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Group C: #3 In Junior’s mind, what is a “real Indian”? How does this impact him?



In Junior’s mind, being a “real indian” means that you are brave and take risks, but you also follow your heart and do whats right for yourself. Being a “real indian” presents Junior with this idea that he is the only indian left that has hope. Hope means that you believe in yourself and you feel that you have the ability to do anything you put your mind to. In the text on page 49, Junior states, “‘I’m transferring to Reardon.’”. This not only shows that Junior has the courage to do something that nobody from the reservation is doing and that he can stand out and be different. Another example of taking risks and following your heart is on page 50, where Junior says, “They were beautiful and smart and epic. They were filled with hope.” This quote shows the significance of hope and what other people think of foreign cultures. Through Junior’s struggle to succeed on “the rez” of Spokane, Washington, Junior learns that struggling to succeed the first time is not always a bad thing. Being a “real indian” signifies having hope and love for those around you. This has an immense impact on Junior, and he will forever succeed if he continues to follow his hope.

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