Your worst nightmare--an Indian with a book : literary empowerment for Native American students in the educational system

Abstract

Native American rates of graduation are extremely low in comparison to the rest of the United States public and the classes which are considered "assimilative" classes have among the worst success rates for Native American students. Among these assimilative classes is the field of literature. This thesis explores how literature is assimilative and progresses through how it can be empowering for students. The thesis discusses the importance of incorporating Native American worldviews into the literary classroom and provides specific suggestions for teaching literature to Native Americans to enable it to be empowering rather than assimilative. These new methods of teaching will lead to better success rates among Native American students as well as increased self-esteem and pride in culture.