Sweetgrass (Symbol)
The novel opens with the replacement of the emblem of Ojibway culture with that of the Christian faith such as crosses. The dual culture of the Indigenous people after the influence of settlers is at the center of the story. It highlights the conflict between the Native culture and Christianity within the reserves. Sweetgrass symbolizes the cultural identity that exists within the communities but is also dwindling over time. The characters are reconciling the two cultures as a major transformation occurs in their societies.
Lillian (Symbol)
Virgil, Maggie, and Wayne attempt to balance their cultural identity and modern-day life by maintaining their roots. John’s presence is a reminder to stick to their roots and Lillian, Maggie’s mother, is the last connection to the culture. The younger generation is trying to keep alive their way of life despite the effects of forced assimilation. Furthermore, the older generation was the first victim of the programs that disconnected the tribes from their identity. Lillian symbolizes the Native history and origin that persists even with the influence of the outside cultures.
The Train (Symbol)
Virgil watches the trains pass by and watches people watching him. The train symbolizes somewhere else, a different life, a different future. On a broader level, it symbolizes settler colonialism, industry, and modernization—all things which have hurt Indigenous peoples in Canada and led to some of the complications mentioned in the characters' lives.
Food (Motif)
Taylor writes about food often, such as how Indigenous cultures often bring in fatty, unhealthy Western food to their community because it is cheap and easy to prepare. But this fried, processed food is deeply unhealthy and contributes to the obesity, diabetes, and heart disease epidemics found on reservations, so when John excoriates the food at Betty Lou's or Maggie wrinkles her nose at the unhealthy food her sister consumes, Taylor is commenting upon yet another one of the deleterious impacts of settler colonialism.
Raccoons (Symbol)
Raccoons symbolize many things in North American cultures—thievery, roguishness, chaos, resourcefulness, adaptability, and mischievousness. It is no wonder, then, that they are enemies of John, as they actually seem to represent him, forcing him to confront the very traits he possesses that bother others.
