April Raintree grew up thinking something was wrong with being half native and half white. Her story uncovers the true hardships she went through to help identify herself. From a young age April was put in situations that made her question her heritage. In the quest for her identity, April is trying to run away from the fact that she is Metis. In order for her to feel successful and accepted in society, April feels the need to live a “white” life, without the burdening presence of her very native looking sister, Cheryl.
April knew at the mere age of six years old that she was part of Indian culture. Her father was of mixed blood, and had the characteristics of a native. Her mother was part Irish and Ojibway and had pale light skin. When April and Cheryl played at the park, the other children would bully and call them names, even though both groups of mixed children (some white and the other half native), would turn around and call each other names. April says, “I always thought that the white-skinned group had the upper hand in name calling” (p.16). At the park, April states that she envied the white girls because they seemed so clean and fresh as opposed to brown-skinned children who were dirty and had raggedy clothes. …show more content…
She decided to hide it and once grown up, she would leave it behind. April then declared she would pass for a pure white woman. She could say she was part French and part Irish, changing her name from Raintree to Raintry. She also thought being a half-breed was defined as being weak; an alcoholic and that half-breeds like to live off white people. She stated, “When I got free of this place, when I got free from being a foster child, then I would live just like a real white person” (p.47). April grew up and at one point she relocated to Toronto and started a new life as a wealthy white woman. As far as anyone knew she was not Metis nor
April knew at the mere age of six years old that she was part of Indian culture. Her father was of mixed blood, and had the characteristics of a native. Her mother was part Irish and Ojibway and had pale light skin. When April and Cheryl played at the park, the other children would bully and call them names, even though both groups of mixed children (some white and the other half native), would turn around and call each other names. April says, “I always thought that the white-skinned group had the upper hand in name calling” (p.16). At the park, April states that she envied the white girls because they seemed so clean and fresh as opposed to brown-skinned children who were dirty and had raggedy clothes. …show more content…
She decided to hide it and once grown up, she would leave it behind. April then declared she would pass for a pure white woman. She could say she was part French and part Irish, changing her name from Raintree to Raintry. She also thought being a half-breed was defined as being weak; an alcoholic and that half-breeds like to live off white people. She stated, “When I got free of this place, when I got free from being a foster child, then I would live just like a real white person” (p.47). April grew up and at one point she relocated to Toronto and started a new life as a wealthy white woman. As far as anyone knew she was not Metis nor