350:. Despite the harsh winter months the Ojibwe people have found ways to not only embrace their culture but have fun. As stated within the novel, “Standing at the center with Ten Snow, she gracefully danced to the beat. Thimbles ringing, her body moved in exact time… Trade silver tokens, bracelets, armbands, crosses flashed and ribbons swirled as the dancers moved in joy and excitement…”. This is one of many monumental moments throughout the year for the Ojibwe people; as they also come together for both rice gathering and maple sugar collection. Events like these allow the Ojibwe to come together as one and celebrate not only their indigenous roots, but also their means of survival.
287:- Omakayas' baby brother whoM Omakayas loves very much. She often pretends that Neewo is her own baby. Neewo feels a stronger connection to Omakayas than he has to his other siblings. He falls victim to the smallpox epidemic. Readers learn that Omakayas has some form of immunization from the disease, and Neewo may find a subconscious feeling of safety being around Omakayas. The name Neewo comes from the Ojibwa word niiwogonagizi, meaning fourth (typically of the month). This is a direct naming as he is the fourth child in the family.
371:, said, "Much of the story, perhaps too much of it, is taken up with what we might think of as cultural background about Ojibwa life." He also notes: "many readers will recognize the now-familiar Erdrich style that borders on overwriting but stops just short." Beidler argues that the book sometimes gets a little redundant and over-explained; however he still enjoyed the novel. He praises the characters, noting how Omakayas learns from her elders. Little features like this give good characterization.
317:– A neighbor in the tribe who acts as an “aunt” figure to Omakayas. Omakayas understood that Old Tallow treated her with more respect than she did the other children, whom Old Tallow would yell at and send away from her cabin. When the family and community are suffering through the smallpox epidemic, Old Tallow helps Omakayas care for the sick. At the end of the novel, Old Tallow revealed Omakayas’s origins, helping her to emotionally heal from the death of her younger brother.
233:
Omakayas and her family’s lifestyle but also about Ojibwe culture. “Many traditional Ojibwe stories are passed from elders to younger generations and serve to strengthen intergenerational relationships and teach valuable lessons to children, while others are told just for entertainment purposes. Some of the most common and widely known stories are those about the origins of various animals, traditions, and other aspects of Ojibwe history and culture.”
269:– The maternal grandmother of Omakayas. She lives with Omakayas and her family. She mentors Omakayas to listen to the land and demonstrates her connection to nature through her offerings of tobacco leaves. After tough times befall her family, Nokomis dreams the location of a deer, which once it was hunted and killed, saved the family from starvation. Nokomis is wise, strict, and reliable.
275:– Omakayas's mother is a strong woman who does not often display her anger, but at times her anger pours out. She is the one who keeps the family structure intact while Deydey is traveling. The direct translation of yellow kettle into Ojibwe is Ozaawi Akik. Akik is the Ojibwa word for kettle; however it also has a second meaning: engine or motor. Also, with ozaawaabikad meaning brass,
220:
real six foot Ojibwa bear hunter, who had a pack of dogs and a statement coat. Omakayas’s name is taken from a tribal roll, which uses a different spelling than the standard Ojibwa way to say little frog, which would be “Omakakeens.” Erdrich guessed either it was a lost dialect or a misspelling, and chose to use this older version of the word to keep it grounded in the time period.
255:- Omakayas is the 7-year-old protagonist of the novel. Although she has complicated feelings about her siblings, she loves her family very much. Her healing gift became evident when her tribe fell ill from smallpox. She is brave, caring, selfless, and compassionate. Despite her name not being a direct translation of any Ojibwe word, it can be inferred that it is rooted from
178:. She hoped that in telling this story she could deepen the understanding that the public had of Native Americans, saying that ”there's this humanity that's been lost in the public perception about Native American people.” The series reinforces the deeper emotional aspects of the Ojibwe, and reminds the reader of their prevailing lineage.
