Short Story This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix Arizona

This is What it Means to be Natives
In the short story “This is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” by Sherman Alexie Native Americans are accurately depicted due to the author’s Native American heritage and his upbringing in the Spokane-Coeur d’Alene Tribe. In the story, the character Victor needed help to retrieve his father’s remains, and his childhood acquaintance Thomas acting out of tradition says that he will lend him money (Alexie 245). The role of a Native American should be played or depicted by a Native American author or director, and that non-Natives should have extensive knowledge of the Native American culture before attempting to portray them.
Native Americans have been negatively portrayed in Hollywood and Western literature.

As Harrison concludes, “Then again, maybe the Western has one life left, one that involves the Indians finally telling their own story” (Harrison 217). These stories came to life with the passion of one who knows what they are talking about, namely educated individuals who happen to be tribal members of their respective nations. Native Americans face similar struggles just like the rest of Americans, and in the short story, “This is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona”, Victor laments, “Whatever happened to the tribal ties, the sense of community? The only real thing he shared was a bottle and broken dreams” (Alexie 253). The plight of Native American authors and directors to get the truth out about what really goes on inside of reservations is encouraging and also gives myself and many Native Americans great hope that many people will be more informed. Also that this would cause a great season of healing to come upon the people of the United States would continue to