Who is Naomi and what is her role as a matriarch

Naomi is Saul’s grandmother and his connection to Anishinabeg tradition and history. She encourages his family to return to Gods Lake, where she passes knowledge down to Saul and Ben. Her most central conflict is with Saul’s Christian mother, who tries to prevent Naomi from practicing Ojibway religion, and forbids her from giving Ben a traditional burial. She dies after bringing Saul all the way from deep in the wilderness into Minaki, a town in Northern Ontario.