Reservation Blues #4

After finishing Reservation Blues by Sherman Alexie, I feel as though the story ended in a tragic state. For example, at the very start of chapter 9, one of our main characters dies. After stealing a rifle and climbing up the water tower, the author explains, "Junior unshouldered the rifle. He felt the smooth, cool wood of the stock, set the butt of the riddle against the metal grating of the floor, and placed his forehead against the mouth of the barrel... He flipped the safety off, held his thumb against the trigger, and felt the slight tension. Junior squeezed the trigger" (247). The fact that at almost the very end of the story Junior kills himself shows that the story is almost in complete tumult. They were given numerous death threats, the priest is resigning from his job, and Junior is now dead. Also, it is clear after finishing the book that whites have assumed many  racial stereotypes towards Native Americans. The record that Betty and Veronica send Thomas is used with stereotyped Indian images: Father Sky, Mother Earth, four directions, tobacco, pipe, sweetgrass, eagle, buffalo, etc. These traits are the ones that white people use to simulate authentic Indians.

"Can you hear the eagle crying?

Can you hear the eagle crying?

I look to the four directions

And try to find some connection

With Mother Earth, Mother Earth

I offer you tobacco and sweetgrass

I offer you tobacco and sweetgrass

I pray to the four directions

And try to find some connection

With Father Sky, Father Sky" (265).
These words indicate that American popular music prefers style and images rather then actual meaning.