|
1. |
What does the idea of freedom mean to
Calf and her people? Conversely, what
does the reservation mean to those
Cheyenne who resist surrender? |
|
2. |
While the army is clearly portrayed as
treating the Cheyenne unjustly, neither
side is romanticized or demonized.
Discuss acts of compassion and brutality
that occur on both sides. |
|
3. |
Despite traditional expectations of the
role of women, in reality women often
defy tradition. How true is this of
Buffalo Calf Road and other Cheyenne
women? |
|
4. |
Despite the prominence of the Battle of
the Little Bighorn and the Indian Wars
in American History, Buffalo Calf Road
has remained largely unknown. Why do you
think this is? |
|
5. |
What aspects of Cheyenne culture and
religion do you find appealing? Why? |
|
6. |
Describe the special bond between
Buffalo Calf Road and Black Coyote that
holds them together through good and bad
times. Does any of it have universal
application to committed couples and
friends? |
|
7. |
What lessons can be taken from the
United States government's campaign
against the Cheyenne and other Native
American people in the nineteenth
century that apply to the present? |
|
8. |
The Battle of the Little Bighorn is the
most often portrayed battle of the
Indian Wars. How does the description of
this battle in the book compare with
what you have learned from other
sources, including print, film, and
other accounts. |
|
9. |
Were you surprised to learn that Indian
tribes fought each other so extensively
and that many Indians scouted and fought
for the army. What might have been the
reasons for this Indian against Indian
activity? |
|
10. |
What would Buffalo Calf Road's life have
been like if she not chosen the path of
resisting the army? |
|
11. |
At the end of the book Buffalo Calf Road
claims she is undefeated. How realistic
is her assessment? |
