Moon of the Crusted Snow

Evan visits elder Aileen to make sure she has enough supplies and her fire is stoked. Aileen asks Evan how he and Nicole are doing. Evan feels guilty that Nicole is largely stuck at home, taking care of the kids and planning what to do if the power outage is permanent. Aileen, a member of the last generation of the community who grew up fluently speaking Anishinaabe and practicing the traditional ways, suggests Evan spend time with Nicole.

Aileen is fond of imparting wisdom and stories to the people who visit her. Now that modern infrastructure has failed, knowledge of the old ways of living is invaluable. She reminds Evan that, though it seems the world is ending, the Anishinaabe world ended long ago, when the Zhaagnaash, white people, forced them from their ancestral lands. Their world ended again when their children were taken away by the government for reeducation. Aileen reminds him that their people adapted to life in the freezing north; they will learn to adapt again.

Evan leaves Aileen’s house on foot. Plowing ceased when the fuel supply ran out; even the town’s diesel generator is offline now, with only a small amount of diesel left for one last emergency use.