Navajo History and School Life Quiz

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Questions and Answers

Who is the narrator?

Kii Yazhi

What does his name mean?

Little Boy

Why did the Americans declare war on the Navajo Indians?

They would not stop raiding the Mexicans who continued to raid their villages and turn their people into slaves.

What was the long walk?

The Navajo were forced to walk hundreds of miles to Fort Sumner. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the conditions in which the Navajo were allowed to go back to their homeland.

They had to promise to obey the American laws, stop raiding, and to learn the white-man ways. Signup and view all the answers

How did Kii Yazhi and his uncle get to the school?

They rode in a wagon. Signup and view all the answers

What did the jewelry symbolize?

It symbolized how much their families loved them. Signup and view all the answers

Why wasn't it easy to understand the Navajo spoken by the children at the mission?

They spoke the same language but they were from different areas and the language was slightly different. Signup and view all the answers

How are the Navajo children taught to react to adults?

They were taught to respect them. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the white man who met the Navajo children.

Red-faced, barked like dogs. Signup and view all the answers

Why did the white man think the children were being disrespectful to him when he was yelling at them?

They were looking down at the ground. Signup and view all the answers

What did Jacob Benally tell the children that shocked them?

He told them they were no longer allowed to speak Navajo. They were to speak English or say nothing at all. Signup and view all the answers

Who was the white man who spoke to the children upon their arrival?

He was the principal of the mission school, Principal O'Sullivan. Signup and view all the answers

What did he tell the children?

Everything they knew about being Indian had to be forgotten. Signup and view all the answers

Why did the Navajo consider their long hair to be sacred?

Long hair ensured that misfortune would stay away. Signup and view all the answers

What job did Mr. Reamer have?

He gave the children their new American name. Signup and view all the answers

What name was given to the narrator?

Ned Begay. Signup and view all the answers

What happened to Ned when he greeted Mr. Reamer with a Navajo greeting?

He had his mouth washed out with soap. Signup and view all the answers

What happened to the children who refused to stop talking Navajo?

They were beaten with heavy sticks. Signup and view all the answers

Explain what happened to John Roanhorse.

He was taken to a cellar and chained in it for a week. He was given stale bread and water. Signup and view all the answers

How did Ned defy the teachers at the mission?

He spoke Navajo whenever he wasn't around the white folks. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Jim Thorpe?

He was a famous Indian athlete. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Ned resent the way the teachers treated him?

They didn't expect him to be as smart as the white children. Signup and view all the answers

How did having a goal make the time go faster for Ned?

He had something to achieve, to work for. Signup and view all the answers

What did Ned like about the Navajo High School besides its location?

The teachers taught them a lot more. Signup and view all the answers

What is ironic about Ned and his classmates collecting food for the poor people of Japan?

His people were poorer than the people he was gathering food for. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Japanese believe was their destiny?

To own all the land around them. Signup and view all the answers

Who did Japan form an alliance with?

Germany. Signup and view all the answers

What did the piece of paper in Ned's wallet say the Navajo Indians would do if needed?

They would fight as Americans against anyone who threatened them. Signup and view all the answers

What was the date of the attack on Pearl Harbor?

December 7, 1941. Signup and view all the answers

What is a dunce cap?

It was a pointed hat placed on the top of a student's head. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Characters and Context

Kii Yazhi, meaning "Little Boy," is the narrator of the story.
The American-Navajo conflict arose due to Navajo raids on Mexicans who enslaved their people.

Historical Events

The Long Walk refers to the forced relocation of the Navajo to Fort Sumner, covering hundreds of miles.
Upon returning home, the Navajo had to agree to obey American laws, abandon raiding, and adopt white customs.

School Experience

Kii Yazhi and his uncle traveled to school by wagon.
Jewelry given to the children represented their families' love.
Children at the mission struggled to understand each other due to dialectical differences in the Navajo language.

Cultural Conflict

The children were taught to respect adults and faced harsh treatment when they didn't understand the American schooling system.
Red-faced adults reacted aggressively, leading to misconceptions about respect from the children.
Principal O'Sullivan emphasized that all aspects of their Indian identity had to be forgotten.

Cultural Significance

Long hair is revered by the Navajo as a protective symbol against misfortune.
Mr. Reamer assigned new American names to the children, such as Ned Begay for Kii Yazhi.
Speaking Navajo could result in severe punishment, including physical abuse.

Defiance and Resistance

Despite restrictions, Ned continued speaking Navajo when teachers weren't present.
The treatment of students was demeaning, with teachers underestimating their intelligence compared to white students.

Goals and Aspirations

Setting personal goals helped Ned endure difficult times, providing him motivation.
Navajo High School was preferable due to better education quality.

Irony and Perspective

Ned found irony in collecting food for the Japanese, as his own people faced greater poverty.
The Japanese believed their destiny was to control the surrounding land, forming an alliance with Germany.

War Context

The Navajo expressed readiness to defend as Americans if necessary, as noted in a paper found in Ned's wallet.
Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941, marking a significant event in American history.

Educational Practices

A dunce cap was used as a form of humiliation for students in the school system.

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Description

This quiz explores the historical context of the American-Navajo conflict, focusing on the Long Walk and its impacts. It also examines the school experiences of Navajo children and the cultural challenges they faced. Test your knowledge on these significant events and their implications.