Zitkala-Ša: Advocate for the Rights of Native People

Zitkala-sa, born Gertrude Simmons Bonnin, was a Native American activist, author, and educator who resisted the forced assimilation of Native Americans into Anglo-American culture. She experienced the harsh realities of government-funded boarding schools, which aimed to erase Native cultures. Despite the trauma, she pursued education and later became a teacher. Realizing her role in a system that harmed her people, she shifted to teaching on a reservation and used her writing to promote Sioux culture. Zitkala-sa became an influential activist, shaping policies that recognized Native American rights and citizenship.

What was the primary goal of the US government's policies towards Native Americans at the turn of the 20th century?

• To promote Native American culture

• To assimilate Native Americans into Anglo-American culture

• To establish independent Native American states

• To provide economic opportunities

How did Zitkala-sa feel about her experience at the boarding school?

• She was indifferent to the experience

• She felt it was a positive cultural exchange

• She felt alienated and treated poorly

• She enjoyed the new educational opportunities

What realization did Zitkala-sa come to while working at the Carlisle School?

• She was helping preserve her culture

• She was contributing to the destruction of her culture

• She was gaining political influence

• She was learning valuable teaching skills

In what ways did Zitkala-sa use her writing to impact American society?

• By writing fictional novels

• By publishing works based on Sioux customs and her experiences

• By creating educational textbooks

• By writing political speeches

What was one of Zitkala-sa's significant contributions as an activist in Washington, DC?

• She became the first Native American senator

• She helped shape policies recognizing Native American citizenship

• She led a cultural exchange program

• She founded a new Native American reservation