A Drug Called Tradition by Sherman Alexie

Nice work, Bone Daddy!

It's a Sherman Alexie double-feature weekend here at Literature Frenzy! In A Drug Called Tradition, Victor makes another appearance but this time on a spirtual hallucinogenic journey with his friends. They might be tripping balls but these visions are deeply rooted in cultural history, mythology, and folklore. Each vision carries meaningful life lessons, offering these lost souls a chance to find direction in their lives, shaped by poverty and hardship. If only they are willing to listen and learn instead of repeating the same mistakes.

Victors vision is most striking, as it involves the concept of Indian time represented by three skeletons (past, present and future). As he tells us, they are "made of memories, dreams, and voices" and in order to ensure survival, one must continue moving forward despite the hardships. The plight of indigenous people is inextricably connected to historical trauma and many are stuck in a state of limbo: 

|"The past, the future, all of it is wrapped up in the now. That's how it is. We are trapped in the now."|

The story’s playful title takes on a deeper significance when viewed through this lens. The “drug” is more than just a hallucinogen: it’s a metaphor for cultural tradition, a force that can reconnect Indigenous people to their heritage in a world that has tried to erase it. Just as substances can alter perception, reconnecting with tradition can offer a new way of seeing, a path toward healing and resilience. In the end, A Drug Called Tradition is a powerful reminder that the past is never truly gone—it lives in the stories, memories, and traditions that must be preserved and carried forward.