Meet Kaya: An American Girl
by Janet Shaw
by Janet Shaw
"Our actions speak for us. Our deeds show our worth. Let that be your lesson, Kaya." - Eetsa
Meet Kaya'aton'my', a Nez Perce Indian growing up in 1764.
Kaya allows her pride to get her in trouble. First she races her horse, Steps High, when she's been told not to and almost gets bucked off. Next, she races into the woods, almost getting lost and running into the stick people. On top of these mistakes, she forgets all about watching her little brothers!
Kaya tries to find her young twin brothers. They are deeper into the woods, but they are found. As punishment, not only does Kaya get whipped by the Whipwoman, all the children do. This is done as a lesson that what one does affects others. Along with the whipping, Kaya also earned the nickname "Magpie" for being so selfish. Kaya continues to struggle with boasting, but begins to learn her lesson through her nickname, and the help of Toe-ta teaching her how to be slow and patient with Steps High.
The Courtship Dance is where all the young men and women dance together and the men pick their favorite woman and if the woman returns the favor they dance together. The Courtship Dance went well and Kaya was doing much better at boasting and controlling herself. Later on, Kaya was out looking for Aalah's knife with Speaking Rain. In order to remember where she was starting, Kaya asked Speaking Rain to stay where they started so she could find her again. Speaking Rain did so, but with her blindness, she lost her step and didn't know she was tumbling into a river!
Kaya had to help Speaking Rain. If she didn't, Speaking Rain would drown! Kaya needed Steps High to obey her in order to save Speaking Rain. Steps High did well and Kaya earned the approval of Toe-ta, saying she'd finally gained her horse's trust. Kaya also lost at least one mention of her nickname, "Magpie," from Fox Tail.
Kata'aton'my: "She who arranges rocks."
Added Bonuses!
Look Into the Past is a great story about Indian stories of life, and how their life transformed as settlers came.
Glossary contains a selection of Nez Perce words with their pronunciations and meanings.
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