In Kiss of the Fur Queen, the story begins with forty-three-year-old Cree hunter Abraham Okimasis winning the "1951 Millington Cup World Championship Dog Derby". (6) The victory is believed to have a significant effect on the Cree hunter's native identity, as he becomes the first Indian ever to succeed in the Derby. As time passes, Abraham becomes the father of two sons, Jeremiah and Gabriel. When the Cree brothers leave their small village in northern Manitoba and enter the hostile environment of a residential school, their lives take a turn for the worse. Estranged from their native culture, Jeremiah and Gabriel are forced to assimilate into predominantly white Canadian society. During their time at the residential school, the brothers fall victim to sexual abuse at the hands of the all-powerful Catholic priest. The abuse done to siblings continues throughout their adolescence and adulthood. Emotionally traumatized, the Okimasis brothers reach the point where they can no longer bear the pain. And as a result of the abuse and social pressure to change, the brothers lose their identity as Native Canadians. Born into the Okimasis clan of the First Nations Cree tribe, Jeremiah and Gabriel share a number of similarities and differences. One thing the two brothers have in common is the extent of sexual abuse they suffer while attending residential school. Jeremiah is significantly traumatized by the events that occur, as he locks his memories away in a "chamber deep within his mind". (80) In contrast, Gabriel seems to accept the abuse he receives, as he imagines falling “on his knees,” clinging to his vision of seeing “God the Father, sitting large and naked in his black leather chair.” (83) Another… middle of paper… future as an adult. Jeremiah remembers the episode where he had "the holy man inside him... the breath of a cigar floating somewhere above his cold shaved head." (287) As the young Cree grows into adolescence, the abuse continues to haunt him. A notable incident occurs while Jeremiah presents his history project to his classmates. When Jeremiah makes a fool of himself in front of the whole class, his classmates burst out laughing. One person even tries to go the distance by taunting the Cree hunter's son with the words, "War war warpaint!" (147) For Jeremiah, it seems like the abuse is too much to handle. Fortunately, his talent at the piano allows him to empty his mind of all negative things and instead focus on playing various scores. Jeremiah, who is shot by his brother for trying too hard to "become a white man," (207) loses his native identity.