Content Warning: This section discusses anti-Indigenous and anti-Black racism; the kidnapping, murder, and rape of Indigenous women; sexual abuse and “grooming” of underage people; and mistreatment of human remains.

The novel represents this theme in diverse ways. Perry recognizes that her situation—as someone who speaks fluent Ojibwemowin, has a permit for ceremonial hunting and fishing, knows many generations back in her family, and knows many Anishinaabe stories and history—isn’t universal. Many Elders have emotionally complex relationships with Anishinaabe knowledge and tradition because of their history with boarding schools. Erik, who wasn’t raised immersed in Anishinaabe culture, doesn’t understand what certain cultural items, and the knowledge and tradition they represent, mean to Perry, who has extensive knowledge of her Tribe’s history. Together, this diverse representation of approaches to their Tribe’s knowledge and traditions shows that no single, correct way to be Anishinaabe exists.

Perry isn’t academically ambitious, like Pauline is. Instead, Perry is deeply connected to learning about and practicing cultural knowledge and tradition. She explains to Waabun that “books are wonderful. But so is learning directly from Gichimanidoo. Creator gave us helpers to teach us things even before books were invented” (25). Anishinaabe folks, like many other Indigenous people on Turtle Island, the Indigenous name for North America, practice oral traditions rather than written ones.