Sherman Alexie Poet, Writer, Filmmaker

Sherman Joseph Alexie, Jr. Born October 7, 1966 Grew up on Spokane Indian Reservation Wellpinit, Washington Great-grandfather: Russian descent Father: Coeur d’Alene descent Mother: Colville, Flathead (also know as Choctaw), Spokane, Euroamerican descent Born with hydrocephalus (lots of cerebral fluid in brain) Underwent surgery at 6 months – successful Excluded from many activities due to health issues Teased often by other children

Education Reardan High School 30 miles from the reservation Only Native American student Won scholarship to Gonzaga University Started pre-med, switched to law – neither worked out 1987 dropped out, enrolled at Washington State University Quit school 3 credits short 1995 awarded bachelor’s degree from WSU

Some Known Works The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, 1993, collection of short stories Reservation Blues, 1995, first novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, 2005, young- adult novel Some of his Poetry Collections I Would Steal Horses, 1992 The Business of Fancydancing, 1992 The Summer of Black Widows, 1996 One Stick Song, 2000 Film writing Smoke Signals, based on The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven The Business of Fancydancing