Traditional Approach
The mother identifies as this instead of Canadian or American.
Blackfoot
This emotion the mother hides is shown through her strict pride at the border.
Sadness
This female character shows independence by leaving home for a new life.
Laetitia
This narrative voice creates a simple, honest tone.
First Person Narration
This natural landmark symbolizes home and cultural belonging.
The Mountain
The mom’s refusal to say “Canadian” or “American” shows this inner conflict.
Identity Struggle/Crisis
The mother challenges the stereotype that Indigenous women are passive by showing this trait.
The border serves as this central literary device.
Literary Symbol
This cultural practice connects the mom and son to ancestors during the long night.
Oral Storytelling
This moment shows the mom’s need for emotional comfort and tradition during stress.
Telling star stories / Coyote stories?
Laetitia rejecting Lester’s comments about “blondes” is an example of resisting this.
Objectification
This contrast between Canada and the U.S. creates the story’s main conflict.
Juxtaposition
Being “stuck between borders” symbolizes this larger Indigenous experience.
Colonial exclusion / Not fitting colonial systems
The son’s loyalty toward his mother reflects this psychoanalytic idea of child attachment
Dependence / Trust bond
The mother controls the journey and decisions, showing this feminist idea.
Female Agency
The repetition of “Citizenship?” highlights this main theme.
Identity
The mother’s refusal to choose a country represents this major Indigenous theme.
Cultural Resistance / Nationhood
The mom’s stubbornness at the border reflects this defence mechanism.
Denial/Resistance
The interactions with male border guards highlight this unequal power dynamic.
Patriarchal Authority
The story balances humor and seriousness, showing this structural effect.
Tone Blending/Irony