Rez Life: An Indian’s Journey Through Reservation Life

Rez Life precedes Treuer’s more comprehensive history of Indigenous American life, The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee. Treuer’s goal with both books was to revise the historiography of Indigenous peoples from one that explored tragic narratives to one that elucidated the complexities of life within Indigenous communities, which are common to all communities. What common themes and issues does he explore in both books? How do both books contribute to the study of Indigenous American history?

How are the issues of Indigenous people’s sovereignty and treaty rights connected to Enlightenment philosopher John Locke’s idea of private property? Locke believed that people deserved to own any land on which they had labored. How does Locke’s idea, which has been regarded as a key concept in the development of the American colonies, contrast with white Americans’ treatment of Indigenous people and other non-white people throughout the nation’s history?

What comparisons can you make between Indigenous people’s experiences with the federal government and those of African Americans, with a particular focus on 19th-century legislation?

Explain how Leech Lake Reservation, Treuer’s home, serves as a microcosm of both Indigenous life and American life within the text.

What connections does Treuer draw between the economic disenfranchisement of Indigenous nations and their current struggles with poverty? How do these relate to similar struggles faced by other non-white groups in the United States?

How does Treuer’s ability to pass as white impact his narrative? Pay particular attention to the scene at Pachanga Resort and Casino.

In Rez Life, Treuer’s assessment of the American Indian Movement (AIM) is rather critical. He argues that the group was politically divisive and largely ineffective, while common civilians did far more to advance the causes of Indigenous Americans. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Black and Indigenous people of color (BIPOC) have, for many decades, had a fraught relationship with law enforcement. How might the presence of Indigenous people in law enforcement ameliorate the view that the police are natural antagonists? Is it ever possible for these communities to have a relationship with police that is not inherently contentious? Why or why not?