Wind from an Enemy Sky

Study Guide - Student

Chapter 1 1. What is Bull's reaction to hearing that a dam has been built across the river? 2. From the side of the mountain, Bull gets a view of the valley, which is now "a white man's world." He says it is "a world he sometimes passed through but never visited." W hat is the difference between "passing through" and "visiting"? 3. W here has Antoine been and what was his experience like? 4. Understanding the ideas of sacred and profane is important to understanding this story. The place where the dam has been built is sacred to Bull's people. This means the building of the dam was profane. It had been a holy place, this mountain-locked meadow. "Be careful what you do here," the boy had been told by his relatives. "This is a place of power. Be careful of what you think. Keep your thoughts good.... Don't have angry thoughts here," he was told.... "How can a man do this?" He raised his head and stared at the far-away ribbon of white water leaping down the high rock from its glacial bed. That had not disappeared. The water tumbled its way over stony passages to the head of the forested basin--but the basin was no more. The place where anger was to be left out of men's thoughts was drowned (5-6). W hat do you imagine the dam meant to those who built it? 5. W hat does Bull do when he sees the dam? W hat effect does this have? 6. How does his reaction affect Antoine? 7. Compare what Bull believes his grandson is thinking at the dam with what Antoine was really thinking. W hat does this suggest about their relationship? 8. W hat detail about Bull do you remember most vividly from this chapter? Chapter 2 1. How and where did the government men want Bull to live? W hy do you think they wanted this? 2. Find at least one detail about both Basil and Louis. Explain how the men are related to Antoine, in both the white and tribal relationship. 3. W ho is Two Sleeps and where did he come from? 4. W ho is the man who comes into the camp at night singing? How do the other men feel toward him? W hy has he come? 5. It has been 30 years since Bull and his brother have talked. W hy? How has the land changed since the mens earlier years when they got along? 6. W hat is Henry Jims plan, and how does Bull feel about it? Chapter 3 1. Contrast the way Bull and Henry Jim relate to white men. 2. W ho is Toby Rafferty and why has Henry Jim come to see him?

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3. W hat are four of the things the "men from afar countries, from somewhere east of the mountains" tell the Indians to do? W hat effect did these things have on the Indian families? Chapter 4 1. How would you rate Toby Rafertys effectiveness on the Little Elk Reservation? Explain. 2. How does the Indian tradition of the "midsummer dances"affect their farming? W hat would you do about this dilemma if you worked for the BIA? 3. W ho is Edwards and what kind of person is he? 4. W hat is Raferty's opinion of the training W ashington DC gives the people they send to work with the Indians? 5. Compare Rafertys description of Henry Jim with the earlier description about him from the book? W hat is similar? Different? W hat do you think accounts for the variance? Chapter 5 1. How are Pock Face and Theobold described? After being introduced, do you like these men or not? Explain. 2. W hat do Pock Face and Theobold do in this chapter, and how do they pull Bull into their actions? Do you think their actions are justifiable? Chapter 6 1. How is W ells involved with the medicine bundle and how does he think the Little Elk people would have acted differently if they had never lost the bundle? Do you agree with his speculation? W hy or why not? 2. W hat involvement did Henry Jim have with the bundle 30 years ago? 3. W hy wont W ells help Raferty get the bundle back? W hat is the right thing to do? Chapter 7 1. W here is Henry Jim going on Red Son at the beginning of the chapter? W hy? 2. How do all Henry Jim's kinsmen react to the message he is bringing them? 3. W hy is Henry Jimand--then everyone else--singing? 4. Why wont the US Marshall let the group of Indians inside the agency? 5. Who is already inside the agency? Chapter 8 1. W hat does Two Sleeps tell the women when hes ask to decide what should be done about Pock Face and Theobold? How do the women react to his answer? 2. W hat happens with the whiskey? W hy do you think this section is included in the book? 3. W hat did Bull do to fool Antoine as Antoine was trying to find him? According to Veronica, why does he do this? 4. How does Bull react when Pock Face tells him what he has done? How does this compare with what you would expect? Chapter 9 1. After they find the body, what is the tension between Rafferty and Grant? How are they approaching the crime differently? 2. W hat do we learn about the man who was killed? Page 2 of 7

