Navajo Language
What were the students at boarding school forbidden to do, and what happened if they disobeyed?
Speak Navajo. Their mouths were washed out with soap (pg. 17, 23-24)
Why is having his hair cut so painful for Ned at boarding school?
Navajos believe hair is sacred, cutting it brings misfortune, the cutting of his hair severs his connection to his culture (pg. 19)
On the first day of boarding school, how do the Navajo children introduce themselves to each other?
By their clans and where they are from, which makes them feel happier and in balance (pgs. 13-14)
Name the two boys who became Ned's first friends at boarding school.
Tommy Nez and Jesse Chee (pg. 24)
As an old man, who is Ned telling his life story to?
His grandchildren
How does Ned keep his language alive at boarding school?
He speaks Navajo with other Indian students and/or learns Navajo songs and stories in the basement/behind the woodshed. (pgs. 26-27)
After Ned's mouth is washed out with soap, what does Jesse Chee whisper to him in Navajo?
That he will return to balance and the Holy People have not forgotten him (pg. 24)
On their first day of boarding school, the Navajo children arrive in their finest clothes and family jewelry. What does this show and what happens to those things?
It shows how much their families love them. The school takes away their clothes/jewelry and sell them. (pgs. 13, 20)
When Ned leaves for boarding school, his uncle says he isn't going for himself. Who is he going for?
His family, people, and sacred land (pg. 10)
What did Ned's great grandfather live through, and later describe to him, when he was a boy?
The Long Walk
When the Marines come looking for Navajos, what skill must the men have?
They must speak both English and Navajo fluently (pg. 40)
Ned is afraid of deep water when he ships out. What does Bill remind him of that makes his fear go away?
Father Sky will be above them and will never forget them (pg. 90)
During desert training in Hawaii, what plant do the Navajo Marines use to get water?
Prickly pear cactus (pg. 98)
Ned is only 15 when the Marine recruiter comes, but the Marines only take men 17 and older. How is he able to enlist?
Navajos didn't have birth certificates, so his parents agree to say he's old enough (pg. 43)
In high school, what does Ned decide will be his job as an adult?
A teacher
When the code talkers prove themselves, how fast do they send a message in Navajo code compared with the Marines' regular code?
2 and a half minutes instead of 4 hours (pg. 94)
Right before the landing on Iwo Jima, where does Ned go, and what does he do there?
The upper deck of the ship, to be closer to the sky. He puts pollen on his head and tongue and prays to the Holy People (pg. 178)
What did Ned do growing up on the reservation that made boot camp easy for him?
Walking long distances, carrying heavy loads, herding sheep, hunting (pgs. 48-49, 61)
Throughout the war, Ned carries a piece of paper in his wallet. What is written on it?
A copy of the Navajo Tribal Council's 1940 resolution pledging that the Navajo people were ready to defend the United States (pg. 34-35)
In what year is the code talkers' story declassified, and why does that matter most to Ned?
1969 - he can finally tell his people how their language helped the country (pgs. 213-214)
During the battle of Iwo Jima, how does hearing Navajo voices on the radio help Ned?
It calms/grounds him, and the Navajo voices keep the battle connected.
After the war, what ceremony helps heal Ned, and how does he feel afterward?
The Enemyway. His balance is restored, and he feels at peace and "truly home" (pgs. 211-212)
On Guadalcanal, why does Ned feel connected to the Solomon Islanders?
Like the Navajo, they love their homeland as a sacred place and were mistreated by people who took over their land (pgs. 102-103)
Ira Hayes, a Pima Indian in the famous flag photo, feels lonely after the war. How is Ned's experience different?
Ira had no other Indians with him. Ned had other Navajos, his language, and ceremonies to keep him strong (pg. 195)
What message does Bruchac communicate about culture, community, and heritage?
Holding on to your cuture and community gives you strength in hard times. It must be passed down so future generations stay proud and grounded