Part I: Remain
2. Tony Loneman: Tony Loneman, a young Native man with fetal alcohol syndrome, reflects on his life in Oakland and his physical appearance, which he refers to as "The Drome." He struggles with identity, racial stereotyping, and contemplates robbing the Oakland Powwow to steal prize money. His story introduces the theme of disempowerment.
3. Dene Oxendene: Dene, a documentary filmmaker, wins a grant to record Native stories in Oakland. He wants to honor his late uncle, Lucas, by capturing urban Native identities. Dene’s narrative emphasizes the importance of storytelling and the preservation of culture.
4. Opal Viola Victoria Bear Shield: Opal remembers her traumatic childhood, when her mother took her and her sister Jacquie to join the Native occupation of Alcatraz in 1969. Her mother had high hopes for the movement, but it ended in disappointment, leaving Opal and Jacquie with a deep sense of loss and abandonment.
5. Edwin Black: Edwin is a young man of mixed Native and white heritage, unemployed and isolated. He spends most of his time online, disconnected from his heritage. He struggles with obesity and depression and is trying to find out more about his Native father, whom he's never met.
Karen’s son
Maybe…Harveys’s son too
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Part II: Reclaim
6. Bill Davis: Bill is a janitor at the Oakland Coliseum and the boyfriend of Edwin's mother, Karen. His chapter explores his detachment from the Native community and his strained relationship with Karen and Edwin.
7. Calvin Johnson: Calvin, a cousin of Orvil Red Feather (introduced later), is involved in a scheme to rob the Oakland Powwow. He reflects on his alienation from his Native roots and his involvement in shady activities as a way to escape his disillusionment.
8. Jacquie Red Feather: is now an older woman struggling with alcoholism and guilt from her past mistakes, including abandoning her children. She attends a substance abuse recovery conference in Albuquerque, where she reconnects with Harvey, a man from her past who fathered one of her daughters. Jacquie’s narrative revolves around healing and the possibility of redemption.
Opals sister
Future her
2 daughters
1 up to adoption (harvey)
1 died by self (alcoholic)
Met at Phoenix for AA conference
Harvey talks about how he’s going to Oakland to see his son
Substance abuse counselor
10 days sober
"she”
9. Orvil Red Feather: secretly learns about his Native heritage through the internet and YouTube videos, as his grandmother Opal had discouraged him and his brothers from engaging with their culture. He prepares to dance at the Oakland Powwow, feeling both connected to his identity and anxious about what it means to truly be "Native."
Jacquie’s grandson
Son of jaquies deceased daughter, Jamie
Does an interview for Dene and gains a $200 target gift card and buys his little brother a bike
Lony & loother little brother
10. Opal Viola Victoria Bear Shield (continued): This chapter goes back to Opal's past, recounting her memories of living on Alcatraz Island and her life afterward, taking care of her sister Jacquie’s grandchildren. Opal carries a deep sense of responsibility and is wary of re-engaging with the past traumas of their family.
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Part III: Return
11. Blue: Blue is the head of the Oakland Powwow committee. She reveals that she was adopted by a white family as a child and grew up disconnected from her Native identity. She eventually escaped an abusive marriage and made her way back to Oakland to reconnect with her roots. Her story explores the theme of belonging and finding one’s place within a fractured heritage.
12. Thomas Frank: Thomas is a drummer and a recovering alcoholic who works for the Indian Center. He is fired from his job for drinking on the job but is determined to perform at the Powwow. His narrative touches on the intersection of tradition and modernity, and the ways Native culture continues to survive despite adversity.
Knowt
Note
Studied by 6 people
