“…if you should ever doubt that a series of dry words in a government document can shatter spirits and demolish lives, let this book erase that doubt. Conversely, if you should be of the conviction that we are powerless to change those dry words, let this book give you heart.”
— Louise Erdrich, The Night Watchman

In The Night Watchman, the 2024‒25 One Book One Northwestern selection, author Louise Erdrich explores themes of identity, family, and tradition as well as poverty, oppression, and exploitation. Erdrich’s novel is based in part on the experiences of her grandfather, Patrick Gourneau, a night watchman in a jewel bearing plant who also fought against House Concurrent Resolution 108. The Resolution would have dissolved recognition of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa’s tribal status and dispossessed many of its members of their land.

Erdrich’s novel takes us back to the early 1950s through the lives of several characters, weaving a complex and interconnected network of events and actions. Erdrich provokes reflection about readers’ own personal and family histories, our ties to place and to each other, and our responsibility to learn from and understand our collective histories. Inspired by the book, this selection of artworks from The Block’s collection highlights experiences of kinship, rural and urban life, community action, and standing up for one’s rights.

We invite members of the Northwestern community and beyond to use these works as opportunities to connect to the text’s themes, whether for private contemplation or as a springboard in discussion with others. We include short contextual descriptions of the artworks and suggest some of the ways they connect with ideas in Erdrich’s book. We invite you to browse our online collection and see what other works resonate with themes in the book or your own experiences.

We are happy to provide this shareable pdf booklet for teaching and engagement.

You can schedule a class visit to discuss these works in person in The Block’s study center by contacting Essi Rönkkö at essi.ronkko@northwestern.edu.

Download the PDF

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About One Book, One Northwestern

One Book One Northwestern is a community‐wide reading program hosted by the Office of the President. It aims to engage the campus in a common conversation centered on a carefully chosen, thought-provoking book. It began in 2005 for students in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and has since evolved into a community-­wide program involving students, faculty and staff from all majors and departments.

Everyone is encouraged to read the One Book selection. The Office of the President sends a free copy to incoming first-year and transfer students the summer before they arrive on campus.

Throughout the year, lectures, films, and discussion groups provide an opportunity for individuals to gather and discuss the issues presented in the book. Many of these events are open to the public, and the entire community is invited to participate.