Main_large
Thumb_spread-03
Thumb_spread-02
Thumb_spread-01

Home to Medicine Mountain

By Chiori Santiago
Illustrated by Judith Lowry

Paperback: $12.95

Ebook

Two young brothers are separated from their family and sent to live in a government-run Indian residential school in the 1930s—an experience shared by generations of Native American children throughout North America. At these schools, children were forbidden to speak their Indian languages and made to unlearn their Indian ways. Sadly, they were often not able to go home to their families for summer vacation.

Native American artist Judith Lowry based this story on the experiences of her father and her Uncle Stanley. Judith and author Chiori Santiago tenderly relate how Stanley and Benny Len found their way home by train one summer. Inspired by their dreams of home and the memories of their grandmother's stories, the boys embark on an adventurous journey from the harsh residential school to their triumphant welcome home at Susanville, California, in the shadow of Yo-Tim Yamne (Medicine Mountain).

Check out educator lesson plan and activities for Home to Medicine Mountain, a title featured in RIF’s Multicultural Book Collections. To find other free activities that inspire young readers as well as learn more about Reading Is Fundamental, visit us at RIF.org.

About the Creators

Thumb_thumb Chiori Santiago - Author

was an accomplished journalist who wrote for national magazines about the art, music and family life of people from many parts of the world. Always active in community affairs, she was also an arts and music commentator for public television and radio. Chiori died in 2007.

Thumb_thumb Judith Lowry

is a nationally exhibited painter of Mountain Maidu, Hamawi Pit-River, and Australian descent. Considered one of California’s premiere contemporary Native American artists, she is inspired by the stories passed down in her family. Judith lives in Nevada City, California.