Because of colonization, the lives of Victor, Thomas and most of those who live on the reservation, have been predetermined in a way. Many Native Americans like Victor and his parents rely on alcohol to keep their minds off of the fact that they might never have a life outside of their reservation. Victor’s father would even hit him when he was intoxicated out of frustration because he feels as if he has no control over his own life. Thomas himself has told Victor that his father “Wants to buy a motorcycle and ride away. He wants to run and hide (Paragraph 15)”. As we continue to read the story, we see that this kind of behavior rubs off on Victor. One day when they were 15, he got drunk and beat Thomas up without a reason. However, in the movie “Smoke Signals”, we see that this incident occurs on the same day that his father abandoned them, which reflects back to the way his father treated him when he would get drunk. In the second paragraph of “This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona”, the narrator points out that most of the residents had no money but the “Cigarette and Fireworks salespeople”. This reveals what most of the locals would spend their money on to keep themselves distracted. These examples show us how colonization has created setbacks for not only Victor but those around him and like him as well. Not only has it made living difficult but in the movie, we see how Victor feels as if he has to be strong and serious all the time so others will take seriously. He tells Thomas that Indians aren’t supposed to be smiling all the time and he has to “get stoic”. Victor feels as if he can’t be vulnerable because he’s Native American and wants others like him to embody this idea as well.