By Isabella Andaluz

My name is Istas It means snow I am part of the Yakama tribe I live in the Plateau Region of North America This is my story...

So, here I am again trapped in my little, so called, “room”. In case you were thinking that this is my home it is not, at all. I am a slave for some English settlers. They waged war, killed my parents then made me and my sister, Bena (which means annoying) slaves. Oh and by the way I’m 16 and Bena’s 6.

(what I usually wear) then race out the door. We gather roots and nuts. Then we hunt for salmon, sometimes wolf, deer, and elk. No elk and deer are not the same thing. Elk Deer

I found myself going to sleep dreaming about our humble home and how I help make it by digging a hole that’s 3 feet, since our house is partly underground. In the summer make it with a thin layer of elk and deer skin. In the winter we make with a thick layer of wolf fur.

When me and Bena woke up we got some nasty food that looked like goop then we got in trouble for talking (and it was about our parents) so we have to stay in our cells for the rest of the day without food. “ Are you sure mom and dad is dead?” Bena ask. “Yes, I saw it with my own eyes. They ran to save us but got shot with those thing. I think they are called guns.”

“ I miss home.” Bena said “Yeah,” I yawned. “We should rest.” I think Bena went to sleep, but defiantly didn’t. I want to be back at the Plateau Region where I will wake up take a walk with Bena and Annawan (the chief of the police, and who’s name means chief) would say “Aay, having a good morning?” and we’d say “Yes Sir.”

We would continue our walk and there is a place were we would stop and look at the hilly terrain. We might have brought a snack like fresh fruit or nuts. We will stay there until lunch. We did this every other day, the extra days I go hunting with my dad since Bena is 5. I started crying, I try to hold it in but in this time it’s impossible. Then I heard Bena crying and we didn’t stop.

I remember the beautiful and hot weather in the summer, we would run around playing tag and hide and seek. In the cool autumn weather we would make a stick with other smaller sticks to get the leaves in a pile, then when our mother isn’t looking we would jump in it, get up and when she is looking we say the wind blew it.

In the winter we would play in the snow and make men out of the snow until we almost freeze, even if we are wearing very thick clothing. In the spring we would pick flowers in the nice warm weather then we would dance in the beautiful meadow.

I woke up abruptly to hear a cry. I didn’t know then that it would be the last time I would see this cage.

3 years later and I am still in one piece, I am living with Bena, my uncle and my aunt in my house, the same house. Yes, my parents are dead but they are with The Great Spirit. I am still happy, we have food, water and a humble teepee. Nothing much has happened, everything went back to normal. I guess the world didn’t end after all.

I think I did deserve an A because it was very detailed and dramatic. I think I can improve by adding more dialogue and more emotion. Maybe even more characters or information.

Bibliography