Essay on the Novel April Raintree

The novel "In Search of April Raintree" tells a very real story about two Métis young sisters who face several challenges throughout their lives beginning with Children's Aid taking them from their alcoholic parents. This essay will prove that being a Métis girl in a society where white perspectives are dominate is nothing short of challenging in relation to their gender, race and the overall lifestyle that has been chosen for them. An important theme expressed throughout the novel is identity development based on socio-cultural factors; this particularly is experienced most by April as her biggest struggle that she encounters in life because of the social stereotypes that are linked to her accepting and actively participating in rituals pertaining to her race. Race leads to the next crucial theme exercised throughout the novel about racism and discrimination; this novel shows that although these issues seem to have diminished as the years progress they are still very much part of every day life for several different races and ethnicities and in this particular case for Cheryl and April being Métis means that they must put up with several horrific stereotypes and forms of treatment. This essay will help readers to understand the message this book is conveying and how it relates to socialization, aggression, favoritism and how nature and nurture contribute to the overall development of self and individuality. Both sisters took very different paths and outlooks on specific issues that arose; I believe the reason to set the book up in such a way was to prove that no matter what path is taken ultimately in the end you will always be the same race and encounter similar issues. Mosionier approaches these First Nations issues by discussing them in the form of a story rather than ranting about the problems she wants to discuss; this is a more effective method because readers are able to connect with the characters and feel sympathy which will help outsiders understand her messages clearly.

The topic of racism and discrimination is a key element in Beatrice Culleton Mosionier's novel "In Search of April Raintree" and is mostly expressed through Cheryl Raintree in comparison with the other characters. Racism is defined as; "a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others" (racism. (n.d.). Dictionary.com) this is expressed throughout the entire novel but particularly when Cheryl comes to visit and April's mother in law and her friends treat her differently because of the colour of her skin. Racism is a prejudice that varies in severity but is experienced by nearly all Native peoples because the white's see themselves as superior. April shows her fear of experiencing discrimination when she states "she is disavowing the part of her that might be seen as Native, a disavowal also reflected in her fear of being a mother of brown-skinned babies" (117). April's fear of producing brown-skinned babies demonstrates the impact that societies views, discriminations and racist perspective truly affects people even when it comes to producing offspring; she feels this way because she does not want their brown skin to give away her Métis identity that she has so diligently tried to hide but also because she does not want her children to experience the traumatic treatment they would face. Through April's eyes she can see and understand that in the end the "white's" opinion is the one that matter and because of this society is governed by them. "The law is the same for red and white: That may be. But itself, it is only white." (31). When April is under the foster care of the DeRosiers she experiences discrimination both in and outside the home because of her race. While in the home there is a particular situation where Maggie torments April by going on about her parents being 'drunkards' and telling her that if she does not do exactly what Mrs. DeRosier asks of her then she will become one as well (46). Although in the novel April did encounter several experiences that demonstrated either racism or discrimination; Cheryl took the harder hits in this area because she accepted and expressed who she was. Cheryl from beginning to end of Mosionier's novel experienced brutal treatment this was because of the several stereotypical perspectives which have been developed about Native peoples not only in this novel but also in the world. This novel shows that there are very prominent issues in our society that need to be addressed and immediate action needs to be taken to assure changes are made for the betterment of all Natives. Nearly every aspect of social construction that takes place in today's world is to blame for the views which have been developed not only about this individual race but all races. Schools tend to teach history in favor of the 'white' perspective as seen in "In Search of April Raintree" when Cheryl is learning a history lesson and what she is being taught is not the truth; she knows this because she has read several books learning about her ancestors and racial background (57). In Mohawk girls we learned that over 200 kids go off the reserve for high school this helps them to experience the outside world and have a good chance at a better life because of the way the reserve is structured it is almost like a bubble; this proves that there are different ways Native kids deal with the discrimination that they face in school. Media, especially television programs are made up almost completely of stereotypes based on gender, race, and class; for example, by watching an episode of "Just for Laughs" the majority of the comedians, material will be poking fun at the developed stereotypes found in society and proving that they are true to some extent. Another issue that may be underlying but certainly comes to the reader's attention is the problem that children face by not having a voice and not being seen as having rights or opinions. This is something that nearly all children and youth face in society because they are not known as legal adults and in April and Cheryl's case are owned by Children's Aid. The event in the book that proves children do not have a voice in society is when both sisters try telling their care workers what the DeRosier's are doing to April and how she is being treated but they turn their heads the other way and do not even go as far as doing an investigation. This novel has taught me that stereotypes, discrimination and racism are not jokes but are a very serious matter especially for those of Native decent and as a teacher I will now be more aware of the effects bullying and discrimination have on children based off