Operator's Manual: A Resource Guide

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About the Author was born in Little Falls, Minnesota in 1954. As the daughter of a Chippewa Indian mother and a German- American father, Erdrich explores Native-American themes in her works, with major characters representing both sides of her heritage. In an award-winning series of related novels and short stories, Erdrich has visited and re-visited the North Dakota lands where her ancestors met and mingled, representing Chippewa experience in the Anglo-American literary tradition. Many critics claim Erdrich has remained true to her Native ancestors’ mythic and artistic visions while writing fiction that candidly explores the cultural issues facing modern-day Native Americans and mixed heritage Americans. From the PoetryFoundation.org website. Read her whole biography and see her a bibliography of her works.

"If you have a group of people, and you ask, has a dream ever come true? Have you ever had an experience where you thought you were in the presence - a supernatural presence? Have you ever heard a voice that didn't seem to come from anywhere? You'd get so many stories. And I like to ask people this question because I always get interesting stories. So many things happen to us that we immediately explain away, and so I'm just not explaining away what's happening. That's all it is. It's not magical realism." From the author's March 2020 interview on NPR's Fresh Air. Hear the whole interview or read the transcript.

Watch Louise Erdrich read from and discuss The Night Watchman at the Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington DC

Louise Erdrich is also the owner of an independent bookstore, Birchbark Books and Native Arts, in Minneapolis, MN. Visit her book blog. Operator's Manual: A Resource Guide

What Critics are saying about the Night watchman

"It is a fully satisfying experience to read Erdrich’s novel. I put The Night Watchman down with a heavy heart. Not out of disappointment — far from it. It is a sad thing to finish the book because when you are reading it you are in the hands of a master storyteller, and you know you are in such hands." Thomas J Millay for the Los Angeles Review of Books Read the full review.

"Trying to capture the spirit of Louise Erdrich’s writing is like trying to capture the dancing ghost images of the Chippewa elders. It’s too elusive, to luminous, too full of emotion and lyricism. What can be said is that “The Night Watchman” will lift your heart." Mary Ann Grossman for Twin Cities Pioneer Press Read the full review.

"'The Night Watchman' is a blend of truth and fiction, real people and real events matched up with make-believe. The boxing match that Thomas organizes to raise money for the trip to Washington? True. The creepy Minneapolis bar where Pixie Paranteau gets a job playing a coy Babe the Blue Ox frolicking in a tank of water? Based on truth, but different. The Babe the Blue Ox suit that Pixie wore, made of specialized rubber that came all the way from Chicago? Fully a product of Erdrich's rich imagination." Laurie Hertzel for the Minneapolis Star Tribune Read the full review.

"'The trend here, however, is toward redemption. Hard-won survival. And, in the face of suffering and struggle and governmental malfeasance, hope. Laughter erupts as unexpectedly as tears." Luis Alberto Urrea for Read the full review.

"'Some readers may question such optimism and hope and doubt the tentative, nuanced resolutions achieved by the tribe and Thomas’ family. But any reader in this present, dark winter of 2020 open to reminders of what a few good people can do will find The Night Watchman bracing and timely." Ellen Prentiss Campbell for the Washington Independent Review of Books Read the full review. Operator's Manual: A Resource Guide

obob diversity statement

One Book One Bozeman is committed to amplifying Native voices and Native experiences in conjunction with the content and themes in this year's book selection. Half of our presenters are indigenous and this guide was created to help highlight Native creators, authors, poets, and more. We support and celebrate diversity and practice inclusion at the Bozeman Public Library.

Virtual Author INTERVIEWS

Without an in-person author event at BPL this year, we have searched for resources comparable to a live reading. Click to view readings.

Louise Erdrich joins a book club discussion of The Night Watchman in December via WNYC and NYPL

Interview with Louise Erdrich via the Nation Book Critics Circle and the Association of Writers and Writing Programs

Resources for Youth

While The Night Watchman is an adult novel, it is also appropriate for some high school readers. If you are looking for diverse books for a younger crowd, check out these resource lists for age appropriate content.

