Five Little Indians

Clara becomes Howie’s counselor for six months after the Courtworker gets him out of serving jail time for the church robbery. On the day of his last session with Clara, Howie says he would like to see her again. The two meet for dinner and discover that they are both survivors of the same Indian School. Clara is surprised that Howie ended up in a school in British Columbia when his family is from Saskatchewan.

He then tells her the long story of his misfortune. During a visit with his mother’s sister in Vancouver, Howie is spotted by a local priest and reported to the authorities. He is immediately transported to the island Mission School over his mother’s protests because mandated schooling for Indian children is a national law in Canada.

Howie endures the same horrific experiences as Kenny, his best friend. Brother is especially brutal toward Howie. He says:

This time he beat me too. So hard the last thing I remember was falling to the floor in his room. My face was swollen and sore and my bum burned with pain. I pinched my split lip so the pain would make me forget other pains and things (239).