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1. “Memories of Childhood” is a chapter by Zitkala Sa that
explores the experiences of growing up as a Native

American girl in the late 19th century. The chapter is part

of a larger work that also includes the story of Bama, a

woman who faced caste discrimination. The two women's
stories are meant to illustrate the universal themes of

identity, resistance, and resilience in the face of adversity.

2. Here are some key points about the chapter:

Social discrimination:

Zitkala Sa faced social discrimination, but in different
forms:

Zitkala Sa: Faced racial discrimination as a Native
American

Childhood experiences:

The chapter explores the women's childhoods and how
they experienced the mainstream culture

Resistance to oppression:

The chapter shows how both women resisted oppression

in their own ways

Seeds of rebellion:

The women's bitter childhood experiences sowed the
seeds of rebellion in them.

As a writer, she adopted the pen name ‘Zitkala-Sa’ and in
1900 began publishing articles criticising the Carlisle
Indian school. Her works criticised dogma, and her life as
a Native American woman was dedicated against the

evils of oppression.

3. INTRODUCTION
Childhood memories build up our future and way of
thinking. People with good childhood memories are happy

people. On the other hand some bad childhood memories

also affect the future of an individual. The things a person

learns during childhood remain as important lessons and

memories for life.

4. AUTHOR AND THEIR WORK

Zitkala Sa (1876 pronounced zitkala-sa,
(which translates to “RedBird") writer, editor,
musician, teacher and political activist. She
wroteseveral works chronicling her youthful struggles with
identity and conflictbetween the majority culture and her
Native American heritage.Zitkala-Sa's articles in the
Atlantic Monthly included “Impressions of anindian
Childhood” and “School Days of an Indian Girl”. All these
works wereautobiographical in nature, describing in great
detail her early experienceswith the dominant American
culture. In her well-known American IndianStories, she
expresses a literary account of her tension between
wantingto follow the traditions of theYank ton Dakota

while being excited aboutlearning to read and write and

being tempted by assimilation.

5. CHARACTER SKETCH OF ZITKALA SA
The author Zitkala Sa, was a native American who was a
victim of racism in the Carlisle Indian school at a young
age. She faced indignity, discrimination and exploitation at
school. She is caught in dogma because of the strict
regulations imposed on her. Inspite of this, she is quite
determined/optimistic to fight against the pale face
women. She was forced to get her hair shingled against
which she protested to the best of her capacity though
she didn't succeed. She is symbolic of all the native
American women who were exploited at the hands of their
masters. She suffered extreme indignities and felt
humiliated. She is very sensitive because at last, she

comments that she is now one among the many animals

driven by the herders.

6. SUMMARY
The first part explores the account of Simmons.
Simmons was an American Indian who was against
social discrimination towards American Indians. She
throws light on her first-day experience at the Carlisle
Indian School. Zitkala SA's first day at school is bad and

unpleasant. The customs of the place were new and

strange to her. Moreover, there was pressure on her to

wear clothes that were not reputable in her culture.She
does not understand the rules at the breakfast table.
Consequently, she makes several mistakes. There was a
requirement for everyone to pull a chair at the first bell.

Zitkala sat down while others were still standing.

7. Furthermore, everyone had to sit down at the second bell.
However, Zitkala kept standing even when the second bell
rang. A feeling of humiliation came in her. When another
bell rang, she didn’t do anything because of fear of
making a mistake. She then cried due to these mistakes
and humiliation. She was fearful of the woman with a pale
face.Her friend Judewin talked to her about the cutting of

her hair. Inher culture, captured unskilled warriors had

shingled hair and mourners kept short hair. She hid but

was dragged and tied to a chair so as to cut her long hair.
There was a crushing of her spirit due to this act.
Moreover, this cruelty made her realize thecomfort of her

home.