Characters
Who fetches Yellow Kettle’s scissors from Old Tallow?
Omakayas
What kind of home does Omakayas’s family live in?
Birchbark House
What gift did DeyDey give Omakayas?
Hide scraper
Who in the family practices traditional medicine?
Nokomis (Grandma)
How did Omakayas feel when baby Neewu died?
Heartbroken, determined, hopeful, brave
Who is Omakayas’s sister?
Angeline
Name one way the family gathers or prepares food.
Fishing, hunting, gathering berries, or drying meat/fish.
What changed Omakayas' view of chores and repsonsibility?
Encountering the bears
What Native American tribe does Omakayas belong to?
Ojibwe
What is the mood of the story? Give an example.
answers vary
Who is Omakayas' brother?
Pinch or Baby Neewu
Why is the changing of seasons important to the family’s survival?
Different seasons provide different food, work, and shelter needs.
What sickness begins to affect people in the community?
Smallpox
Who are the chimookoman?
Non-indians
How has Omakayas changed throughout the novel?
growth & maturity
Who is Omakayas' Father?
DeyDey
What season are we currently in (chapter 10)?
Biboon (winter)
Why is the disease outbreak especially frightening for the Ojibwe people?
They do not fully understand the disease and have little protection from it.
Why does Fishtails want to learn the chimookoman language?
What are some recurring topics in the story?
Growth, learning, survival, respect
Who is Yellow Kettle?
Omakayas’s mother
Near which large body of water does the family live?
Lake Superior
What event do you think has been most impactful so far in he story?
Bear cub encounter or smallpox/baby Neewu
Why is it important that the story is told from an Ojibwe perspective?
It gives an authentic view of their culture, struggles, and way of life.
How does the Birchbark House relate to Christopher Columbus?
Christopher Columbus = Europeans