228:
The novel, which takes place on Lake
Superior, is separated into the four seasons. However, before the book begins in Summer it opens with a prologue. The prologue seems out of place but it fulfills an important part of the plot of the book. The four seasons, as follows, are summer, fall, winter, and
219:
and the moving of her people. Some parts of the book were inspired from her own life. Many of the illustrations and storylines were first hand experiences, like her own pet crow or a makak (birchbark eating bowl). Some characters, like Old Tallow, are based on actual people. Her character resembles a
240:
Not until the end of this novel is
Omakayas’ secret unveiled, and the connection from the prologue fully explained. That secret is her ability to “heal” those around her. Louise Erdrich tends to structure books in this manner, saving information, most of the time regarding familial status, alongside
144:
epidemic. She learns about her connection to all nature, and discovers her gift of dreams. The most important thing
Omakayas learns about herself is why she didn't get smallpox when most everyone in the community did. She has three siblings: a baby named Neewo (who dies from smallpox), Little Pinch
232:
The structuring of the seasons helps show the connectedness to nature this novel holds. Instead of thinking of months and years, the seasons and climate are some of the only true measurements of time necessary to the lifestyle of our main characters. The structure of the book provides insight into
236:
While the seasons are an important part of the structuring of the novel, the prologue breaks this established structure and starts the book off with a small instance of foreshadowing. Without any context, The
Birchbark House begins with the sentence “The only person left alive on the island was a
139:
After the prologue, the novel continues through the eyes of a seven-year-old young girl, Omakayas ("her name means "little frog" because her first step was a hop). The circular motion of the Ojibwa culture is represented through the motions of the four seasons, Neebin (summer), Dagwaging (fall).
181:
Erdrich's larger vision was to give readers a more in depth look into native families. She wanted to make accessing real native lives easier giving children a more well rounded view. The prevailing portrayal of Native
Americans in American literature, especially children's books, primarily view
358:
Erdrich has conveyed the importance of the Ojibwa language within the storytelling in the novel. According to Sabra McIntosh, " pass on family history, folklore, superstitions and customs. Nokomis tells stories in the cold of winter. Deydey tells stories whenever he is home, usually about his
305:- Fishtail was a close friend of Deydey and Ten Snow’s husband. He also is one of the members in the community who is learning to read the tracks of the whites. In other words, he is attempting to learn the English alphabet to better aid communication and treaty negotiations with the whites.
299:– Omakayas's younger brother whom Omakayas loves. As his sister, Omakayas sees the flaws in his character, such as his laziness. Pinch is also something of a trickster, often using his wits to get out of undesirable tasks. Omakayas does not enjoy Pinch. Pinch saves everyone at the end.
182:
natives as people who just went away, and were always going to. Viewing them through their perspective shows that they are people who have survived. Erdrich also planned to create a series of books depicting the displacement of her people over a century, and how they ended up in
293:– Omakayas's older sister whom Omakayas loves but is very jealous of due to perceived perfection. Angeline is very smart and is known in the community for her beauty and her excellent skills in beading. She is usually kind to Omakayas, but can be cold-hearted.
281:– Omakayas's father is mixed race, half-white and half-Ojibwa. He is a trader who is gone trading during some of the novel. He has a strong personality tempered by moments of tenderness and care. The meaning of Mikwam in the Ojibwe language is 'ice.'
27:
237:
baby girl.” The following portions of the novel, divided into seasons, show
Omakayas’ day to day life. Encountering and connecting with animals, spending time with her family, as well as learning skills, and facing challenges along the way.
140:
Biboon (winter), and
Zeegwun (spring). The community works together to hunt, build, gather, and survive according to the needs of the tribe according to each season. Omakayas cares for her family because she knew that with the winter comes a
359:
travels. The family and especially the children relish story telling time. We know from the author’s notes that Ojibwa was a spoken, not written, language. Their history and identity survives through such storytelling."
163:
to show aspects of a real native family during that time in history. The popular media that existed at the time of her writing often portrayed Native
Americans in a negative light, e.g. the racism against natives in
323:– An injured crow who became Omakayas’s pet after Omakayas nursed him back to health. Through Andeg, readers have a sense of the connection Omakayas has with animals. Andeg is the Ojibwa word for crow.
249:
One of the central themes of
Erdrich's novel is community. There are many characters in The Birchbark House. The following are the characters most of the novel is centered on.
