The Game of Silence

“Omakayas liked to arrange things in her mind. When she was deep in thought, she did not like to disturb herself, especially if her subject was as important as the order of all she loved.”

In this quote, Omakayas is characterized as intelligent and deeply thoughtful. This early description foreshadows her talent for observing the world around her and drawing wise conclusions, even at a young age. Her deep capacity for reflection implies that her wisdom and experience will increase greatly as the story unfolds.

“Nobody said the name of those who had died. That was because to say their names would attract the spirits of the dead, even bring them back to visit the living. It was better to let even the most loved ones go along on their journey into the next world.”

This quote highlights the importance of resolving conflict through tradition. The death of Omakayas’s brother still grieves her and her family, but their relationship with mortality is markedly different than that of the white colonizers’ culture, for the Ojibwe people prioritize the natural order of things. This quote emphasizes the respect that the Ojibwe have for spirits and the natural world.

“Difficult questions and impossible news. Great attention was needed. The grown-ups needed to council, think, absorb the facts, without having to shush small children. The children could tell how important the meeting was from the degree to which their silence was required.”

This quote emphasizes the important relationship between children and their elders in the Ojibwe community. The children are allowed to be around adults even in the midst of serious conversations, which highlights the Ojibwe’s respect for children as members of their community. Learning from the adults is important for the children. This quote also emphasizes how serious the situation between the Ojibwe and the white people has become, as the silence of the children is symbolic of their fear.