The Round House

The round house, an old sweathouse used by Native Americans on the reservation, had long been abandoned when Geraldine was attacked, raped, and then brought to the round house to be murdered. It is symbolic of Native American spirituality and its collective past leading Bazil to suspect the crime may have taken place there. As a judge, Bazil knows that the round house is a source of grievance for some of the white men who live off the reservation due to earlier court cases. He also knows that the round house is isolated and abandoned, making it the perfect place to commit a crime.

When Joe visits the round house, he feels an odd presence several times. The narrative suggests that Joe is tapping into a force that allows him to feel what took place, thus connecting Joe to his past and providing him with insight into his mother’s attack. That the attack takes place at a sacred space also indicates that those off the reservation, most notably white men, care nothing for the past or sacred spaces of Native Americans.