Profile Text
Birth Name: Sherman Jospeh Alexie, Jr.
Place of Birth: Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Date of Birth: October 7, 1966
Ethnicity: Coeur d’Alene and Spokane Native American, smaller amounts of Scottish and French-Canadian, likely Russian and other
Sherman Alexie is a Native American novelist, poet, short story writer, filmmaker, and screenwriter. His writing is widely known for exploring discrimination, racism, and misconceptions relating to Native Americans. He is part of the Indigenous Nationalism movement. His most famous work, the semi-autobiographical young adult novel The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian , won the 2007 U.S. National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. He wrote the film Smoke Signals , and directed and wrote the film The Business of Fancydancing .
Sherman was born in Spokane, Washington, the son of Lillian Agnes and Sherman Joseph Alexie. His father was of Native American, Coeur d’Alene and Spokane, descent. His mother was of Spokane and European heritage. Sherman has stated that he also has heritage from the Colville and Choctaw tribes, as well as recent Russian heritage. It is not clear if this is accurate.
Sherman is a citizen of the Spokane Tribe of the Spokane Reservation, and grew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. He is married to Diane Tomhave, with whom he has two children. Diane is a citizen of the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation of Hidatsa, Ho-Chunk, and Potawatomi heritage.
Sherman’s paternal grandfather was Adolph Alphonse Alexie (the son of Alphonso/Alphonse Alexie and Ellen Camille). Adolph was born in Benewah County, Idaho, and served in the Pacific theatre in WWII. He was killed in action, earning the Bronze Star for his service. Sherman’s great-grandfather Alphonso was born in Benewah County, the son of Haleposse/Haleposee Alexie and Christine Polotkin. Sherman’s great-grandmother Ellen was born in Benewah County, to parents from Idaho, with her mother’s name having been Julia.
Sherman’s paternal grandmother was Susan Ford (the daughter of Peter Ford and Alice/Lizzie Boyd). Susan was born in Benewah County, Idaho. Peter was born in Benewah County, the son of Peter Moctelme and Anna Achay. Alice was born in Ford, Stevens, Washington, the daughter of Sam Boyd and Mattie.
Sherman’s maternal grandfather was James Cox (the son of Joseph Cox and Mary Flett). James was born in Washington. Joseph was Scottish. Mary was born in Washington, the daughter of Thomas Flett, who was Scottish; and of Elizabeth Groslouis. Elizabeth’s father, August Groslouis, was from Québec.
Sherman’s maternal grandmother was Etta/Addie Silas (the daughter of Simon Silas and Ya-Ya Mattie Peters). Etta was born in Washington, as were her parents. Simon was the son of Simon Silas and Mary Hughes.
Sources: Genealogies of Sherman Alexie – https://www.geni.com https://gw.geneanet.org