How the Indians Bought the Farm

by Craig Kee Strete, Michelle Netten Chacon, Francisco X. Mora (Illustrations)

An Indian chief and his wise wife are not eager to hear the news that they had to move from their land and become farmers, so they devise a plan to cleverly outwit the gullible government man and, in the end, manage to stay right where they are.

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1996

About the author

Craig Strete is a Native American science fiction writer. He is noted for his use of American Indian themes and has had multiple Nebula Award nominations.
Beginning in the early 1970s, while working in the Film and Television industry, Strete began writing emotional Native American themed, and science fiction short stories and novellas. He has had three Nebula Award nominations: two for the short stories Time Deer and A Sunday Visit with Great-grandfather and one for the novelette The Bleeding Man.
REANIMUS PRESS NEW RELEASES
The Game of Cat and Eagle novel
If All Else Fails
The World in Grandfather's Hands novel
When Grandfather Journeys Into Winter novel
A Knife In The Mind novel
Dreams That Burn in the Night
Death Chants
Burn Down the Night novel
The Angry Dead novel
The Bleeding Man and Other Science Fiction Stories
My Gun Is Not So Quick novel
The Star Killer novel
To Make Death Love Us novel
Dark Journey
The Bouncing Bride novel
The Mammoth Project novel
Nobody Rides Forever novel
Paint Your Face On A Drowning In The River novel
Strete Food. A book of plays.
The Dinosaur Project novel
Cloudboy Juvenile
Russell Raven Isn't Scared Anymore Juvenile
Death In The Spirit House Novel
New Books.
THE DIRE WOLF PROJECT Novel
THE BLOOD OF OTHERS SF Novel

BLOOD TELLS ME ABOUT THE NIGHT and
THE NIGHT BROTHER
BY R. WRIGHT CAMPBELL AND CRAIG STRETE Horror Novels

MOOSE AND RACCOON
ALL GROWN UP UNDER A BIG MOON SKY
Juveniles

all the books are available in kindle, epub format from Reanimus press.

Reviews

[Nicole Woolwine · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5
1996
Historical fiction
5th-6th grade
I picked up this book because the title hooked me in! Through out this book I learned about how the Indians used to live and what their society looked like!
The book made it fun by adding in animals and actions that’s didn’t occur in real life but the way the they incorporated events that did occur made a fun twist on the book! The illustrations helped me better understand what was occurring through the text and towards the end of the book I couldn’t help but laugh at the outcome! This book would be a must have during a social studies lesson with a fun twist!

[ConnieLettow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books title is a euphemism for death. In this case, death of a way of life. The book is presented in a light, witty way that delights a small child, but the subject led me to more research into a very dark history for many native american people and the 1887, the Dawes Allotment Act. This is a good book for both the young and adults, for it can be viewed in multiple ways. I recommend.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm. Would make a better Coyote or Anansi story, I think. And I'm not sure that the author's cred is legit... what Nation is he affiliated with? What Nation is this couple? Where's the note that explains something about the Dawes Allotment Act or about other treaties? But it is a clever story and does intend respect, so I accept it.

[Ashley Dement · Rating 2 out of 5]

How the Indians bought the farm was an okay book. The illustrations were appropriate for the story but they were not very colorful or exciting. This story can be used to introduce the concept of the treaties that were formed between the Native Americans and the American Government. The main character shows the importance of kindness and not judging a book by its cover. The unfortunate thing about this story is that a majority of it is about how the Native American couple lied and tricked the government. I do not think that this is a story that I would use in my classroom because I do not think it sends the best message but I do think that it is important to show students different cultures in the classroom.