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Moon Of The Crusted Snow Theme

812 Words4 Pages

Imagine being forced into darkness, all of the comforts of modern life taken away from you. What challenges would be brought up? In the novel Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice, this scenario becomes a reality, giving us an insight on the challenges faced by First Nations people in a time of a crisis. Moon of the Crusted Snow goes into the experiences of an Anishinaabe community in northern Canada as they navigate a disastrous power outage. This essay will explore the themes of disruption, survival, and resilience within the novel, talking about the struggles of the characters as they face oppression. Through the life of Evan Whitesky, a member of the Anishinaabe community, the story goes into the impact of the blackout, the arrival …show more content…

The arrival of outsiders like Justin Scotts causes conflicts in the community and increases the difficulties of survival. For example when Justin Scott arrives he says "I hate to break it to you boys, things are going to get worse. How much food is here?" (p. 103) - Justin Scott to Evan and Isaiah. This is foreshadowing for the future problems that will be caused by Justin in the community. The presence of strangers seeking refuge adds another layer of complexity to the situation, making their resilience and traditional way of life more difficult. The infiltration of the Anishinaabe community by a person like Justin Scott is a metaphor for the colonization experienced by indigenous peoples throughout history to this day. It symbolizes the invasion of their land and culture. The presence of outsiders helps us understand the Anishinaabe people's struggle to maintain their cultural identity and practices while dealing with external …show more content…

As they experience a crisis, cultural practices and traditional knowledge become needed for the community's survival. Evan's connection to his Anishinaabe heritage, mostly through hunting, shows the importance of ancestral knowledge and being self-sufficient. His skills and knowledge help the community survive, but also are proof to the strength of their cultural identity. Also, the guidance provided by Aileen, the spiritual leader, plays a big role in preserving cultural traditions and strength. In the book Aileen tells Evan about the things she has taught Nicole "She'll know a lot now if she remembers all the stuff from when I used to take her and the young girls out there. It will be important if we don't get any new supplies from the hospital down south." (p. 147) This highlights the role of Aileen as an elder, in passing on traditional knowledge and cultural practices to the younger generation, proving to us the community's determination to maintain their cultural identity and survive through their ancestral knowledge. By embracing their culture and continuing their traditions, the Anishinaabe people show their resilience and determination to overcome

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