American Indians In Children's Literature

Children's Books That Tackle Race and Diversity

We Need Diverse Books

Please also reach out to our children's library if you'd like more recommendations for diverse materials Operator's Manual: A Resource Guide

In addition to Louise Erdrich's prolific body of work, here are additional works to check out in multiple formats! If You LIked the Night WAtchman, try: FICTION NONFIcTION

An Indigenous Peoples' History of The United Ceremony by Leslie Silko State by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz Cherokee America by Margaret Verble Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer Fool's Crow by James Welch Every Day Is A Good Day by Wilma Mankiller Let Him Go by Larry Watson Heart Berries: A Memoir by Terese Marie Mailhot by Tommy Orange On The Rez by Ian Frazier The Bones of Paradise by Jonis Agee Making A Difference by Ada Elizabeth Deer

POETRY PODCAST

An American Sunrise by Joy Harjo The Cuts with Sterlin Harjo

Another Attempt At Rescue by M.L. Smoker Native Opinion

Dancing Teepees by Virginia Diving Hawk Sneve Media Indigena

The Death of Sitting Bear by N. Scott Momoday Red Nation

When the light of the world was subdued, our songs came The Slowdown through (anthology) edited by Joy Harjo

Wolf Teeth by Henry Real Bird

NARRATIVE FILM DOCUMENTARY

Barking Water 100 Years* Songs My Brothers Taught Me A Good Day To Die

Shouting Secrets Mankiller*

Smoke Signals Montana Mosaic

Wind River Trudell Winter In The Blood* Up Heartbreak Hill

*Available to stream via Kanopy

Add a subheading Operator's Manual: A Resource Guide Discussion Questions for the book From readinggroupguides.com

1. What qualities define Thomas Wazhushk? In what ways is he like the muskrat he was named for? What, in addition to the jewel-bearing plant, does he watch and guard? 2. In what ways is Rose valuable to Thomas and the rest of her family and community? 3. Watching the stars one night, Thomas is struck by the opposing natures of his first and last names. What do they represent? How is he able to integrate them into an identity or not? 4. Thomas spends much of his work time writing, both official correspondence and personal letters and cards. What is important about writing for him? What is the value of creating such documents? 5. Pixie Paranteau insists that others call her Patrice. Why is this? What’s the difference between the two names for her? In what ways are names important? 6. Patrice likens her meticulous work at the jewel plant to beading with her mother. In what ways is this similar or not? What’s the difference between work and a job? 7. Why does Patrice love to chop firewood? What does it say that she arranges it in a beautiful pattern? 8. What is Zhaanat’s “deep knowledge”? Why has it been important to protect it and her from outside influences such as boarding school? 9. What is it about Zhaanat’s “unusual hands that frightened some people”? 10. Patrice comes to believe that most people treat the concept of God “in a childish way.” What does she mean? Why might such an approach be limiting or problematic? What is her understanding of the “nameless greatness”? 11. How did Vera --- who “always wanted to stay where she could see the birches” --- fall victim to such horrible experience? Why might such brutal, misogynistic criminal activity be a lesser priority to authorities? What are the similarities and differences between such criminal sexual activity and Patrice’s job as the Waterjack? 12. What is Wood Mountain like? How is it that he is both a fighter and sensitive and kind to women and Vera’s baby? Why don’t more men combine such strength and protective calm? 13. What does Thomas’ father, Biboon, know that most others do not? What might he mean when he says, “Survival is a changing game”? 14. As Thomas reads resolution 108, meant to terminate the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, he’s struck that “the unthinkable was couched in such innocuous dry language.” What is the intent of such language? In what other contexts is plain, dry language used as a power? 15. Consider the many stereotyped images of “a lovely Indian maiden in flowing buckskin” and others in advertising. What is the power and effect of such images? What role do they play in culture? 16. What does it mean that Thomas is of the “after-the-buffalo-who-are-we-now” generation? What might it mean to “define themselves”? What are the various component parts of one’s identity? 17. What is shame? Why is it likened to “a black sediment...carried around in [the] stomach”? What are the causes of shame for Thomas and others? What is the best way to combat it? 18. How is Millie Cloud a part of or estranged from her tribe? How might she balance her valuable pursuit of higher education with a connection to her family and culture? 19. Thomas chooses to view Arthur V. Watkins, the senator behind the termination bill, as an adversary instead of an enemy. What’s the difference? What does Thomas gain by making this distinction? 20. Why is Patrice’s sexual desire “confused with shame”? In what ways are her desires healthy and responsible? 21. Out walking, Patrice falls into a ravine and decides to take a nap near a hibernating bear. What does this mean to her? How does it affect her after the fact? What does it mean that “bigger ideas were called for”? 22. Thomas explains to Barnes that “we are connected to the way-back people.” What does he mean? What is the value of such deep perspective? 23. In what ways are Patrice and Millie “in the same league”? 24. Why might Millie, as she “lovingly” turns the hand crank of the duplicating machine, grow “happier and happier”? 25. What does it mean that patterns take Millie “into the foundations of meaning”? What is the “place simple, savage, ineffable, and exquisite,” that she retreats to each night? 26. What do Roderick’s consistent appearances mean to Thomas? What effect do they have? 27. What is the role and importance of laughter throughout the burdensome struggles of the novel? 28. What explains Patrice becoming “inhabited by a vengeful, roiling, even murderous spirit”? How might this be helpful to her? 29. Consider one of the final images of the novel, Thomas dreaming of muskrats, asking them his name, placing the paper it’s written on in his mouth, and the “bones tipped and staggered, assembling into forms” across the prairies. What do all these powerful images suggest about Thomas and his people? 30. What is important and powerful about Thomas, even occasionally struggling with language, continuing to write at his desk at work? Operator's Manual: A Resource Guide

