Whiskey Tender

Throughout the text, Taffa weaves in historical context, describing the US government’s attempts to “terminate” Indigenous people by assimilating them into mainstream American society. How did different generations of her family internalize or resist these historical forces? In what ways did governmental policies shape their opportunities, struggles, and worldviews?

Describe Taffa’s relationship with her parents. How did their differing perspectives on Indigenous identity, survival, and assimilation influence Taffa’s sense of self? In what ways did she inherit traits from both parents, even as she resisted aspects of their beliefs?

What are some of the differences in Taffa’s family’s coping mechanisms against generational trauma? How did each family member’s approach to trauma reflect their position within the family and their relationship to Indigenous identity? In what ways did Taffa attempt to break cycles of pain and create her own path forward?

How would Taffa’s childhood have been different if she had seen people who looked like her in books and on television? How did the absence of Indigenous representation in school and pop culture reinforce her feelings of alienation and self-doubt? How did discovering literature about Indigenous history later in life impact her sense of identity?

What were the key differences between Taffa’s life on and off the reservation in terms of community, family structure, and personal identity? How did her perspective on Indigenous identity shift as she was exposed to different ways of living?

How did Taffa’s proximity to the Navajo reservation in Farmington shape her sense of identity? How did witnessing Navajo traditions, as well as tensions between different Indigenous communities, challenge her understanding of what it means to be Indigenous American?

Analyze Edmond and Lorraine’s relationship. How were they different, and what did they have in common? How did their partnership reflect the push and pull between Indigenous traditions and Western assimilation? In what ways did their individual coping mechanisms—Edmond’s quiet perseverance and Lorraine’s religious devotion—create tension in their household but also provide resilience?

What are some events in Taffa’s childhood that contributed to a growing self-awareness of her Indigenous roots and distaste for passing as white? How did the tension between assimilation and cultural preservation manifest in her interactions with white classmates, Indigenous peers, and family members? What were the pivotal moments when she actively embraced her Indigenous heritage despite external pressures?