I Heard the Owl Call My Name is rich both in its description of the starkly beautiful features of British Columbia and in its use of Native American symbolism and lore. Rather than simply showing off her research or making the novel "colorful," Craven's use of Kwakiutl legends constantly echoes the novel's themes and atmosphere.

The salmon, so vital to Kwakiutl life, symbolizes the recurring cycle of life. In returning to its birthplace to die, the fish represents struggle as well as the recognition that all beings follow a course determined by what they are and what they must be. Like the children of the village, the salmon follows its need to leave but senses that it will return someday.

Other creatures also act as symbols in the narrative. According to legend, the owl calls the name of those about to die, representing the inevitability of...