Birth Under Birchbark

In a birthing lodge built of birchbark and saplings, a baby girl named Waawaaskone is born into a small Anishinaabe community. The birth is both a celebration and a symbol of resilience, as the elders perform traditional ceremonies and bestow a name inspired by a vision of light and a rare flower. The event is a reminder of the community's survival after a catastrophic collapse of modern society, and the hope that new generations will lead them out of darkness.

New Village, Old Ways

The community, Shki-dnakiiwin, is a tight-knit group living off the land after the collapse of technology and infrastructure. Led by Evan Whitesky and his family, they fish, hunt, and garden, relying on ancestral knowledge and adapting to dwindling resources. The village is a testament to their ability to rebuild, but the strain on food supplies and the fading of old-world tools foreshadow challenges ahead.

Gathering for Survival

The birth of Waawaaskone is marked by a communal feast, but the joy is tempered by concerns about food scarcity and the sustainability of their settlement. Elders and hunters discuss the declining fish stocks and the need to move farther afield for game. The community's unity is strong, but the land's limits and the memory of past losses weigh heavily.

The Council's Dilemma

As the land's resources dwindle, the elders, led by Walter, convene a council to debate the future. Walter urges a return to their ancestral homeland by the great lake, warning that staying put will lead to starvation and imbalance with nature. The trauma of past failed expeditions and missing loved ones haunts the group, but the need for renewal and growth becomes undeniable.

The Journey South Begins

After much debate, a small group is selected to scout the route south: Evan, his daughter Nangohns, Tyler, Cal, Amber, and J.C. They are blessed in ceremony and equipped with what little they have—bows, a rifle, and a cache of old handguns from a violent episode in their past. The community's hopes rest on their shoulders as they leave to find a new beginning.

Ghosts of the Old Reserve

The walkers pass through their abandoned old reserve, now overtaken by nature and memories. They scavenge for supplies and reflect on the violence and loss that marked the early days after the blackout. The landscape is both a graveyard and a reminder of their resilience, but also a warning of what stagnation brings.

River Stories and Warnings

As they follow the river south, the group faces swollen waters and treacherous terrain. J.C. shares stories of ancestors who learned to respect the land's dangers. The journey is physically demanding, but also a spiritual passage, as they rely on each other and the teachings of those who came before.

Into Zhaawnong's Wilds

The group navigates lakes, storms, and the ever-present threat of hunger. Strange noises at night and a bear raid on their camp heighten their anxiety. The land is abundant yet unpredictable, and the walkers' skills and trust in one another are tested as they draw closer to the world below.

City of the Dead

Arriving at the city of Gibson, they find it abandoned, overgrown, and stripped of life. Messages scrawled on city hall walls speak of desperation and loss. The group is shaken by the scale of death and the evidence of violence, but also by the absence of birds and scavengers—a sign that the city has been dead for a long time.

The Map of Red Zones

In Gibson, they discover a map marked with "dead land" and "do not enter" zones, evidence of radiation and sickness from failed power plants. The realization that vast areas are uninhabitable deepens their sense of isolation, but also clarifies the urgency of finding a safe homeland.

The Bear and the Gun

After a bear steals their supplies, the group debates the use of guns and the spirit they bring. The weapons are both protection and a reminder of past violence. The tension between traditional ways and the necessity of force becomes a recurring theme as they move deeper into unknown territory.

Choosing the Walkers

Nangohns asserts her place as a leader, challenging her parents' fears and the community's expectations. The group's composition reflects both tradition and change, as young and old, men and women, and those with different skills are all needed for survival. The journey becomes a rite of passage for Nangohns and her peers.

Losses and Farewells

J.C. is gravely injured and, recognizing he will slow the group and endanger their mission, chooses to end his life. The group mourns and honors him with ceremony, reinforcing the importance of community, ritual, and the acceptance of loss as part of survival.

