Inside Sherman Alexie

JUNE 30, 2000

"Most Indians probably can't even spell sovereignty," states Sherman Alexie, the award winning Spokane / Coeur d'Alene author, poet, and screenwriter.

Out of the mouth of anyone else, such a statement might be considered shocking. But for fans and enemies of Alexie, its just another in a long series of one-liners, retorts, and wisecracks he has delivered over the years.

His latest effort, One Stick Song, is filled with even more. Its a collection of poems plus a couple of thought provoking short stories that put Alexie back in his most comfortable element.

"I like poetry and short stories the best", Alexie told Indianz.Com. "Its also what I'm best at."

Although Alexie has stated many of his prior works are based on personal experiences, two stories in the collection, "The Unofficial Autobigraphy of Me" and "The Warriors" give readers a inside glimpse into Alexie many may not have seen before.

The stories offer tidbits of life many in Indian Country can relate to, such as going to a KISS concert, playing on the tribal baseball team, and growing up on the reservation.

"The Warriors" also discusses an issue many are aware of but hardly talk about: an Indian person's attraction and desire for someone of another race. In this case, Alexie's "secret" fascination with white women.

"I lusted after white girls and women more than I lusted after Indian girls and women," writes Alexie. "Television taught me to do this. Television taught me that the bodies of white women were more beautiful than the bodies of brown women."

Later, Alexie writes about falling in love with and marrying a Hidatsa / Ho-Chunk / Potawatomi woman who "has beautiful, clear, brown skin and long, raven-black hair."

One Stick Song, like his other recent effort, The Toughest Indian in The World, released in May, also inspires discussion about every day Indian life that not many others write about.

"60 percent of Indians are urban Indians and nobody's writing about them," says Alexie. "Everybody thinks the rez is Eden. Everybody thinks the rez is where you're the most Indian."

More importantly, the stories in One Stick Song give readers a glimpse inside Sherman Alexie, a picture often masked by his humorous public persona. But according to Alexie, we all wear masks in our lives.

"We all wear masks, says Alexie. "We're all liars."

So the big question remains: When is Sherman Alexie lying, just joking, or both? And can anyone tell the difference?

Related Stories:
Sherman leaving Hollywood (Arts and Entertainment 6/23)
Sherman in the Spotlight (Arts and Entertainment 5/30)

Relevant Links:
Sherman Alexie Online: www.fallsapart.com
From Bob Holman, Alexie's challenger in the Poetry Bout: How To Train for the World Heavyweight Poetry Bout Championship... & Lose!

	The Toughest Indian in the World Atlantic Monthly Press $16.80 Released in May 2000, the book features a series of interesting stories about characters whom Sherman calls "ordinary, mainstream Indians."
	One Stick Song Hanging Loose Press $25.00 Released in June 2000, some of the poems in the collection helped Alexie win The World Heavyweight Championship Poetry Bout on June 17.
	Smoke Signals Available in VHS, DVD $17.99, $22.49 Released in 1998, its Alexie's first film, produced by Chris Eyre. Victor and Thomas team up and travel to the Southwest.
	Addams Family Values Available in VHS, DVD $13.99, $22.49 No, Alexie did not have any part in this move, released in 1993. But it features one of the funniest "Indians turn the tables" scenes in recent memory.