Through reading Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, I learn more about the poverty on the Reservation, and realize that all the situations what are happening there are not caused by a simple reason but have left from the history. Another interesting fact that I picked up from his book is about the alcoholism. Junior discovers that alcohol has a much more important position compared to education in most of the residents’ mind on the Reservation. Alcohol found its way to the Native American population of North America during early contacts between Native people and European visitors, traders and explorers who, for whatever reasons, were eager to share their intoxicating drink. And, like many other so-called civilizing influences, alcohol altered the Native American existence, culture, and way of life for many years even yet to come. As generation followed generation, and more of the culture and identity of the past was lost, newer generations of the Native population eventually found alcohol to be their only salvation. With no strong cultural heritage to lead them, and a continued lack of acceptance out in the world at large, there has been little else left them.
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