Monkey Beach

Much of the narration is anchored to the fabled Monkey Beach; Lisa's emotional progression is related to her memories of the beach. The Hill family frequented the beach often throughout Lisa's childhood and it is the site of pivotal moments, such as Lisa's first b'gwus sighting. The beach is described in mythical ways, and seems to exist outside of geographical coordinates; at no point dos Robinson precisely place it on a map. Lisa's quest in the novel's present is to boat down the Douglas Channel to Monkey Beach in hope of learning more about Jimmy's disappearance.

Kitamaat Village

The extended Hill family all live in Kitamaat Village, the main settlement on the Haisla reserve land. The town is deep in the Douglas Channel, set between the coastal mountains and the Pacific Ocean. When Alcan set up their hydroelectric facilities that supported nearby aluminum smelters, the resulting township...