946:
921:
339:
relies heavily on the storytelling tradition of the Ojibwe culture. Storytelling forms a basis for the relationship between
Omakayas and her grandmother Nokomis. Within
311:– Ten snow is a connection to the family. She is a close friend of Angeline and Fishtail’s wife. She, along with many others, was a victim of the smallpox epidemic.
936:
931:
343:, stories are something the family, especially Omakayas, look forward to and cherish during the harsh winter months when these stories are told more commonly.
174:, where her family originated. Because of this familiarity, Erdrich chose to set her novel in this part region, telling the story of her family’s people, the
469:
241:
the protagonist’s true origins until the end. For example, this structuring is used in Erdrich’s novels Love Medicine and Future Home of the Living God.
896:
175:
886:
514:
901:
229:
finally spring. Inside each season Erdrich defines the experiences Omakayas has with fellow community members and the nature around her.
148:
The novel includes decorative pencil drawings, as well as a map of the Ojibwa community, and a glossary of Ojibwa language translations.
891:
183:
401:
911:
881:
941:
916:
584:
170:. Erdrich wanted to counter this narrative by sharing her own version of these stories. As a child, Erdrich frequently visited
816:
120:, and is the first book in a five book series known as The Birchbark series. The story follows the life of Omakayas and her
876:
346:
Not only does Erdrich depict oral storytelling throughout the book but she also briefly describes the Ojibwe tradition of
906:
215:
through past stories from oral history and texts. She also read through trappers' journals which had accounted for the
166:
396:
926:
770:"Oral Narrative and Ojibwa Story Cycles in Louise Erdrich's The Birchbark House and The Game of Silence"
91:
192:
133:
86:
852:
797:
630:
536:
789:
622:
510:
159:
originally began as a story Erdrich would tell her daughters. Erdrich was also moved to write
96:
101:
781:
502:
445:
391:
171:
560:
117:
37:
870:
801:
125:
65:
470:"Louise Erdrich On Her Personal Connection To Native Peoples' 'Fight For Survival'"
820:
494:
506:
26:
793:
626:
785:
446:"TeachingBooks | Author & Book Resources to Support Reading Education"
216:
141:
856:
840:
634:
610:
347:
769:
121:
744:
720:
696:
672:
648:
116:
is a 1999 indigenous juvenile realistic fiction novel by
81:
71:
61:
51:
43:
33:
186:North Dakota. So far she has completed 5 books:
585:"Lake Superior Ojibwe Gallery Learning Guide"
132:has received positive reviews and was a 1999
124:community beginning in 1847 near present-day
8:
19:
774:Children's Literature Association Quarterly
145:(later changed to Big Pinch) and Angeline.
561:"Birchbark House Series by Louise Erdrich"
25:
18:
367:Peter G. Beilder, writing in the journal
947:Children's books about Native Americans
834:
832:
830:
380:
845:Studies in American Indian Literatures
615:Studies in American Indian Literatures
922:Native American children's literature
369:Studies in American Indian Literature
136:Finalist for young people's fiction.
7:
851:(1 (Children's Literature)): 85–89.
440:
438:
436:
434:
432:
386:
384:
404:from the original on April 15, 2022
14:
937:Children's books set in the 1840s
932:Children's books set in Minnesota
839:Beidler, Peter G. (Spring 2000).
745:"The Ojibwe People's Dictionary"
721:"The Ojibwe People's Dictionary"
697:"The Ojibwe People's Dictionary"
673:"The Ojibwe People's Dictionary"
649:"The Ojibwe People's Dictionary"
841:"Review of The Birchbark House"
611:"Review of The Birchbark House"
501:, Manchester University Press,
1:
537:"The Girl from Spirit Island"
493:Stirrup, David (2013-07-19),
897:Children's historical novels
495:"Native American literature"
47:"The Birchbark House Series"
16:1999 novel by Louise Erdrich
902:American young adult novels
768:Gargano, Elizabeth (2006).
507:10.7765/9781847793485.00006
167:Little House on the Prairie
963:
892:American historical novels
887:American children's novels
609:Beidler, Peter G. (2000).
