Genre 5 The Game of Silence - Louise Erdrich

THE GAME OF SILENCE
written by Louise Erdrich
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060297891

This book is about an Indian girl named Omakaya as she goes about her daily activities of chores and experiencing her daily tribulations. As she sees another Indian Tribe enter their village, she realizes that changes are about to happen. As she thinks, “Why have these people come to our village?”She experienced dreams that she could not understand what they meant but knew that things would be different and as she tries to tell her grandmother about her dreams, she learns that she must be left in the woods to fast and have the spirit guide her into understanding her dreams as this would be her gift. It is a story of her, her family and her people, as they struggles to understand why the white man must take their land, leaving them to search for another place to live.

Analysis

The setting of this story takes place in 1850, by Lake Superior. It is well researched that the fact are delicately interwoven into the story, as the events are told by Omakaya’s point of view. As the story unfurls and the Ojibwa children are at play, readers will be able to relate with the pranks they play on each other. The authenticity of the facts makes the story enjoyable to read, as Erdrich paints vivid pictures of what is happening in each chapter; the Canoemaker: when her father Deydey and the old woman, Old Tallow needed a special kind of root to sew the sides of the canoe Erdrich writes:
“When he found the right jack-pine tree, Father offered a little tobacco, with thanks. Then he began to dig in the shade of the pine with Nokomis’s (her grandmother) iron hoe-the one she was proud of and guarded jealously. The roots followed the shape and direction of the tree branches, only they went under the ground. He lifted the roots up with his hands and a sharpened stick. When he had a nice long length, Father used his sharp hatchet to chop off the root. He took only a few roots from each tress so as not to hurt the tree.”
This makes one have the sense of actually watching the process. Erdrich's style of writing captures the dialect of the Ojibwa people in their names and as they converse with other Indian people. The theme becomes evident as the story develops showing love of family
( “Ombay,” said Nokomis to her now. Omakayas stood up and Nokomis, her grandmother, held out the blanket. Omkayas walked into it and put her face against the silky fur. “There will be plenty of time to enjoy this girt,” said Nokomis. “For now, roll it up and put it in your sleeping corner. I need your help in the words. Let’s go.”) the commitment of the people with each other, Omakaya’s having to except her gift of dreams, and excepting her place among the tribe. A glossary is included at the end of the book which is very helpful.


Reviews

....” Older and more insightful, Omakayas begins to understand the elements of life more fully as she accepts her gift of telling dreams. Changes are coming to the Ojibwa people and she struggles to deal with all that she is experiencing and her dreams foretell....The action is somewhat slow, but Erdrich's captivating tale of four seasons portrays a deep appreciation of our environment, our history, and our Native American sisters and brothers.”

School Library Journal


.... Readers familiar with the first book will welcome the return of several richly drawn nonreverential characters, including Omakayas' pesky brother, her irritable mom, and her bold, tough mentor, Old Tallow. As Erdrich said in the Booklist Story Behind the Story, "Little House on the Lake" [BKL Ap 1 99], about The Birchbark House, her research into her ancestors revealed the horrifying history and also a culture rich, funny, and warm. In this heartrending novel the sense of what was lost is overwhelming.

Booklist

"Full of humor, richness and heart." -- Wisconsin State Journal

"Memorable." -- Chicago Tribune

Connections

- Have the students discuss how culture affects perspectives in literature and analyze
Indian literature to identify and compare common human experiences within and
between cultures.


- Have the class discuss the oral tradition of Indian people. Their way of handing down
history, stories of events and lessons on life was through storytelling. Traditionally,
storytelling takes place in the wintertime.


- For each piece of Indian literature used, have the students discuss what tribe is
presented and locate the tribe on a map.

Make a report on how to make a Birchbark House, a canoe, how the Indians of that tribe fished or hunted for food, collected water.

Find Indian Folklore and tell the story using the Brown Paper Bag Guidelines.