Contacts: Discusses meeting local residents, the social significance of the Post Office, and vehicle reliability issues during winter.
Churches: Briefly lists the religious institutions found in the town.
School Orientation: Recounts the onboarding process for new teachers and visits to local landmarks.
Businesses: Provides an overview of the available commercial services and infrastructure in the town.
Living Conditions: Touches upon local housing density and environmental factors like noise and odors.
Sports: Analyzes the prominence of basketball in school culture compared to other athletic programs.
Nature: Reflects on the beauty of the local landscape, sunsets, and the expansive plains.
Statistics: Highlights sociological data regarding health, education, and the historical impact of the school system.
Elders: Features a respectful tribute to a tribal elder and reflections on the value of intergenerational wisdom.
Panhandlers: Concludes with personal reflections on the common occurrence of being asked for money and the author's emotional response.
Keywords
Indian Reservation, South Dakota, Teaching, Sioux, Native American culture, Education, Generational grief, Community garden, Lakota, Social dynamics, Rural life, Cultural adaptation, School system, Reservation history, Personal reflection
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental subject of this document?
The document is a personal memoir and observational study written by a teacher who spent a year living and working on an Indian Reservation in South Dakota.
What are the primary themes explored?
Central themes include cultural immersion, the challenges of rural education, social and economic struggles on the reservation, and the author's personal growth and reflections.
What is the primary goal of the author?
The goal is to document the author's daily experiences, bridge the gap between their background and the local culture, and share personal observations about the community's realities.
Which scientific or professional method does the author use?
The author uses a qualitative, observational method, documenting their own direct experiences and reflections during their time as a teacher.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers daily routines, social interactions with neighbors, professional challenges in the school, physical living conditions, and cultural encounters with local traditions and people.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Indian Reservation, teaching, Sioux, education, cultural adaptation, social dynamics, and personal memoir.
How does the author characterize the experience of students?
The author notes significant challenges, including high dropout rates, the legacy of historical educational policies, and the pervasive presence of generational grief.
How does the author approach the subject of local elders?
The author expresses deep respect for the elders, particularly highlighting their role in maintaining traditions and their dynamic speaking abilities, while also lamenting the hardships they face.
What is the significance of the "give-away" concept mentioned?
The author mentions the "give-away" as a physical and spiritual practice within the Native American culture, which provides context for their own experiences with panhandlers.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Stephen Grams (Autor:in), 2019, Life on an Indian Reservation, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/454953
