Summary

In Chapter 5, “Spirit Talk, 1912,” Little No Horse was divided into many parcels. The government stole and sold off portions of the land to eager farmers. Father Damien entered “this complex situation” without any inclination of how land ownership “related to the soul” (76).

Each time Agnes “transformed herself” into Damien, she experienced “a feeling of loss” (76). Over time, Damien’s and Agnes’s thoughts, voices, and identities merged. Soon Agnes was unsure which “was the real self” (76).

Damien visited Nanapush and Fleur. They were communicating with the dead when Damien arrived. Throughout Damien’s visit, he and Nanapush tried manipulating one another. Nanapush had no interest in conversion. He told Damien a story about Nanabozho converting wolves to explain why (83). Finally, he revealed that he wanted help getting a wife. His friend, Kashpaw, had multiple wives. Because some were baptized, Nanapush argued that Kashpaw...