Velma says, “Our stories, the memories of our people, are the things left to hold us together.” Do you agree?
What does this mean: “Our culture has become diluted by other value systems.”
Some leaders don't want the world to know about ancestors survival techniques because they conflict with new values. Do you think these elders are embarrassed or ashamed of the past? What are some other reasons?
What can happen to people who miss the past too much? Why does Velma take life one day at a time?
Interview an Elder in your community. Ask them to tell you a story about the past. Write the story down. Publish your stories in a community book.
Watch the movie Smoke Signals. This movie is about a young man who lives on a reservation. It is about his life on the reservation and how he handles the difficulties of growing up.
Compare two characters in the book. How are they similar/ the same? Use a Venn diagram.
List the characters in order of preference. Give clear reasons for each character's place on the line.
Which character did you most dislike in the book? Why?
Velma says that, “New ways of thinking were forced on us with humiliation and fear and drilled into our minds for one hundred years.” Give examples from the book.
What values and teachings did Velma learn from her parents?
Write a one-page biography on Velma Wallis. An example biography is on Handout 1.
Write a novel review for Raising Ourselves. Refer to Handout 2 for sample reviews from other books.