3. W hat seems to be Sid Grants opinion of the Indian community? Find specific examples to back up your opinion. 4. W hat does Antoine do as he translates? Chapter 10 1. Who is The Boy? W hat do you think are the most important pieces of information we get about him in this chapter? 2. W hat is confusing to Rafferty about the situation with the murder and how Bull and his people are involved? 3. W ho is singing in this chapter and what is the significance of that singing? Chapter 11 1. Where are Bull and his men kept and why is this location chosen instead of the jail? 2. W hat does The Boy think working for the government does to an Indian man's relationship with his own people? W hy do you think he continues his job if he believes this? 3. What problem does Bull have with the white mans law that is keeping him at the agency? 4. W hat does Pock Face tell his people when he decides to speak? 5. How does Pock Faces dad, Louis, react to his sons announcement? 6. How does Bull react? Chapter 12 1. W hat do Catherine and Lucille have in common? 2. W hat are all the women in camp doing or getting ready for? 3. W hat is Marie Louises predicament and how does it turn out? 4. If you were a woman in camp, whose actions would probably most closely resemble your own? W hy? Chapter 13 1. W ho arrives on the train? 2. W ho is Adam Pell? Chapter 14 1. W here does Antoine plan to go after leaving the women at his Uncle Jerome's camp? 2. W hat plan for the Indians does the Long Armed man explain to Antoine at the boarding school? 3. Describe Antoines experience at boarding school. 4. W hat brings Antoine back to the Little Elk Reservation? Chapter 15 1. W hat disturbs Antoine about Henry Jims place, and what does he see once he gets there that makes him feel better? 2. What is strange about Henry Jim lying on the ground? W hy has Henry Jim moved out of his house? Does this make sense to you? W hy or why not?

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3. W hat did the government man tell Henry Jim that turned out not to be true? 4. How does Henry Jim seem to feel now about the decisions hes made in his life? Chapter 16 1. W hat is Edward's evaluation of Henry Jims health? 2. W hat is Rafferty concerned about? W hat is the Boy's advice when Rafferty questions him about how to proceed with the murder investigation? 3. W hat conclusion has Henry Jim come to about why his tribe just left him behind? Assuming his conclusion is correct, do you think they did the right thing? 4. How does Rafferty decide to handle the situation with Bull and the murder accusations as well the fact that Henry Jim needs his family near him as he is growing weaker? Chapter 17 1. W hat happened many years ago that first caused Bull to become angry? W hat changed? How? 2. W hat types of things were the settlers doing at first that just made the natives laugh? 3. Initially, what did natives think would eventually happen to the settlers? How did things actually progress? W hat does Bull think his peoples mistake was in dealing with the settlers? 4. Explain Bulls experience with the white school. Chapter 18 1. W hat is the relationship between Adam Pell and Gen (or Ms. Thomas Hendricks Cook) and how is the boy who was murdered related to them? 2. W hat did Adams friend Carlos do with his familys land, and how did people react? 3. W hat was Adam Pells promise to Carlos that caused him to miss his sister's Christmas gathering to go to Cuno, Peru? W hat did living in Cuno make Adam begin to think about? 4. W hat decision does Thomas Cooke make after listening to Adam and how does Gen react? Chapter 19 1. W hy is the design of the dam impressive to the engineer? He uses the word "beautiful" in his description. W hat adjective would you use? 2. How did the US M arshal and his men find the gun? W hat two questions are still left unanswered even after the gun is discovered? Chapter 20 1. W hat is the first thing Bull says to the group when he arrives at the agency? How is this received? 2. How are the settler's laws and native ways of handling crimes different? W hat are the benefits and drawbacks of each system? 3. W hy is Bull afraid of Sid Grant? 4. W hat are the contents of the two packages from Bulls camp? 5. W hat two reasons does the Marshall give for his belief that Bull is not the murderer? 6. W ho interrupts the meeting at the agency, and what is his message? Page 4 of 7

