The Round House

           

When reading The Round House, my eyes opened up to see how not only in the 80s, but today how society treats and values Native Americans. Throughout the novel, it’s shown how ignorance is a norm for the outside white society, and the disregard about it. In the first chapters of the book the main character, a 13 year old Native American boy, is in the waiting room of a hospital and is faced with a rude comment. He was rudely asked by a white woman, “Don’t you Indians have your own hospital?” (Erdrich 8). Although this may seem like a genuine and curious comment, the follow up questions, facial expressions, and described tone of voice provided for a different conclusion. While this was just one minor example of the discrimination of the time being shown, a larger scale nonfiction example is also shown. In an interview, President Reagan mis referred to a Native

American reservation as a “preservation”. Hearing a president make such a large mistake as that just show the overall disregard in society about Native Americans, as well as a disregard for their culture as valid Americans. Not to say the woman in the hospital was being blatantly discriminatory or intentionally culturally insensitive, but she was a perfect example and symbol of the lack of knowledge Americans have about Native Americans. Coming from the point of view of a young boy on a reservation, an innocent and naive perspective is present. This unique lens

that the story is seen through greatly aids in seeing a pure viewpoint of the genuine separation and lack of knowledge that Americans have about Native Americans. Learning from this novel, I intend to educate myself further on other minorities in our nation to better close the gap of knowledge I’ve first handedly seen many of my peers and other have. 

(Sorry every time I publish the formatting messes up!)

Notes Sheet!