In Search Of April Raintree Analysis

The bond and love between two sisters seem to be everlasting and incomparable. Having each other’s back and company are all that matters and the ever-showing of care and support are beyond sincerity. However, in the novel In Search of April Raintree by Beatrice Mosionier, this is not the case between two sisters, Cheryl and April Raintree. Both Cheryl and April are born-Metis residing in Winnipeg, Manitoba who are a victim of their parents’ shortcomings and addictions. As a result, they are taken away from the hands of their parents to live in different foster homes and apart from each other. The distance between them is yet another obstacle from getting their family together and it gives them the motivation and inspiration to love and care

The Raintree family is unstable and does not have the capabilities to support and keep it lively. “‘… we moved from one rundown house to another… And of course, we were always on welfare’” (2). Instead of their parents using the welfare-cheque for providing the needs of the family, they would lie and tell their children that they are to use it for medicine to cure their tuberculosis, even though it only goes to their alcohol addiction. Their parents would always drink alcohol until it comes to a point that they are disregarding and neglecting their children. “Cheryl and I always woke up before our parents, so I would tend to Cheryl’s needs” (3). Both April and Cheryl would hear their parents yelling, fighting, knocking things over, and bumping into walls whenever they drink alcohol. They would also come to see their mother kissing someone else whilst their dad sleeping on the floor. Eventually, due to this family behavior, the Children’s Aid would come and intervene and take April and Cheryl away from their home. This causes the family to be separated. Throughout time, both Cheryl and April are placed on different foster homes while having no clue of the whereabouts of their parents. During a conversation between Cheryl and April, Cheryl mentions, “‘I still want to look for our parents…’” (121). There is no closure between Cheryl and their

For Cheryl, she embraces her Metis culture and heritage. “‘I wish we were whole Indians’” (40). Throughout her time at school, Cheryl reads history books about Metis people and historical figures such as Louis Riel. She would also passionately write on what she thinks about the Metis people. At university, she writes a piece which points about the crucial effects white people have brought along in North America. Though, this piece could not be published as it is deemed controversial. But for Cheryl, she knows it by heart, and it outlines the problem both the Metis and Indian people are going through. On the other hand, April despises her Metis culture and heritage. “‘… so anything to do with the Indians, I despised’” (40). April dreams of living similarly to a white person. While attending school, she would keep her heritage and true identity a secret and she would come up with lies about her parents and her ancestry. She does not want to be associated with being an Indian to help establish her superiority and fair treatment in society. When it comes to personality, Cheryl is fearless and compassionate while April is a coward. While in history class, Cheryl interjects the teacher of her teachings about the Indian people. Cheryl is stubborn, and she believes that she is always right. She will always stand up for her beliefs no