The Education of Little Tree

Lawyers come to the house and present Granma and Granpa with paperwork, saying that someone filed a complaint about Little Tree’s lack of education and well-being. As a result, Little Tree must go to an orphanage and receive a “proper” education. Little Tree tries to develop solutions for the situation so that he can stay with his grandparents, but Granma and Granpa act defeated. Granpa and Little Tree go into the settlement to seek the help of Mr. Wine, but they learn that Mr. Wine has passed away. Next, they visit a lawyer, who refuses to take up the case because the law doesn’t understand (and doesn’t want to understand) the ways of the mountain people and the Native Americans. Resigned, the three make the most of the time they have left together before turning Little Tree over to the law. He gets on the bus and promises that he’ll be back soon once the law sees he’s properly educated already.

Little Tree goes to the orphanage where the Reverend tells him that he’ll never be welcome in church and that he is not a legitimate child because the law doesn’t recognize his parents’ Cherokee marriage.