Bobby goes to Madison Elementary School in Bent, New Mexico. Bobby is in 4th grade and loves going to school. Yesterday, there was a new boy in his class. The new boy had a different name. His name way Tyee, but he told the class they could call him Tyler.

Tyee is new to Madison Elementary, he has just moved here from the Apache reservation. Tyee is a Native American boy, and is nervous about trying to make new friends in his new school. He is shaking like a leaf because he is nervous about going to this new school because no one looks or talks like he does. The teacher has put Tyee’s desk right next to Bobby’s. He hopes that Bobby is nice.

After school, Bobby goes home and tells his mom and dad about the new boy he sits next to in class.

“He seems really cool, but he has a different name. It’s Tyee and he told me that his name means leader. Mommy does my name mean anything?” Bobby asked his mom.

“No, Bobby, Tyee is a Native American and they have different customs and traditions than we do.” Bobby’s mother replied.

The next day at school, Bobby was excited to get to play with Tyee at recess, even though it was so hot you could fry an egg outside. Tyee taught him a new game called Toe Toss Stick. Tyee explained that all you had to do was make a mark on the ground and throw a stick up as high as you can and have it land on the mark. Bobby thought this was a really cool game. But there were some kids making fun of Tyee for his “Indian game.”