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MARCH 15, 2001

A panel of Midwestern writers on Wednesday criticized author Ian Frazier's depiction of the Great Plains during the opening session of the the Great Plains Writers Conference at South Dakota State University.

The writers said Frazier's descriptions of the land and environment in his book "The Great Plains" were off the mark and even "disparaging." One said his description of race relations between Indians and non-Indians was "damaging." In sum, their message was that Frazier's stature as a national writer probably gave him and the book credibility it did not deserve.

Indian authors have also criticized Frazier for his book "On the Rez." The most vocal was Sherman Alexie who termed the book about the Pine Ridge Reservation culturally oppressive.

In response, a number of non-Indian writers -- whom Alexie has said are Frazier's personal friends and run in the same, closed literary circles -- said Alexie was effectively a racist.

Get the Story:
Writers analyze prairie depiction (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 3/15)

Only on Indianz.Com:
Review; On The Rez (Arts and Entertainment 4/7)

Sherman Alexie's Criticism:
Some of My Best Friends (The Los Angeles Times January 2000)