Buffalo Dreamer: Chapters 1–2

by Violet Duncan
Twelve-year-old Summer learns of her grandfather's traumatic childhood suffering because of his indigenous (Cree) heritage. Her family's present happiness and unity within their native community in Alberta, Canada, is a beautiful lesson in resilience, honor, and the healing power of love.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–2, Chapters 3–4, Chapters 5–6, Chapters 7–10, Chapters 11–14, Chapters 15–16, Chapters 17–20, Chapters 21–26, Chapters 27–30
25 words 84 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. status
    the relative position or standing of things or persons
    “You can’t get in with just this!” the officer yells at us.
    “I know my rights,” my mom answers sternly. “And my rights say as an Indian woman I can use my Indian status card when driving across the Canada-US border.”
  2. passport
    a document allowing a citizen to travel abroad
    Almost every year we have this fight with the border agents about getting into Canada, the country of my mother’s birth. We have passports, like, just a foot away in our glove compartment, but Mom still insists on using our Indian status cards.
  3. feisty
    showing spirit and courage
    “My daughter is a minor. You don’t get to talk to her,” Mom says sharply, blocking his line of sight to me from his booth.
    “I can ask in the presence of a parent, okay, feisty? Retract your claws.” He snickers on the last part.
  4. retract
    pull inward or towards a center
    “My daughter is a minor. You don’t get to talk to her,” Mom says sharply, blocking his line of sight to me from his booth.
    “I can ask in the presence of a parent, okay, feisty? Retract your claws.” He snickers on the last part.
  5. snicker
    laugh quietly
    “My daughter is a minor. You don’t get to talk to her,” Mom says sharply, blocking his line of sight to me from his booth.
    “I can ask in the presence of a parent, okay, feisty? Retract your claws.” He snickers on the last part.
  6. flush
    turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame
    I feel my face flush and my heart start to race. “Mom, let’s just give him the passports,” I whisper.
  7. treaty
    a written agreement between two states or sovereigns
    “No, Summer, it’s our right.” Mom turns back to the officer and addresses him calmly. “Don’t you know the law around here? It’s written right here in the Jay Treaty.” She hands the man a folded copy of the document.
  8. bulge
    swell or protrude outwards
    The officer’s wearing those glasses with the mirror tint, so I can’t see his eyes, but I imagine at this moment they’re probably bulging out. He stammers something and shuts his window with a snap.
    Mom turns to me and grins.
  9. stammer
    speak haltingly
    The officer’s wearing those glasses with the mirror tint, so I can’t see his eyes, but I imagine at this moment they’re probably bulging out. He stammers something and shuts his window with a snap.
    Mom turns to me and grins.
  10. slump
    assume a drooping posture or carriage
    Slumping down into my seat, I look out the window and notice another Native family in the next lane.
  11. native
    an indigenous person who was born in a particular place
    Slumping down into my seat, I look out the window and notice another Native family in the next lane.
  12. profile
    an outline of something, especially a face from the side
    She has a strong, beautiful profile and looks so peaceful and unbothered with the crossing ordeal that she calms me.
  13. ordeal
    a severe or trying experience
    She has a strong, beautiful profile and looks so peaceful and unbothered with the crossing ordeal that she calms me.
  14. hover
    hang in the air; fly or be suspended above
    “Alright, have a safe trip,” she says. As she shuts the window, I can see the other officer hovering angrily behind her.
  15. persistence
    steady determination
    “Well, that was easy,” my mom says as we pull away, and I have to laugh, because even though I sometimes get impatient with her, I’ve got to admit I’m impressed with her persistence.
  16. reserve
    a district that is set aside for a particular purpose
    Finally, we’re on the last leg of the three-day trip to the reserve where Mom grew up.
  17. tribe
    a federation (as of American Indians)
    My dad is a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, and most of the year we live close to his side of the family in Phoenix, plus my mom teaches at the nearby university.
  18. braid
    a hairdo formed by twisting the hair
    I look at Sage again. His dark brown hair is in two braids, and he wears a red bandana wrapped around his head like the elders.
  19. bandana
    a large and brightly colored handkerchief
    I look at Sage again. His dark brown hair is in two braids, and he wears a red bandana wrapped around his head like the elders.
  20. elder
    a person of more advanced age
    I look at Sage again. His dark brown hair is in two braids, and he wears a red bandana wrapped around his head like the elders.
  21. digital
    using or characteristic of computerized technology
    And in about eight hours, when we arrive at the rez, I’ll be stuck with the world’s slowest internet. It is a coder’s worst nightmare, and I love to code—I’m in the tech club at school, and we’re developing a few techniques to improve digital illustrations with a stylus.
  22. stylus
    a pointed tool for writing, drawing, or engraving
    And in about eight hours, when we arrive at the rez, I’ll be stuck with the world’s slowest internet. It is a coder’s worst nightmare, and I love to code—I’m in the tech club at school, and we’re developing a few techniques to improve digital illustrations with a stylus.
  23. powwow
    a council of or with Native Americans
    Good thing there’s so much I look forward to: being with family, taking in some powwows, and riding Luna, the horse my uncle gifted me with last summer.
  24. crescent
    a curved shape tapers at the ends
    Luna’s coat is a beautiful light brown, and she has a white crescent on her forehead that looks like a small moon, which is why I named her Luna. Her mane and tail are golden brown, and at the end of last year, she let me braid a pink ribbon in her tail.
  25. mane
    long coarse hair growing from the crest of the animal's neck
    Luna’s coat is a beautiful light brown, and she has a white crescent on her forehead that looks like a small moon, which is why I named her Luna. Her mane and tail are golden brown, and at the end of last year, she let me braid a pink ribbon in her tail.
Created on Mon Mar 10 20:06:02 EDT 2025 (updated Mon Mar 31 16:41:52 EDT 2025)

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