American Indian Stories

American Indian Stories is a collection of autobiographical and fictional works that provide a compelling insight into Zitkala-Sas life and experiences as a Native American woman living in both Native communities and white-dominated societies. The book was first published in 1921. The collection includes several poignant essays and short stories that address various aspects of Native American life culture and the challenges faced by Native individuals during her time. Zitkala-Sas writings often touch on themes of identity assimilation cultural preservation and the impact of colonialism on Native communities. One of the most well-known pieces in the collection is Impressions of an Indian Childhood where Zitkala-Sa reflects on her early years living on the Yankton Sioux Reservation and her eventual enrollment in a government-run boarding school which sought to assimilate Native children into mainstream American culture. Another notable piece is The School Days of an Indian Girl which continues the narrative of her experiences at the boarding school providing a candid and critical examination of the oppressive nature of the assimilation policies and the impact they had on Native identity and self-esteem.