Zitkala-Sa was a Dakota woman who wrote the book American Indian Stories. In the book she recalls several events from her life like her childhood living in a wigwam by the Missouri River, her experiences at a Native American boarding school, and her journey as an Indian teacher. The book also contains several oral tradition legends and stories of the Sioux along with a paper titled America’s Indian Problem. All the works within the book serve to educate the American masses, but the importance of her autobiography cannot be understated. Zitkala-Sa wrote American Indian Stories because she wanted to let her life story be known, explain how Dakota society functioned, and educate Americans about boarding schools, Zitkala-Sa wrote an autobiography…show more content… Starting with what she did, beadwork was important too much of her childhood. The importance of bead working is expresses when Zitkala-Sa wrote about how her” original designs were not always symmetrical nor sufficiently characteristic, two faults with which my mother had little patience” (Zitkala-Sa). Her mother had to teach her how to create designs that were not too complex, but still allowed for individuality. The legends of the Dakota people were passed down orally. Zitkala-Sa recalls when she was listening to an old woman tell a tale and how “The increasing interest of the tale aroused me, and I sat up eagerly listening to every word” (Zitkala-Sa). The community in the villages had to be strong and each member was helping the others. Once Zitkala-Sa’s grandfather came over when he mother was absent and she “began to play the part of a generous hostess” (Zitkala-Sa). She watched how her mother treated guest and repeated what she did with care and hospitality. A young warrior returned from his first battle and “His near relatives, to celebrate his new rank, were spreading a feast to which the whole of the Indian village was invited” (Zitkala-Sa). The stories of the past and community bonds were passed down during communal meals like the ones Zitkala-Sa describes. Another young warrior died and was buried with plum seeds and a bush grew from those seeds (Zitkala-Sa). One day when Zitkala-Sa was walking was it she heard a whistling and knew it was the spirit of the warrior because she “had listened so frequently to hear the old folks describe it” (Zitkala-Sa). The knowledge passed down by the elders of the village was used frequently by her and others. The Dakota culture that Zitkala-Sa was raised in was almost fully taken away by a boarding
