Meet Christopher: An Osage Indian Boy from Oklahoma

My World: Young Native Americans Today

by Genevieve Simermeyer

My Young Native Americans Today
What is it like to grow up Native American in the 21st Century?



In this fourth book in the Council Oak / Smithsonian series, My Young Native Americans Today , meet Christopher, an eleven-year-old Osage boy from northeast Oklahoma. Join Christopher and his family at the annual I n-lon-shka Dances on the Osage Reservation, where they gather for outdoor feasts, dress in their traditional outfits, and dance with the entire community. Go fishing at the lake with Christopher and his brothers, hear him play the trombone in music class, and learn the Osage language as he learns it, too. Watch Christopher s mom practice finger weaving, and meet his grandmother, who works at the Osage tribal museum. Learn the stories of Osage ancestors, those who hunted buffalo and lived in hide-covered lodges, and those who first learned to drive cars and pilot airplanes.

Genres: Native American, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Biography

48 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2008

Reviews

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christopher is eleven and is the person featured in this book, a book his cousin wrote. It’s biographical, and includes a lot about Christopher and his family, but also quite a bit of history background is given too. This book’s information is presented via both text and photographs.

It’s interesting to me how in this photojournalism biographical series, “My World: Young Native Americans Today” and in the “We Are Still Here: Native Americans Today” series, Native Americans do refer to themselves as Indians, although they use the term Native Americans too.

The strengths of this book (and others like it) is how they show children and community members in settings familiar to all who live in the United States, school and bike riding, playing in the band, etc. etc. but also show some of the important aspects of cultural life pertaining to their tribe, including the annual meeting of ceremonial dance, the handmade outfits, and (for me the most meaningful) the relearning of Native language. I enjoy how Christopher (and featured children in other books) take pride in their heritage, in this case Osage, and actively participate in their culture’s traditions.

Kids from all cultural backgrounds are likely to be fascinated by what is new to them and what is familiar to them too, and will most likely be interested in reading about Christopher, the U.S. and Native American history, and viewing the many riveting photos.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fourth entry in the My World: Young Native Americans Today series, which features contemporary kids from diverse native nations, Meet Christopher introduces young readers to Christopher Cote, an eleven-year-old Osage boy growing up in the small town of Skiatook, on the border of Oklahoma's Osage Reservation. Written by Genevieve Simermeyer, an Osage woman who works in the Education Office of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, and who happens to be Christopher's cousin, it gives a brief history of the Osage people, before turning to the details of Christopher's life.

From playing trombone in the school band, to camping with his Boy Scout troop; attending weekly Osage language lessons at the public library, to participating in church dramatic performances, Christopher seems to lead an incredibly full life. I don't think, looking back, that I was half so active at his age! In addition to all the many activities one would expect any boy Christopher's age to find interesting, the cultural traditions of his people - like the I'n-lon-shka Dances - also play an important role in his life. This brief biography focuses on the here and now, demonstrating that Native Americans, like anyone else, are not just historical peoples, but live in the present.

If that seems like something that is self-evident, consider how often portrayals of the indigenous peoples of North America are historical or mythological, rather than modern and realistic. This series is undoubtedly intended as an antidote to such misconceptions. With its engaging, educational narrative (I learned that Osage has its own writing system!), and appealing color photographs, taken by Mohawk photographer Katherin Fogden, it's no surprise that Meet Christopher was chosen by the American Indian Library Association as an American Indian Youth Literature Award winner!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really engaging concept and format!

[Carolynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illustrated with photographs by Katherine Fogden, St. Regis Mohawk, Akwesasne Band. Simermeyer, herself an Osage Indian on her mother’s side and who works in the Education Office of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, writes this story of her 11 year old cousin Christopher Cote, living in Skiatook Oklahoma, on the edge of the Osage Reservation. The first part of the book gives some general background of the Osage Indians and tells of Christopher’s everyday life, his family, school and extracurricular activities. The last 24 pages describe Christopher’s preparations for the I’n-lon-shka Dances in Pawhuska, which take place every June. The traditional regalia and preparations are described in detail, but the dances themselves are not described or photographed, according to tradition. Readers wanting reassurance that today’s Indian children are part of contemporary culture will find some, but those wanting authentic details of a traditional, colorful ceremony with its roots in Osage history will find more. There is a closing section that describes a 1907 list of Osage people, accompanied by photographs of Osage citizens in the early part of the twentieth century. This is touching, but I am puzzled to guess its relevance to the rest of the book, which is entirely focused on Christopher and his relatives. CL

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genevieve Simermeyer introduces us to her first cousin once removed, Christopher Cote, an eleven-year-old boy of the Osage tribe. We get to follow Christopher as he plays with his three brothers, goes to school, attends church, takes Osage language classes, makes dinner for his family, and participates in the traditional I'n-lon-shka dances in his colorful Osage regalia. The book is part of the My World: Young Native Americans Today series published by the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, a great introduction for kids on what it is like to be a Native American child in contemporary society. I wish that my teachers in elementary school had been able to introduce us to a book like this one--it might have helped me understand at the time that Native Americans are still very much a part of our modern world representing a wide diversity of cultures, and not just some people who used to live in longhouses and weave baskets.

[Nicole]

Audience- Kindergarten-5th grade students, Native American students, students with ethic backgrounds, classroom teachers, and librarians

Appeal- This book takes an inside look into the life of an Osage Indian boy. Even though Christopher shares his Osage customs and traditions with the reader, he also highlights the every day activities he and his family do. Therefore, this book would be great to discuss the similarities and differences in Christopher's life as an Osage Indian compared to whoever reads the book. It also is a valuable lesson about Native American life, which is a culture that is sometimes not discussed as often as others.

Award List- American Indian Youth Literature Award Winner- 2010