Rez Dogs

The book emphasizes the importance of understanding and learning about one’s heritage from direct descendants, rather than from history books written by unrelated groups, such as books by white Americans about Indigenous Americans. Bruchac educates the reader about Indigenous American history from an Indigenous perspective, providing a backdrop to the way Indigenous tribes are treated today and what can be done in the future to change inequities.

Through the stories Malian’s grandparents tell, both Malian and the reader learn about the historical marginalization of Indigenous individuals. For example, Malian’s grandparents relay how Indigenous parents, including Malian’s mother, were deemed “unfit” and had their children taken away and placed for adoption in white families. Malian’s grandparents describe the abuse they suffered at the hands of Catholic nuns in the “Indian Schools” they were sent to. Malian’s grandmother was forced to endure sterilization.

The bigotry against Indigenous individuals by white people explains the mistrust that Malian’s grandparents have of white people. This is illustrated by Grandma’s reason for reading history books written by white people about Indigenous people: “Not because they got it right, but because you always want to know what they are thinking about us” (124). When a white government official comes to the house to check that Malian is in “a fit environment” (91), it is as though history is repeating itself. This is reinforced by the neglect shown toward Indigenous people living on reservations during the COVID 19 pandemic: “Indians were pretty much the last people anyone cared about during this crisis” (66).

In the novel, discrimination against Indigenous individuals is placed in the context of other forms of bigotry and eugenics, such as the genocide of Jewish people during the Holocaust. Ms. Mendelson shares that her Jewish grandmother was a Holocaust survivor, highlighting that the prejudice experienced by Indigenous Americans in the US is one of many inequities affecting marginalized populations across the world.

The novel also illustrates the richness of Wabanaki culture. There are many examples of positive Wabanaki values, traditions, and beliefs that are shared by Malian’s grandparents and Malian. They use their own languages, and traditional food and arts, such as frybread, beading, and woodcarvings, are described in detail. The traditional song of thanks that Grandma sings highlights the importance of music and ceremony. The overarching belief that all living things deserve equality, respect, and reverence is echoed in the many traditional stories told by Malian’s grandparents and by the way rez dogs are given the respect to live as equals. Malian succinctly points this out to the angry white government official who is afraid of Malsum: “Not my dog […] He belongs to himself” (90).

The narrative concludes with a positive message about the future despite the turbulent history of Indigenous tribes. Children like Malian form a bridge between tradition and modernity: She lives in Boston and goes to a diverse school with all the modern amenities lacking on the reservations, but is deeply rooted in her Indigenous heritage and culture, including her people’s difficult history, which she proudly shares with her classmates. Malian underscores the importance of understanding and learning from other groups’ heritages and histories, a key message of the novel: “No one should feel guilty about the past. Unless they are doing nothing about the present” (175). This suggests hope for a more understanding and inclusive future.