Dorothy Lee uses the story of HAKADAH to help explain the relationship to self to the community. HAKADAH, also known as Charles Eastman, is young and the community is still there to influence the way he is raised. Every thing that they do will shape the way HAKADAH grows up. Out side, influences are a big part of this young man's youth. HAKADAH is learning a non-conventional way. His uncle is teaching him to learn the open minded way. He does not shut his eyes to the world around him but actually completes the opposite. He views everything as a whole and then narrows down the information. He performs the search of raw data and then the uncle helps him to process the information into useful education. For example, the bird that HAKADAH saw on pages 35 and 36. He can describe them and he knows a great deal of information about them but his uncle has to teach him the proper name. This proves that the community and family is an essential part of HAKADAH's learning experience. With out the community the boy just has a great deal of useless information. Dorothy feels that this is the right time to explain this bond between family and community by telling the dog story. The dog is HAKADAHs best friend and he cares very much about him. However, the community has always taught him that to better, self, he must become a man. He must prove that is ready to make the sacrifices that are required to prove this. The Grandma (who isnt even his real grandma, but more of an influence of one,) really does not want to make the boy go through this pain and suffering as told on page 40, she was prepared to spare him this anguish. Nevertheless, she knew that she should not interfere with HAKADAH becoming a man. HAKADAH was proud with himself that he was on the journey that his uncle took because he knew that they respected him and that he was on his journey to manhood. The pressure that she puts on him shows that the community has a huge impact on HAKADAH. ...