73:Published in English
24:
912:Novels by Louise Erdrich
397:National Book Foundation
176:Turtle Mountain Chippewa
942:Novels set in the 1840s
917:Novels set in Minnesota
211:Erdrich researched for
882:1999 children's books
817:"The Birchbark House"
786:10.1353/chq.2006.0027
589:1854 Treaty Authority
450:www.teachingbooks.net
392:"The Birchbark House"
877:1999 American novels
535:admin (2007-08-17).
273:Yellow Kettle (Mama)
259:, meaning bear, and
20:The Birchbark House
907:Fiction set in 1847
424:The Birchbark House
341:The Birchbark House
337:The Birchbark House
213:The Birchbark House
193:The Game of Silence
188:The Birchbark House
161:The Birchbark House
157:The Birchbark House
134:National Book Award
130:The Birchbark House
113:The Birchbark House
87:The Game of Silence
21:
859:– via JSTOR.
823:on 23 August 2006.
749:ojibwe.lib.umn.edu
725:ojibwe.lib.umn.edu
701:ojibwe.lib.umn.edu
677:ojibwe.lib.umn.edu
653:ojibwe.lib.umn.edu
263:, meaning owning.
224:Structure and plot
198:The Porcupine Year
92:The Porcupine Year
815:McIntosh, Sabra.
591:. 3 December 2018
565:www.goodreads.com
516:978-1-84779-348-5
422:Erdrich, Louise.
109:
108:
62:Publication place
954:
861:
860:
836:
825:
824:
819:. Archived from
812:
806:
805:
765:
759:
758:
756:
755:
741:
735:
734:
732:
731:
717:
711:
710:
708:
707:
693:
687:
686:
684:
683:
669:
663:
662:
660:
659:
645:
639:
638:
606:
600:
599:
597:
596:
581:
575:
574:
572:
571:
557:
551:
550:
548:
547:
532:
526:
525:
524:
523:
490:
484:
483:
481:
480:
466:
460:
459:
457:
456:
442:
427:
420:
414:
413:
411:
409:
388:
82:Followed by
53:Publication date
29:
22:
962:
961:
957:
956:
955:
953:
952:
951:
867:
866:
865:
864:
838:
837:
828:
814:
813:
809:
767:
766:
762:
753:
751:
743:
742:
738:
729:
727:
719:
718:
714:
705:
703:
695:
694:
690:
681:
679:
671:
670:
666:
657:
655:
647:
646:
642:
608:
607:
603:
594:
592:
583:
582:
578:
569:
567:
559:
558:
554:
545:
543:
534:
533:
529:
521:
519:
517:
492:
491:
487:
478:
476:
468:
467:
463:
454:
452:
444:
443:
430:
421:
417:
407:
405:
390:
389:
382:
377:
365:
356:
334:
329:
279:Deydey (Mikwam)
247:
226:
184:Turtle Mountain
172:Madeline Island
154:
100:
95:
90:
74:
54:
17:
12:
11:
5:
960:
958:
950:
949:
944:
939:
934:
929:
927:Ojibwe culture
924:
919:
914:
909:
904:
899:
894:
889:
884:
879:
869:
868:
863:
862:
826:
807:
760:
736:
712:
688:
664:
640:
601:
576:
552:
527:
515:
499:Louise Erdrich
485:
461:
428:
415:
379:
378:
376:
373:
364:
361:
355:
352:
333:
330:
328:
325:
246:
243:
225:
222:
153:
150:
118:Louise Erdrich
107:
106:
83:
79:
78:
75:
72:
69:
68:
63:
59:
58:
55:
52:
49:
48:
45:
41:
40:
38:Louise Erdrich
35:
31:
30:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
959:
948:
945:
943:
940:
938:
935:
933:
930:
928:
925:
923:
920:
918:
915:
913:
910:
908:
905:
903:
900:
898:
895:
893:
890:
888:
885:
883:
880:
878:
875:
874:
872:
858:
