what does that mean?
This Anishinaabe word means 'grandmother' and is used to address a respected elder woman.
what is Nookimis
The novel opens with Evan hunting this animal on a frozen lake.
what is A moozoo?
The community relies on this traditional practice to supplement food when supplies run low.
what is hunting?
Evan Whitesky holds this job on the reserve that puts him in a leadership role during the crisis.
what is councilor / band council?
This word refers to the sacred Anishinaabe tradition of passing down oral stories and teachings.
what is Aadizookaan?
This event cuts off the community from the outside world at the start of the novel.
what is a blackout?
This type of structure becomes critical for warmth and survival as the power outage drags on.
what is wooden stoves?
This elder woman serves as a spiritual and cultural anchor for the community throughout the story.
who is Nookimis
This Anishinaabe term roughly translates to 'the people' and is the nation's name for themselves.
what is Anishinaabe?
Evan discovers the community has only this many weeks of food left.
what is 2-3 weeks?
The reserve's isolation is made worse by its dependence on this modern system that fails.
what is the electrical grid?
Evan's wife, who helps keep the family grounded, shares this name.
who is Nicole McCloud?
This Anishinaabe word is commonly used to say thank you.
what is miigwech?
These men arrives at the reserve unexpectedly by snowmobile, sharing their own stories.
who are Nick and Kevin?
Elders in the community hold this key advantage over younger members when the crisis hits.
name of the character who died just a few days after the blackout struck