Rez Dogs

Malian is the last student to present to the class. She listens intently to the other students, learning about their backgrounds and genealogy, connecting with them. When it is Malian’s turn, she must decide what to share—she wants to be honest but not make people feel bad. Malian shares that her mother was taken as a child and adopted out to a white family, and that her grandparents were sent to boarding schools where they were forbidden to speak their language or practice their culture. Malian smiles and says that “no one should feel guilty about the past. Unless they are doing nothing about the present” (175).

Malian hears Malsum come into the house—something he has never done—and feels his paws on her shoulders. With Malsum behind her, Malian tells her class a story: When the Creator decided to make human beings, he made them out of stone, so they would be strong. However, their hearts were hard, so he broke up the stones and scattered them on the ground. The Creator saw the ash tree with deep roots in the land and branches dancing in the wind with other trees, so the next humans were made from ash trees—rooted in the ground with ever growing hearts. Malian says the story is about taking care of our land, each other, and all living things, and not to stand alone like the stone people but to “bend our knees and touch the earth” (178). Malian hears students say “Look at them” (178). When Malian turns, she sees her grandparents kneeling behind her with Malsum bowing down between them. Full of emotion, Malian says goodbye with words from her old Wabanaki language: “Wlimpamkaani, nidobak. Have a good journey, my friends” (179).

Malian sits with Malsum on her grandparents’ porch, waiting to be picked up by her parents. School ended three weeks ago and lockdown has eased. Malian whispers to Malsum that he can come with her, that her parents have already said he can be their “honored guest.” Malsum pricks up his ears and turns to look deep into Malian’s eyes. She understands and simply says “Oh,” before Malsum nods and runs into the woods.

Grandma appears behind Malian and explains that Malsum’s place is on the rez. She is joined by Grampa, who tells Malian not to worry, Malsum will return when she comes back to visit, “a rez dog knows where it needs to be” (184). While buried in a hug, Grandma Frances adds “After all […] just like us you’re a rez dog too” (184-85).