How Spupaleena Came to Life

Raised in Omak, WA, on the Colville Reservation is my Change of Heart cover model, nineteen-year-old Shayna (pronounced Shania) Ann Palmanteer. She is currently a student at the Inchelium Language House on the reservation––a young woman on a path to self-discovery.

Not long ago, I found myself on a journey to find a model for the cover of the remake of my very first book, Change of Heart.

Through my adopted-by-love Navajo daughter, who also works at the language house, I was introduced to and teamed up with Shayna.
Her Native name is Stxcin, pronounced st – huh – cheen, meaning Tiger Lily. (The “huh” is a low blowing sound deep in the throat.)

Shayna’s mentor and best friend is her sister, Monique Bourgeau, who if we look close enough may be a relation to my husband. What a tender surprise. Monique holds an AA from Wenatchee Valley College and is a beautician and teacher of Nselxcin (Colville-Okanogan Salish) at the language house.

Shayna’s mother is Cindi Williams. Her father, who passed away at the age of 35, is Eddy Palmanteer III. She was nine-years-old when her dad left this earth.

Her grandmother is Mary Ann Palmanteer and her grandfather is Eddy Palmanteer the II.

“Family is my everything,” Shayna stated. It was a rough time after her father passed. At first, she didn’t really realize what was happening, until it all hit her in middle school. “I was not happy in middle and high school and didn’t finish.”

Shayna followed her sister to the Inchelium Language House and has been there for two years. She plans on getting her GED and going on to college. “I’m interested in going to Northwest Indian College.” Where a cousin attends and will graduate with a BA this December.

“My family is what got me through after my dad passed.” Shayna gave me a small smile, her rounds eyes soft.  The death of her father has not seemed to hinder her maturity and growth as a Native young lady. Quite the opposite, in fact, as she displays a quiet strength.

Even at her young age, Shayna is learning she has a voice and is beginning to use it. She and Monique travel as activist Indigenous women on issues concerning climate change, Washington Women Can, and No DAPL Movement (Dakota Access Pipeline). Elders are more than happy to sit with her as she learns the language, culture, and history.

To Shayna, “Language is a must.” She doesn’t know any other person her age who is learning her Native tongue on a fulltime basis.

As a young girl, she spent most weekends with her Grandmother, Mary Ann, who she is named after, while her mother, Cindi, tackled college classes. Women are honored matriarchs in the Salish culture and that is exactly what has been passed down from generation to generation in the Palmanteer/Williams family––strong women who carry themselves in a respectful manner which honors their people.

“My grandmother is a real sweetheart.” Shayna’s face glows at the mention of the Colville-tribal woman.

On a lighter note, some of Shayna’s favorite things are:

Cats
Pizza
Hip-hop music.

To watch the sisters interact during the photo shoot at the creek was a magical moment. Shayna’s mentor is her sister Monique and describes her as “selfless.” Just the same, Monique adores her little sister and coined her as “genuine.”

As an Indigenous young woman, being Native to Shayna means, “A connection to the land where I grew up on. Being here and experiencing all we’ve experienced.”

Not having been there when offered, I asked Shayna what her first reaction was when her sister mentioned the modeling prospect for Change of Heart. Her answer? “No!” And went on to explain that she rarely even posts on Facebook. But Monique enlisted her sister because she knew Shayna was the perfect young woman to represent Spupaleena, the book and trilogy’s main character.

And Monique was right, her sister was the perfect fit – like an arrow to a bow. During the second photo shoot at a nearby creek (the same one Spupaleena often visits in the trilogy), Shayna made movements the same as Spupaleena does in the book, like clutching her braids.

In the end, Shayna admitted she had a lot of fun.

One highlight of the first photo shoot, and possibly the biggest highlight of both shoots, was when Shayna’s face lit up once on top of my Paint named Buck. It was the first time she’d been on a horse. With no experience, Shayna was a natural and “felt comfortable” around Buck and Cash, her fellow models for the trilogy’s covers.

When back at the language house for the interview after the second photo shoot and asked, “What does being the cover model of True to Heart Trilogy, a young adult series with a strong female character, mean to you?”

Shayna answered, “It’s awesome! Because they (the books) are based on this reservation with our language in it and having a Native woman going for what she wants and not allowing no one to hold her back.” Not only does that describe, Spupaleena, but I’ve learned it also defines Shayna Palmanteer – a young woman who knows the path she’s on and has the courage to take it.

Excerpt from Change of Heart

Flickering flames in the middle of the lodge
reminded her of that day. That warm June day that poked
her chest––the season of camas root. Spupaleena’s
brother had been in her care, but an upcoming canoe
fishing trip distracted her. Her father had talked about it
for days and after much persistence on her part, she was
included. Her net needed repair.

She placed a small log on the fire as memories
stacked in her mind, digging their claws into the back of
her shoulders. She rubbed her neck, winced at the pain.

The scent from her sage bundle spiraled toward the
lodge’s center hole. She lifted the bundle, waving the
smoke over her body. Her eyes closed, and she sang in a
soft tone. When the song ended, a bird’s call entered her
thoughts.

A hawk called from behind them that day. The
brown-winged bird dove into the icy river lined by hills,
mountains, and trees, gathered a salmon in his sharp
talons and flapped away. “Yow tell huh, atchint.” She
instructed her youngest brother, Raven, to look at the
bird from a grassy spot where they stood to dry off from
an afternoon swim.

With her back to him, she pointed to
the sky but no one answered. Water splashed behind her
and she twirled around, smiling.

He was gone.

Don’t miss out! Order Change of Heart now.