The Education of Little Tree spends a good deal of time reflecting on the question of man's place in the world. This cannot be separated from the issues of the history involving the Native Americans being forced off their land by the white man and being relocated to reservations. Little Tree is told of the Cherokee's past, their forced relocation in what was called "The Trail of Tears."

It is through this history and Granpa and Granma's attempt to live in a world where Native Americans are denied certain civil rights and are forced to digest a religion that is not their own that Little Tree learns to distrust the government. Granpa's lack of faith in politicians is passed along to Little Tree, and justifiably so, considering the intrusion of the government workers on Granma and Granpa's property and lifestyle. Considering Native American history and Little...