Walk Me Home (42 page)

As a result of this realization, I created the fictional Wakapi tribe as a way to show my immense respect for the Native American culture and way of life. Because I ultimately decided it was far more respectful to openly admit that I do not know any Native American tribe well enough to take on their story, or even the story of one or more of their people. A great deal of harm has been done to Native culture by outsiders. My hope is not to contribute to that harm in any way. Ultimately, I decided my goal would be best accomplished by remaining on the outside.

I do realize I am still depicting a version of Native American life in a very general way. I don’t suppose I can have done so perfectly from my outsider position, but I hope I have done it reasonably well, and that my respect shines through.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author and coauthor of nineteen books, including
When I Found You, Second Hand Heart, When You Were Older,
and
Don’t Let Me Go. Her novel Pay It Forward
was included on the ALA’s Best Books for Young Adults list, translated into twenty-three foreign editions, and turned into a major Warner Brothers motion picture. Her short stories have received honorable mentions in the Raymond Carver Short Story Contest, nominations for Pushcart Prizes and the O. Henry Award, and citations in the
Best American Short Stories
anthologies. Along with Anne R. Allen, she recently co-authored
How To Be A Writer In The E-Age…And Keep Your E-Sanity.
An avid traveler and amateur photographer, she has hiked the Grand Canyon, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, and many more of the world’s most beautiful places. She currently resides in Cambria, California.