Ka'kwet

Ka'kwet is a young girl of the Mi'kmaq people, residing within Avonlea alongside her family and clan members. She is portrayed by Kiawentiio Tarbell.

Appearance and Personality[]

Ka'kwet wears her dark long hair in two braids, intertwined with hair ties in which colorful beads and small feathers are strung. After entering the residential school, her hair is cut off into a bob to resemble a pious, Christian child.

Ka'kwet has a friendly and curious personality. She loves her family very much, but after being constantly drilled at residential school not to act like a "stupid Indian", she is seen struggling with her heritage.

Story[]

Ka'kwet is first introduced when she and her father Aluk appear at a local hockey game, where he sells hockey sticks to the school boys. Billy Andrews rudely demands Aluk to create his hockey stick quickly, which does not phase the older man at all. Refusing to craft Billy's stick, the latter calls the Mi'kmaq "Redskins," a derogatory term used to undermine Indigenous people. This upsets Ka'kwet, as she does not appreciate Billy's foul language.

After Billy disappears, Gilbert Blythe appears. In stark contrast to the boy before, Gilbert politely asks Aluk if he can get his hockey stick made. Respecting his manner, Aluk agrees to have it made and delivered. Gilbert skates away soon after. Moments later, Anne Shirley Cuthbert greets Ka'kwet and her father, wondering if she can write an article in their school newspaper about them and their hockey-stick making "business". At first, Aluk refuses, not wanting to draw anymore attention towards his people, but Ka'kwet changes his mind by saying that they would receive recognition for their business. Aluk finally accepts.

Anne asks where Ka'kwet lives, wanting to interview her at her home and know more about where the sticks are made. Ka'kwet gives her specific directions and the two bid farewell for the time being. When Anne arrives at Ka'kwet's village on horseback, she is taken aback by the beauty surrounding her. She gets off her horse and Ka'kwet comes running to greet her. She notices Anne's horse and shies away, but Anne assures her that her horse is harmless. The two explore Ka'kwet's home as the girl introduces the red-head to everything at her village. Ka'kwet introduces her mother and siblings to Anne, where Ka'kwet's mother compliments Anne's red locks.

The two soon decide to trade Anne's shawl for Ka'kwet's hair strings and sit down as the Mi'kmaq girl braids them into Anne's beautiful hair. The two discuss important topics like family and belonging, and when Ka'kwet inquires innocently about Anne's parents, the red-head falters in her speech. Ka'kwet, not noticing Anne's frown, declares her braiding to be finished, and the two go to a nearby stream to inspect Anne's new hairstyle.

From that moment on, Anne and Ka'kwet forge a special relationship as kindred spirits.

Much later, news of a residential school in Halifax reaches Avonlea, and Ka'kwet is excited about the possibility of attending school as Anne tells her how wonderful it can be. Her parents argue about the dangers of school and the ways Ka'kwet may lose her heritage from a white education. Despite this, Ka'kwet is allowed to go. Before leaving on the train, Anne gifts Ka'kwet her beautiful green dress, with puffed sleeves that Matthew Cuthbert had bought for Anne back in season two, much to her delight.

Ka'kwet spends several months in a residential school for the children of indigenous Canadians. While her parents Aluk and Oqwatnuk believe that she is having a positive experience in school, in reality Ka'kwet is experiencing physical abuse and ethnocide in residential school. She is forbidden from speaking her native language, forbidden to leave, and is physically abused under the strict rules. She is required to learn English and practice Christianity in an effort to "kill the Indian, but save the child".

She briefly manages to escape the institution but is captured and brought back. She escapes by sneaking onto the undercarriage of the milkman's cart, then stowing away on the ferry back to Prince Edward Island, making the rest of the journey to her village on foot. When she returns, her mother Oqwatnuk notices Ka'kwet showing signs of psychological trauma, especially when she has an outburst at her younger sibling, calling him a "stupid Indian" and telling him to speak English.

Ka'kwet's escape from school doesn't last long, as government officials soon raid the Mi'kmaq camp and abduct her. She returns to the residential school and can hear the conflict outside when her parents, along with Anne and Matthew, try to get her out. Her parents remain behind so that they can camp near the school and continue trying to get her out.

Later, Father Beck arrives on horse, along with a few others, and demand that Ka'kwet's parents leave their grounds. While this is happening, Ka'kwet is shown yelling out for her parents, but her cries fall on deaf ears. Her parents leave the school grounds, promising one another to camp close by in order to save their child.

Unfortunately, this is the last that viewers see of Ka'kwet and her family. The aftermath is not shown as the beloved TV series comes to an abrupt end, leaving many viewers in sadness and confusion.

Relationships[]

Anne Shirley-Cuthbert[]

Ka'kwet meets Anne in A Secret Which I Desired To Desire. Her father is selling hockey sticks to the boys at an ice pool. When Anne sees the two Mi'kmaq people, she's curious and asks if she can do an article for the newspaper about them and their sticks. Ka'kwet gives her instructions on how to get to the village, and Anne says the instructions sound "like a poetic paradise." When Ka'kwet and her dad leave, it's clear Ka'kwet has taken a liking to Anne.

Later that day, Anne arrives at the village. Ka'kwet greets her, and Anne introduces her to Belle - the horse she rode there on. Anne asks what Ka'kwet's name is, and Ka'kwet tells her, her name meaning "Sea Star" in English. Anne say's she's just "plain old Anne", to which Ka'kwet tells her that if she could choose a name for Anne it would be Melkita'ulamun - strong and brave heart. Anne declares she loves the name and the two girls continue talking. Ka'kwet shows her around the village and Anne collects a lot of information about the Mi'kmaq people. Ka'kwet introduces Anne to her family, and Anne greets them happily. Ka'kwet compliments Anne's scarf, and Anne says she loves Ka'kwet's hair ties. They decide to trade, and Ka'kwet braids Anne's hair with the hair ties. While her hair is being braided, Anne asks Ka'kwet to teach her more of her language. By the time Anne leaves, she has made a new friend.

Later, when Ka'kwet is leaving for the religious school, Anne comes to see her off and gives her one of her old dresses, which Ka'kwet loves. Anne tries to visit Ka'kwet at the school, but is told she cannot see her yet.

When Ka'kwet's parents go to the Cuthbert's house to tell them what happened, Anne quickly decides to help them and convinces Mathew and Marilla to help. When Anne, Mathew, Aluk, and Oqwatnuk arrive at the school, they are threatened and told to leave. Ka'kwet's parents decide to camp out at the school to see if they can get their daughter back. Anne wants to too, but Mathew tells her they need to go home and can home back in a couple weeks to try again.

Though the two girls are never reunited, it's clear that Anne won't rest until she can save her friend.