about our presenters

Dorothea Susag, of Oakdale, MN, is a retired language arts and Heritage Project teacher, a 1992-93 Christa McAuliffe Fellowship recipient, author of Roots and Branches: a Resource of Native American Literature Themes, Lessons, and Bibliographies, as well as several secondary-level units for the Montana Office of Public Instruction Indian Education. She conducts workshops for teachers and students by request.

Dr. Alex Harmon is an assistant professor of American Studies and English at Montana State University. She comes from a literature background, and became interested in American Studies because when she realized that the work she wanted to do didn’t fit neatly within the disciplinary boundaries of literary studies – or any disciplinary boundaries, for that matter! The interdisciplinary nature of American Studies has been the perfect home for her scholarly interests, which center on 20th and 21st century Native American literature, film, and material culture, critical race theory, federal Indian law, private property and public lands in the US, and the Western genre in film and literature.

Stella Nall grew up in Bozeman, and is now a full time artist currently working out of Missoula, where she graduated from the University of Montana in 2020 with a BFA in printmaking, a BA in psychology and a minor in Art History and Criticism. She is a mixed race Indigenous woman, and a First Descendant of the Crow Tribe. Her work has been featured in Cutbank Literary Magazine, Scribendi Literature and Arts Magazine, and will be featured on the cover of the upcoming publication of Poetry Northwest . She is currently an exhibiting artist with the Art Mobile of Montana, and was the 2020 recipient of the Western Regional Honors Council Award for Visual Art. Her art lives in numerous public and private collections, including The Montana Museum of Art and Culture, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian

Franco Littlelight, artist, musician, singer, composer, poet, and story-teller, is one of few and last truly traditional American Indians. Considered a voice for the Crow People, he is asked to speak on behalf of many in a traditional way.

Anita Moore-Nall is an enrolled member of the Apsáalooke (Crow) Nation from Montana. She grew up on the Blackfeet and Salish Kootenai Reservations in Montana. Her home is in Bozeman, Montana and currently in Anchorage, Alaska. She is currently teaching and conducting research at the University of Alaska, Anchorage as part of a postdoc in the Division of Population Health Sciences. See her story map about some of her experiences with beadwork which she made in a digital storytelling workshop trying to learn the different editing techniques. Participate in the One Book One Bozeman Reading Challenge!

Read The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich

Attend a One Book One Bozeman 2021 book club meeting January - June, 2021

Read any One Book One Bozeman selection from 2003-2020

Read any book written by Louise Erdrich

Read a book of poetry written by a Native American

Choose any book you want to read! Free Space / Free read

Cook one or more recipes from a cookbook written by an indigenous person

Watch a movie set in the Dakotas or Minnesota on Kanopy or DVD

Find some music appropriate to the time the book is set in on Freegal or Hoopla

Read a book set in winter

Read an author you have never read before

Read a biography of someone who inspires or interests you

Read a book by one of your favorite authors One Book One Bozeman Schedule of virtual events

Join us for virtual events highlighting themes in the book, amplifying Native voices, and focusing on the Native experience Tuesday, Feb. 2, 7 PM: The Night Watchman and Native poetry with Dorothea Susag Friday, Feb. 12, 12:00 PM: The Night Watchman: Fiction and Fact in the Native American experience (Friday Forum with Dr. Alex Harmon) Tuesday, Feb. 16, 6:30 PM : BPL Book Club discusses The Night Watchman Thursday, Feb. 18, 7 PM: Reflections on Indigenous Identity in the Time of Blood Quantum with Stella Nall Tuesday, Feb. 23 , 7 PM: Song of The Dawn Priests: A History of the Crow People with Franco Littlelight Wednesday, Feb. 24, 7 PM: Beading Workshop and Discussion with Anita Moore-Nall