My Name Is Seepeetza

My Name Is Seepeetza follows twelve-year-old Martha Stone, who goes by her Native name Seepeetza, as she navigates life between two worlds in 1960s British Columbia. Through diary entries, she records her experiences at an Indian residential school and her time at home with her family on the Nlaka'pamux First Nation ranch. At the residential school, Seepeetza must adapt to strict rules, a new name, and an environment that aims to erase her Indigenous identity. Her diary entries contrast her school life with memories of ranch life, where she lives with her parents and eight siblings in a loving home filled with music, storytelling, and cultural traditions. The story captures a pivotal period in Canadian history while examining themes of cultural identity, family bonds, and resilience in the face of institutional oppression. Through Seepeetza's authentic voice, readers gain insight into the personal impact of Canada's residential school system on Indigenous children and their communities.

Readers value this book as an accessible introduction to residential schools for middle-grade students, told through a child's diary entries. Many note that the first-person perspective helps young readers connect with the experiences described. Readers appreciate: - Simple, clear writing style appropriate for grades 5-8 - Balance between depicting harsh realities while remaining age-appropriate - Incorporation of Indigenous cultural elements and family relationships - Educational value for teaching Canadian history Common criticisms: - Some find the diary format repetitive - A few readers wanted more emotional depth - Limited historical context provided Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (797 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (41 ratings) Sample reader comment: "This book helped my students understand residential schools in a way that statistics and facts could not." - Grade 6 teacher on Goodreads Another reader noted: "The protagonist's voice feels authentic but I wished for more details about her community and traditions."

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🌟 Author Shirley Sterling based this story on her own experiences at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia during the 1950s. 🏫 The book is written in diary format, showing a year in the life of Martha Stone (Seepeetza), a 12-year-old girl from the Nlaka'pamux Nation. 📝 Sterling wrote this book as part of her Master's thesis at the University of British Columbia, and it was published in 1992. 🏆 The book won the Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize and has become required reading in many Canadian schools to teach about residential school history. 🗣️ "Seepeetza" means "little meadow bird" in the Nlaka'pamux language, highlighting the connection between Indigenous names and their meanings in contrast to the English names forced upon children at residential schools.