What Is Arnold's Identity

Introduction

Identity is a complex concept that can be a difficult to discover and understand. Identity is diverse, and can include a person’s connection to culture, ethnicity, environment, sex, gender, and many other factors of an individual’s life. Sometimes a person’s social location will include contradicting or conflicting elements, which can further complicate an individual’s understanding of their own identity. In Sherman Alexie’s novel, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian”, the reader is narrated through the life of Arnold Spirit (Junior), a young First Nations male of the Spokane tribe who in implicated in a struggle to understand his personal identity. Arnold is bullied by others on his reservation for being different,
He is no longer ignoring the importance of his First Nation’s ethnicity, and his tribe members. Arnold embraces that his diverse identity by stating “I realize that, sure, I was a Spokane Indian. I belonged to that tribe. But I also belonged to the tribe of American immigrants. And to the tribe of basketball players. And to the tribe of bookworms.” (Alexie, 2007). Arnold has realized that his identity does not have to be restricted, and that one aspect of what he identifies with does not mean it has to conflict with another aspect – even if they are contradicting. He can be First Nation’s, and be successful, overcoming the systematic colonial belief that First Nation’s people cannot succeed in the modern world. Arnold discovers that he is not his First Nation’s stereotype, and that First Nation’s stereotypes used by other people can no longer dehumanize him, or freeze him in an ineffective state. Arnold has found his balance, and this is confirmed by a discussion he has his friend Rowdy. He tells Arnold that First Nation’s people were once nomadic for survival, and that he is was the only nomadic one from the reservation (Alexie, 2007). Therefore, Rowdy is implying that Arnold does not have to stay on the reservation to have a First Nation’s
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