September 6 marked the the anniversary of the 1839 signing of the Constitution of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma.
-- Narration (Prologue)

Importance: One of the most significant plot points in the novel is Ray-Ray's death. Ray-Ray is unjustly shot to death by a police officer. This event happens to occur on September 6, which, as stated in the above quote, is a significant date in Cherokee history. This detail of coincidence and confluence contributes to the novel's overall emphasis on the connections between personal and historical phenomena.

The police officer heard a gunshot and instinctively fired at the Indian kid.
-- Maria (narration) (chapter 1)

Importance: In this line of narration, Maria gives further details about the death of Ray-Ray. Specifically, Ray-Ray was in a public place when someone other than Ray-Ray fired a gun. A police officer assumed that Ray-Ray fired the gun, so the officer shot and killed Ray-Ray. As the above quote implies, the officer's actions were likely motivated...