The Game of Silence

In Part 4, the symbolism of spring parallels the opening of a new chapter in Omakayas’s life. In literature, spring is the symbolic setting in which new things can happen, such as births, rebirths, and awakenings. This springtime is especially auspicious for Omakayas, for it is the season in which she comes into her own identity, grows up, and moves away. For this reason, Part 4 focuses almost entirely upon Omakayas’s spiritual development as she starts analyzing her visions more deeply and finally realizes that the power of her visions can save lives. In awe of this fact, she wonders, “Why should the spirits tell her things? She was small […] and ordinary to everybody except Nokomis and Bizheens, and sometimes Old Tallow” (213). In this moment of early doubt, Omakayas proves that although she has come a long way, she is not yet fully ready to embrace her spiritual journey. First, she must learn to value her own gift and be true to herself in order to understand and appreciate her gift. This inner conflict is emphasized by the external conflicts between Omakayas and Two-Strike Girl, who has become a nemesis to Omakayas. Although Omakayas is embarrassed that Two Strike Girl is confident to the point of arrogance, Omakayas herself lacks the necessary confidence to embrace her own unique gifts, and only by completing The Journey toward Self-Reliance will she finally be able to harness her power.

When Omakayas realizes the source of her fear, she overcomes the last of the hurdles standing between her and her coming-of-age experience in the woods. She is hesitant to take the journey into the woods by herself because she is overwhelmed by the idea of accepting new responsibilities. As the narrative states, Omakayas is “afraid of her dreams. She both wanted to know, and didn’t want to know, what they might tell her. Their power frightened her.” (225). At this point in her growth, Omakayas is starting to understand aspects of the adult experience, and although she is nervous to join the adults, she is at least subconsciously aware that her time is coming.

As Omakayas grows into her identity, the tone of the novel shifts from ominous to hopeful. Omakayas’s visions of the future force her to acknowledge her power, and she must learn to accept that she will be the one to help her tribe through turbulent, chaotic times. Because Omakayas knows that her people’s future can still be bright despite their current hardships, she has no choice but to embrace her gift. As the narrative states:

The events occurred so quickly that she couldn’t remember them all, though she’d try time and time again, over the coming year, for the vision she received and the stories she told, the scenes of emotion, good and bad, that she endured, was the story of her life. She had been shown the shape of it. (232)

This remarkable power implies that Omakayas will one day become a leader for her tribe and help them to believe that their future is defined by more than displacement and loss. At the end of the novel, Erdrich celebrates Indigenous fortitude and resilience. In the face of dramatic and deeply unjust change, Omakayas acts as the narrative voice of her people and decides, “You will not leave in hatred. You are stronger than that. […] All the spirits will help you, even the tiniest, your brother. Your heart is good. You are blessed. Go forward into your life” (236). This passage indicates that the Ojibwe people are deeply in tune with their spirituality and can therefore appreciate their lost homes and move forward with gratitude. In turn, the text implies that their positive outlook will be reciprocated by the spirits that protect them. This perspective shows that the Ojibwe tribe will not hold onto hatred; instead, they will rely on their resilience. By emphasizing this moment, Erdrich reveals a layer to the Ojibwe story and history that is often left untold, for she brings forth traditionally marginalized voices and ensures that the novel’s characters heroically transcend their oppression. In this way, Erdrich ends her novel with the powerful statement that oppression, bigotry, racism, and colonization cannot conquer the power of the human spirit.