The Game of Silence

Omakayas knows it is officially winter when Old Tallow puts on her famous winter coat. Winter nights are long, and the Ojibwe help one another through them by sharing stories. Nokomis tells stories of “the old days…when some people had great powers and the animals spoke to us” (159). Deydey makes snowshoes. Pinch and Two Strike Girl’s army go ice skating and sledding. Omakayas finds the Angry One doing chores, wishing that he could go skating with Pinch. Omakayas offers to do Angry One’s chores for him so that he can go play and notes that the Angry One “looked completely astounded at her offer” (167).

Omakayas and Angeline go to the local schoolhouse, where they learn the white people’s language. They teach it to Deydey, who eagerly learns. Omakayas and Nokomis set up snares to catch rabbits. While outside, the cold drops to a dangerous low. Nokomis and Omakayas are far from home, and Omakayas starts feeling tired. Her fatigue is a sign of hypothermia. Nokomis drags Omakayas back home, and it takes the girl a while to recover from the cold and frostbite.

Old Tallow is dragged back to the family by her dogs, unconscious.