7. W hat stops Bull from rising to confront Adam Pell when he realizes he was the one responsible for the dam? 8. How does Thomas Cooke react to Pock Face's declaration, and what does he recommend? 9. W hat realization has shocked Adam Pell? In what way, besides the trouble over the dam, is Adam Pell involved in the trouble on the Little Elk Reservation? After the discussion, what does he want to do and why? Chapter 21 1. W hat story did Rafferty and Doc Edwards make up to explain to the government men at Henry Jim's funeral who asked why his body was taken from a teepee and not his "elegant house," and why they were taking his horse along to the burial? 2. W hat did Henry Jims burial service entail? 3. How long was Rafferty on the Little Elk Reservation before any natives actually started taking to him? Does this seem a long or short amount of time? Explain. 4. W hat does Henry Two Bits come to ask Rafferty? W hat does he have that surprises Rafferty? 5. How have things changed between The Boy and the rest of the Little Elk people? 6. W hat does Bull ask The Boy to do for him? Chapter 22 1. How does it seem things are going to turn out for Pock Face? W hat leads you to this conclusion? 2. W hat behavior of Bulls, in his younger days when he was still drinking, sometimes scared others? W hat ended Bulls drinking days? Chapter 23 1. W hat does Adam Pell realize American laws made legal that he feels is wrong (though none of his important friends seem to agree)? W hat did the law allow that Rafferty considered "thievery"? How does he think the white men who came to the reservation were also "exhorted"? 2. W hat two things resulted from the dam? 3. How does Adam react to the judges claim that these exploits against the Indians were "hasty and not well considered"? Chapter 24 1. W hat happens to Two Sleeps? Chapter 25 1. The Little Elk people always get together for storytelling and remembering in the winter, but there are some things different this winter from the last. W hat are they? 2. Describe the circumstances that led to Antoine going to a boarding school. 3. Describe how Celeste, Antoine, Veronica and Bull are related and how their relationships have changed over the years. 4. W hy does Bull want to tell old stories "those his father knew" instead of telling stories from his own life? Do you think anything similar happens in today's society? 5. W ho is Featherboy really? W hat does he bring the Little Elk people and why is the bundle important, or why do the people need to protect it? Page 5 of 7

Chapter 26 1. W hy does Adam Pell want to bring the Little Elk people a gift? W hat does he plan to give them? W here did this come from and why does he think it is a good gift? Do you think his gesture is appropriate? Explain. Chapter 27 1. W hat messages does The Boy bring to Bulls camp? 2. How does Louis feel about the current situation they are all in? W hat does he think they should do? W hat is Bulls reply? Chapter 28 1. How has the Little Elk Valley changed over the last few years? W hich changes are positive? W hich are negative? 2. W hat does Pock Face think they should do about the requests they receive? W hat does Louis think? W hat does he want to do? Chapter 29 1. W hat problem does Adam Rafferty think would arise if all 2,000 Indians actually decided they wanted to farm, as the government wants them to? 2. How does Adam Pell feel about the governments Indian policy now he is aware of it? 3. W hat do Doc Edwards and Rafferty want Pell to do instead of telling Bull what actually happened to the bundle? W hy? Do you think their plan is wise? Explain. 4. W hy does Adam think his object is a good substitute for the bundle? Chapter 30 1. W here are Bull and his group going, and what makes Bull suspicious? Chapter 31 1. W here is Veronica going? 2. W hat do Veronica and Two Sleeps end up doing? 3. W hat does Veronica see that Two Sleeps seems to miss? 4. W hat does Two Sleeps see and understand? Chapter 32 1. What does Rafferty think of The Boy? Of Bull? 2. W hat does Rafferty confront Adam about, then then warn him about again a few pages later? 3. W hat chance does Rafferty think theyve missed by telling the Little Elk people their sacred object is gone? 4. W hy has Adam Pell brought Mr. Davis? 5. W hat does Adam Pell tell Bull and his men? How do Bull's men react? 6. W hat does Louis do that effectively ends the meeting? 7. W hose acts would you say are noble in the end? How do you decide? 8. W hat do you think of the ending of the book? Is it strong or weak? Interesting? Regardless of whether your like or dislike it, does it seem appropriate? W hy or why not?

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9. Go back to the first sentence of the book: "The Indian named Bull and his grandson took a walk into the mountains to look at a dam built in a cleft of rock, and what began as a walk became a journey into the world."After finishing, what do you think this means? 10. W hat parts of the book seems to reflect historical events?

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