Abireut I.S.NAKATAPeople have trouble deciding what I am. Indians mistake me for one of their own; in Chinatowat they give me a menu written i Chinese; and once even a Japanese kid asked me if Twas Korean. My aavestors are full-blooded Japanese, but 1 have had to get used to people thinking I'm something ele. where Like that time I wont to the hather college on North Clark Street for my cut-rate haircut. It's a plac studont-barbers got on-the-job training, and that’s where | met this guy. He was last in line; and he kept staring at me as I walked in. I just stared hack an, aren't you?” Finally he smiled and said with a southern draw straight out of Alabama Toclked into the long mseror on the eppesite wall, “No,” Utell the guy, "ny not an Indian ‘Not an Indian?” Alahama’ said. "I would have swoun you were.” Sosa Alabama shook his head and said, “You can’t fool me. I've heen all over the country. Seen all kinds of Indians. Cherokees in the Carolinas and Georgia and Alabama, Navajos in Arizona and New Mexico. Winnebagos in Wisconsin, and even some Shastas once in the mountains of California. I know you're some kind of Indian.” Ishock my head, crossed my arms in front of my chest, and took a deep breath. "S Cherokee?” “No, not Cherokee.” ‘Not Sioux, are you?” in North or South Dale 1 said, “Winnchago?”I didn't answer, I knew a lot about the Winnehagos. Micr World Wir Hl ¢ au Ammy post just outside Paris, | had met « Winnebago Indian from Black River Falls, Wisconsin, Jameson, I think his name was. A medic. And tthe Anny post we spent alot of time talking and eating. Every night we would go couple of long loaves of bread fresh from the baker's oven, and we would eat and tall for hours. He in the woek or 40 that we were and buy sade me promise to visit him in Wisconsin when I got tales od's country—where the Winnehagos live, Henty of husti nd fishing, expe ‘Muskellunge, hub?” Alabama said, He looked im- pressed ovaskellunge. Most people call them muskics. 00. Salted, fied, or broiled in the ashes of Goal eating was there, hh, Ch ce," J said. “So you're a Winnchago?” he said with a happy nod “T never said that, Tam not a Winnchago.” [ tuened Don’t get mad,” Alabama said, “Tim your friend. Ye w friend. I've worked with Indians laid Oil, The reason I thought you were a Winne- six, im truly y because you know so much about ther 1 don't know so: much, You do. You sure do, Chief. around and then lowered his voice, He looked ‘You running away frowns there, Chiel Mayho from the pal "| AM NOT RUNNING AWAY FROM THE POLICE,” F told hi Day, Chie didn’t mean 80, il quickly. “1 14 long tine Alabama didn’t say anythin, ys ahead of us moved up in line and we moved of sitting oF slid over to along, tue. Soon Alabama had a choi standing. He sat down on the hencl make room for No, Lam not a Crow” said vory sharply, although iad nothing against that tribe. He sshbed his chin with his left hand and thought hard, “Arapalo?”™ 1 shoole my head Navajo, then . among the host whom it came to farming. Va anew deme to he part af, Groat weavers, to an art school in Kansas City with Custer B Navajo and a fine artist. | started ¢ ng on horseback, aking ahoout and his beavtiful deawings of Ind L remembered some of the great times we'd had and 1 hegou to lang slapped hi knee ond» | "Yun're a From Arizona!” T was once an a reservit: Vd heen sent to Arizona to, W veally had te a, tow, vein a relocation ean for JapaueateAne Alabama's me, What “Poston, Avivo internment eamp, “On the Colorado River.” 1° Mahara moaned, “what ibe iponero* We wore scattered» hit wot Un gathorod us up and put us all together agai Alahamna nodded a couple of times, “Well, think that was the best thing tn do, ing tha goaerne rout look after you all, Nipponese, eh Thal met be a very small i earl of it, Chief." hal enjoyed iy jokw. Alabama something cee, but | wasn't going to be anyone else but ted ime tor be mnyeel et ee iss | wondered how | ci a Japa Japanese." | “A Nippones slowly, fesling a litle solf-con fm supposed fo aay Lam what. am, Alabama rubbed his chin and looked puzzled. “Jap.” ch? Wouldn't think i to loole at you. Yow could pass for Indian any day.” “Japanese,” I ‘Sure, sare, Jay inthe USA, wo that without your being hors hers were born talk American lke “1 was boro in Hawaii “Well, you're American like the rest of ws, then. man should be proud of what Dil T sense a threatening tone in his» Aren't you?a haleewe 1am who Tam, Alabama,” | told “Lamm plessed hin. “Its good to bu Sur is all eight ane. | don’t come from Alabama.” he said. “Bul you're wnomg abet ini lly lata to he said in a loud voice, N” He stood up because at I'm from Georgi ‘and pooiel obit.” wry 1 made the mistake,” 1 told him. Then 1 aged. the life of me I couldn't see what difference it if he came from Georgia or Alabama. actah NOTES ON THE STORY sesh i hres td rn pe rh bo ie iis sei iT eh i ee te gta iyo 1 Che An br ch The pasha ig the le ror Boca ro Tt pope ing n yong, Moin, a so pb poops ren Wyoming 0 Cotes race cap ape Arn Ding Word Ws epee ease ee Soe aa efor pople mms re QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION 1 folie about the marator aid the onan at the aor elke Howe wohl gow eves What iff ast xp Hose clos be fl aot thom? namnator's att eve dee the marta me Howe ae the warrator and “Mabna® simis?