Culture 4 - Native American: Rain is Not My Indian Name

Smith, Cynthia Leitich. RAIN IS NOT MY INDIAN NAME. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2001. ISBN 9780688173975

Rain is a 14 year-old girl with some Native American background. After Rain's best friend dies, she hides from everyone and everything. An assignment to shoot pictures of Indian Camp is the beginning of stepping out of her darkness. She realizes life is still going on and she wants to be a part.

Rain is a 14 year-old girl who is dealing with the death of her best friend. She is a typical girl who is experiencing things most girls are with friends, boys and family issues. Rain also has Native American heritage from both sides of her family, "I'm Muscogee Creek-Cherokee and Scots-Irish on Mom's side, Irish-German-Ojibway on Dad's."
Rain's aunt has decided to start an Indian Camp in their hometown for the few Native Americans there. Rain has decided not to attend but worries about "having hurt Aunt Georgia's feelings or having shown disrespect." Respect is an important characteristic with Native American groups.
The author gives several examples of negative stereotypes relating to Native Americans. Rain mentions how she's always hated the "song about counting 'little Indians' " and how things like "construction-paper feathers, a plastic paint pony, and Malibu Pocahontas" are indicators that "seem Indian." Rain gives readers insight into how it feels when others look at her and wonder about her being Native American because of her lighter coloring. People ask her, " 'How much Indian are you?' (About forty-five pounds' worth.) And 'Are you legally [or a card-carrying] Indian?' (Yes, but only on my mother's side.)" The issue of respect is mentioned again in reference to these questions asked of her.
Although Rain has grown up feeling distant from her Native American heritage by the time the story is wrapping up she wants "to connect with the Ojibway side of my heritage." It is a good message to encourage readers to find out about their heritage.
The author's note in the back of the book explains that the book is a work of fiction. Several of the places mentioned are true, for example, Haskell Indian Nations University.

KIRKUS: "Tender, funny, and full of sharp wordplay. Smith's first novel deals with a whole host of interconnecting issues, but the center is Rain herself."

PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: "[R]eaders will feel the affection of Rain's loose-knit family and admire the way that they, like the author with the audience, allow Rain to draw her own conclusions about who she is and what her heritage means to her."

Students should find out what cultural heritage they are and research it.

Check out http://www.oyate.org for authentic Native American information and resources.