The novel is set against the mountains and waters of British Columbia, a western province of Canada, north of Washington State. It follows Mark Bryan, a young priest, from Vancouver to his mission at the outpost of Kingcome Village on the coast. There, the small Kwakiutl tribe lives off the sea and its bounty. Since the book is based upon Craven's experiences, one can assume that it takes place during the 1960s—the time of her visit to Kingcome Village—when the tribe was being dispersed because its young people were going to the city for schooling.