Plot & Author
Where is Drew Hayden Taylor from?
Curve Lake
Who is Pierre L'Errant?
A 300+ year-old Anishinaabe vampire
What is the effect of juxtaposition in the novel?
To show contrast between modern teen life and ancient Indigenous culture.
What is cultural displacement?
Separation between Indigenous people and their land, language and traditions.
What language issue do Indigenous youth face today?
Most youth can't speak their Indigenous language fluently due to colonial trauma.
What genre is The Night Wanderer often described as?
A Native Gothic novel that mixes horror with Indigenous themes.
Who is Tony and what does he represent?
Tony is Tiffany’s white boyfriend who often disrespects her culture. He represents outsiders who misunderstand or stereotype Indigenous people.
What does Pierre symbolize as a character?
He symbolizes how Indigenous people were forced to change, losing culture and identity through colonization.
What real-life system separated Indigenous children from their culture?
Residential schools.
What stat shows the gap between on- and off-reserve language fluency?
About 39.8% on reserve speak their language, but only 8% off-reserve do.
What inspired Taylor to write this novel?
He wanted to tell stories that mix Indigenous realities with unique genres like gothic fiction.
How does Tiffany show disconnection from her culture?
She doesn’t speak Ojibwe, feels ashamed of her reserve, and doesn't defend her culture when Tony mocks it.
What tone is used when Pierre shares his past?
A serious and emotional tone that reveals pain, but sometimes softened with humor to help young readers relate.
How is Pierre’s journey like real-world displacement?
He left his community, lost his identity and language, and returned trying to reconnect — just like real Indigenous people taken by colonial systems.
How is Tiffany an example of identity loss?
She is stuck between two worlds, unsure of who she is, and ashamed of her heritage.
What is the name of the main character?
Tiffany Hunter.
What does Tiffany’s grandmother symbolize?
Cultural resilience and the link between generations through language and traditional practices.
How do flashbacks help readers understand colonization?
They reveal Pierre’s transformation and loss, showing the long-term effects of colonial influence.
How does the novel explore generational trauma?
Through characters like Tiffany’s dad who can’t express emotion or culture, showing the aftereffects of systems like residential schools.
What colonial factors caused Tiffany’s disconnection?
Generations of cultural loss from residential schools and colonial policies that separated families.
What supernatural element is used in the novel?
A vampire (Pierre), used to represent loss and the struggle between two identities.
What is Pierre’s role in teaching Tiffany?
He becomes a spiritual elder to her, sharing stories and helping her reconnect with her Indigenous identity.
Why is symbolism important in showing cultural struggle?
It helps represent complex issues like identity loss and colonization in deeper, emotional ways.
What real-world issue is reflected through Pierre’s return home?
The pain of returning to a homeland that feels unfamiliar due to centuries of cultural loss.
How does Pierre act as a solution to Tiffany’s cultural conflict?
He models what reconnection looks like — returning to land, sharing stories, and finding peace through culture.