Matthew is twelve years old and lives in Saskatchewan, Canada. He is of mixed heritage: his mother is Chipewyan, Cree, and Metis Indian, and his father is English, Scottish, and Irish. Because his parents are divorced, Matthew spends one year with each of them in turn. This summer, his mother is taking him to Fort Chipewyan, the oldest settlement in Alberta, Canada, and the home of many Chipewyan, Cree, and Metis Indians. Since Matthew was raised in the city, this will be his first time participating in some of the traditional Native activities, such as smoking and drying fish. During his time at Fort Chipewyan, Matthew meets many Native people, joins in a festive dance, and gets a pair of beautiful moccasins made for him by a talented beadworker. He also learns a little about what it's like to live off the land, the way the original people did.