854:
850:
846:
842:
835:
833:
831:
827:
822:
818:
811:
808:
803:
799:
795:
791:
787:
783:
779:
775:
771:
764:
761:
750:
746:
740:
737:
726:
722:
716:
713:
702:
698:
692:
689:
678:
674:
668:
665:
654:
650:
644:
641:
636:
632:
628:
624:
620:
616:
612:
605:
602:
590:
586:
580:
577:
566:
562:
556:
553:
542:
538:
531:
528:
518:
512:
508:
504:
500:
496:
489:
486:
475:
471:
465:
462:
451:
447:
441:
439:
437:
435:
433:
429:
425:
419:
416:
403:
399:
398:
393:
387:
385:
381:
374:
372:
370:
362:
360:
353:
351:
349:
344:
342:
338:
331:
326:
324:
322:
318:
316:
312:
310:
306:
304:
300:
298:
294:
292:
288:
286:
282:
280:
276:
274:
270:
268:
264:
262:
258:
254:
250:
244:
242:
238:
234:
230:
223:
221:
218:
214:
209:
207:
203:
199:
195:
194:
189:
185:
179:
177:
173:
169:
168:
162:
158:
151:
149:
146:
143:
137:
135:
131:
127:
126:Lake Superior
123:
119:
115:
114:
105:
103:
98:
93:
88:
84:
80:
76:
70:
67:
66:United States
64:
60:
56:
50:
46:
42:
39:
36:
32:
28:
23:
848:
844:
821:the original
810:
780:(1): 27–39.
777:
773:
763:
752:. Retrieved
748:
739:
728:. Retrieved
724:
715:
704:. Retrieved
700:
691:
680:. Retrieved
676:
667:
656:. Retrieved
652:
643:
621:(1): 85–89.
618:
614:
604:
593:. Retrieved
588:
579:
568:. Retrieved
564:
555:
544:. Retrieved
540:
530:
520:, retrieved
498:
488:
477:. Retrieved
473:
464:
453:. Retrieved
449:
423:
418:
406:. Retrieved
395:
368:
366:
357:
345:
340:
336:
335:
320:
319:
314:
313:
308:
307:
302:
301:
296:
295:
290:
289:
284:
283:
278:
277:
272:
271:
266:
265:
260:
256:
252:
251:
248:
239:
235:
231:
227:
212:
210:
205:
204:(2012), and
201:
197:
191:
187:
180:
165:
160:
156:
155:
147:
138:
129:
112:
111:
110:
104:(2016)
85:
871:Categories
754:2022-09-14
730:2022-09-14
706:2022-09-14
682:2022-09-14
658:2022-09-14
595:2022-09-14
570:2022-09-14
546:2022-09-14
522:2023-11-01
479:2022-09-14
455:2022-09-14
375:References
315:Old Tallow
245:Characters
152:Background
802:144812437
794:1553-1201
627:0730-3238
541:About ALA
363:Reception
202:Chickadee
97:Chickadee
857:20736953
635:20736953
402:Archived
354:Language
348:pow wows
309:Ten Snow
303:Fishtail
291:Angeline
253:Omakayas
217:epidemic
208:(2016).
200:(2008),
196:(2005),
190:(1999),
142:smallpox
474:NPR.org
426:, 1999.
408:May 10,
332:Culture
267:Nokomis
206:Makoons
102:Makoons
855:
800:
792:
633:
625:
513:
327:Themes
122:Ojibwe
99:(2012)
94:(2008)
89:(2006)
44:Series
34:Author
853:JSTOR
798:S2CID
631:JSTOR
321:Andeg
297:Pinch
285:Neewo
257:makwa
790:ISSN
623:ISSN
511:ISBN
410:2022
77:1999
57:1999
782:doi
503:doi
261:aya
873::
849:12
847:.
843:.
829:^
796:.
788:.
778:31
776:.
772:.
747:.
723:.
699:.
675:.
651:.
629:.
619:12
617:.
613:.
587:.
563:.
539:.
509:,
497:,
472:.
448:.
431:^
400:.
394:.
383:^
128:.
804:.
784::
757:.
733:.
709:.
685:.
661:.
637:.
598:.
573:.
549:.
505::
482:.
458:.
412:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
