“On August 1, 1953, the United States Congress announced House Concurrent Resolution 108. The announcement called for the eventual termination of all tribes and the immediate termination of five tribes, including the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.”
I’m Betty Martin with "Martin’s Must Reads" and that’s part of Louise Erdrich’s explanation for how she came to write her newest novel The Night Watchman. Her grandfather was a night watchman in a Jewel Bearing Plant but spent his days writing letters and meeting with influential elected officials to defeat passage of Resolution 108.
Thomas, the night watchman in the novel who resembles her grandfather, is a hardworking family man and the tribal chairman of the Turtle Mountain Band. Erdrich presents a realistic picture of life for these Chippewa in 1954. They make do without running water or electricity. They fall prey to the evils of big city living and the power of forgetting with the help of alcohol. They work long hours to eke out a living at the only jobs available on their reservation.
Most of them are proud and willing to fight for what they love, their families and their home. Erdrich’s final words are, “Lastly, if you should ever doubt that a series of dry words in a government document can shatter spirits and demolish lives, let this book erase that doubt. Conversely, if you should be of the conviction that we are powerless to change those dry words, let this book give you heart.” Wise words for any of us who feel powerless to affect change.
If you’re looking for a novel with memorable characters and a glimpse into the life of 20th Century Native American people, then you must read The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich.
