Red Paint Summary
Sasha LaPointe

Red Paint Overview

Red Paint is Sasha LaPointe's poetic memoir chronicling her journey to reclaim her identity as a Coast Salish Indigenous woman and heal from generational and personal trauma. Growing up on an Indian reservation in the Pacific Northwest, LaPointe struggles to connect to her heritage after generations of cultural erosion from colonialism. Through vivid depictions of her childhood sexual abuse, teen rebellion, turbulent relationships, and profound grief over losing her unborn child, LaPointe’s narrative conveys her arduous road to recovery. Ultimately, by honoring family traditions, immersing in sacred waters, and publicly wearing her people’s symbolic red paint, LaPointe embraces her resilient Coast Salish spirit and role as a storyteller, achieving self-empowerment and liberation.