The Heart of a Chief

The Heart of a Chief

by Joseph Bruchac

 

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Bruchac, Joseph, (1998). THE HEART OF A CHIEF. New York: Puffin Books. ISBN
       978-1-4242-2230-8.

 

PLOT SUMMARY:

Chris Nicola is a 6th grader who lives on the Penacook Indian Reservation but goes to Rangerville school in town. He struggles with his feelings about an absent, alcoholic father, Mito and his reservation's division over whether to build a casino on beatiful, sacred land. He also tackles a school project  on using Indian names for sports teams that attracts a lot of attention from teachers, administrators, and local personalities. Can a 6th grade boy do anything to change people's minds? Can he step up and exhibit the leadership of his forefathers? This wonderful story of a modern Native American family and their struggles will remind readers of Sherman Alexie's The True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, but is geared for the middle school age reader and has a more uplifting, hopeful tone.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

This story is a beautiful blending of Native American culture and storytelling with the story of a modern boy trying to find his way through the twists and turns of his 11-year-old life. The novel begins with a description of Gluskabe's Seat and how it was formed just for the sacred art of storytelling. And so, sitting in Gluskabe's Seat, Chris Nicola begins the story that follows.

On page 15, an aspect of Indian culture that is mentioned is that "Indian things--like the seasons and the directions--come in fours." On page 18, Chris looks in the mirror and doesn't just see his image, he sees the faces of his Grandfather and Auntie, and all the faces of his ancestors. His people, his history are always with him, "They are all around me and they are behind me and they are with me."

In his classroom, they are going to discuss the book The Sign of the Beaver. He says his teacher loves the book because "he admires Indians in the past and doesn't really pay much attention to those of us who are still here" (p.19).  Chris frequently uses both his Native language and English. Again, on page 19, " 'Nda,' I say in Penacook. 'No. We did not go away. We're still here.'" On page 71 he says N'mitongwes-- my father. And on page 72 he uses Niawasos--my bear. These are just a few exampes of the language in the novel. There is poignant passage on page 23 where Chris explains what it is to be a modern Penacook kid, "We look at each other. Four reservation kids. We know what kind of Indian we are. The kind of Indian you don't see in Hollywood movies. No noble savages. No horses and headdresses. No tipis and no buffalo. No Tonto (which means 'idiot' in Spanish) to the Lone Ranger. We are a different kind. The kind of Indian who gets ignored at best and treated like dirt at worst. The kind of Indian who lives in second-hand trailers or in old houses with no insulation. The kind of Indian who ends up in foster homes or whose parents fall off the wagon and get killed in car accidents or just disappear. The kind of Indian who knows that hope rhymes with nope." 

When discussing the offensive nature of Indian mascots on page 59, Chris specifically mentions the tomahawk chop, the war whoop, and people in the bleachers yelling "Scalp 'em Injun, Scalp 'em!"

When Chris and his classmates are working on their school project about the use of Indian names for sports teams, he is the group leader and manages his group using Penacook Rules (p.95). These include passing the talking stick and being respectful and taking turns. On page 109, there is a wonderful explanation of Thanksgiving and Squanto and what this means to Native American people.

The positive nature of the book is embodied in the success of his school project, the Penacook's great compromise on the building of the casino, and his father's triumphant leadership. Chris understands that "the heart of a true chief beats with the heart of the people" (p. 153).

AWARDS:

Jane Addams Book Honor, 1999

 Nutmeg Children’s Book Award--Nominated 2003

 

REVIEW EXCERPTS:

School Library Journal: "A contemporary story about an 11-year-old Penacook boy's emergence as a leader. Chris Nicola and his little sister are cared for with affection and wisdom by elderly Auntie and Doda. Their mother is deceased and their father is away battling alcoholism. The stories and traditions of Chris's people give the boy the courage and conviction to deal with life. Upset by the proposed establishment of a casino on a pristine island on the New Hampshire reservation, he and three friends destroy a surveyor's stakes. With unwavering passion, he defends his actions to reservation law officers. Wary but determined, Chris starts sixth grade at Rangerville Junior High and mingles with the white world. He is chosen as leader for a group report on using Indian names for sports teams. His call for unanimity through discussion mirrors tribal practices and generates a presentation that exposes the insensitivity of the school and attracts community attention. Chris is an appealing, resilient, optimistic character. His sincerity wins friends among adults and peers, even the reputed school bully. An effective balance of dialogue and first-person narrative propel the story forward. This upbeat narrative does not disguise the harsh realities of reservation life or the social and emotional struggles of Native Americans. Rather, the qualities of leadership emerge in Chris as he taps into his rich cultural past, recognizes his own potential, and stands up for his values."

 

Publishers Weekly: "Bruchac explores what it means to be Native American in a modern society through the perceptive first-person narrative of 11-year-old Chris Nicola."

 

Booklist: "Readers who see injustice in their own lives will admire how much Chris accomplishes with a simple message of respect."

 

CONNECTIONS:

 

The author's website: www.josephbruchac.com

 

 

Teacher Resource Guide: http://www.zaner-bloser.com/media/zb/zaner-bloser/LACE_HeartofChief.pdf