Saswin: The Hidden Camp

The group discovers Saswin, a hidden Anishinaabe camp led by Linda and Melissa, who have preserved language and culture. They learn of other survivors, the dangers of radiation, and the threat of white supremacist militias called the Disciples. Saswin offers hope, kinship, and a vision of a future built on tradition and adaptation.

The Disciples' Shadow

As the group moves south, they encounter the Disciples, a violent militia seeking to claim land and resources. Zhaabdiis, a red-haired Anishinaabe who infiltrated the Disciples to survive, defects and helps the group escape an ambush. The threat of violence and the legacy of colonialism are ever-present, but the group's unity and moral choices set them apart.

The Final Crossing

Nearing their destination, the group is ambushed again by Disciples. In a desperate fight, Zhaabdiis is killed, and Evan is gravely wounded. The intervention of two Anishinaabe brothers, Anakwad and Giizhik, saves the survivors. They are ferried across the water to the island of birch trees, their ancestral homeland.

The Island of Birch Trees

The group is welcomed by a thriving Anishinaabe community on the island, led by Ogimaa and Noodin. Evan is treated for his wounds, but his fate is uncertain. The island is a place of abundance, safety, and cultural continuity, offering the promise of a new beginning for the survivors and their people.

Evan's Last Dream

As Evan's life ebbs, he dreams of soaring over the water and islands, seeing his people thriving. Surrounded by loved ones, he dies peacefully, his journey complete. His death is mourned and honored, and his vision becomes a guiding light for the next generation.

Waawaaskone's New World

Years later, Waawaaskone, now a young girl, gathers blueberries with her grandmother Nicole on the island's shore. The community has resettled, blending old and new, and the trauma of the past is remembered but not defining. The cycle of life continues, rooted in land, language, and kinship, as the Anishinaabe people reclaim their place and future.

Characters

Evan Whitesky

Evan is the patriarch of his family and a central figure in the community's survival. Haunted by the violence and trauma of the collapse, he is pragmatic, compassionate, and deeply committed to his people. His leadership is marked by humility and a willingness to listen, but also by the weight of past failures and the fear of losing more loved ones. Evan's journey is one of acceptance—of change, mortality, and the need to trust the next generation. His death is both a personal tragedy and a symbolic passing of the torch.

Nangohns

Evan's daughter, Nangohns, is a skilled hunter and tracker, embodying the resilience and adaptability of her people. She is fiercely independent, yet deeply connected to family and tradition. Her psychological journey is one of claiming agency, challenging gender and generational expectations, and learning to lead with both strength and empathy. Nangohns's growth mirrors the community's transition from survival to renewal.

Tyler

Tyler is Evan's closest friend and a vital member of the group. His humor and warmth provide comfort, but he is also deeply affected by loss and the burden of survival. Tyler's loyalty is unwavering, and he often serves as a mediator and source of wisdom, especially for the younger members. His grief for lost friends and his support for Evan and Nangohns highlight the importance of chosen family.

Cal

Cal is a skilled hunter and close friend to Nangohns and Amber. He is driven by a desire to prove himself and honor his lost brother, Isaiah. Cal's impulsiveness sometimes leads to conflict, but his courage and loyalty are unquestionable. His journey is one of maturation, learning to balance action with reflection and to trust in the collective.

Amber

Amber is a young midwife and medicine person, apprenticed to the elders. She is nurturing, resourceful, and increasingly confident in her abilities. Amber's relationship with Cal and her role as a healer place her at the heart of the group's emotional life. She represents the continuity of knowledge and the importance of women's leadership in the community.

J.C.

J.C. is older than most of the walkers, respected for his knowledge of the land and stories. He is a bridge to the past, carrying the weight of memory and tradition. His injury and subsequent suicide are a profound loss, forcing the group to confront mortality and the limits of endurance. J.C.'s death is honored with ceremony, reinforcing the community's values.

Zhaabdiis (John)

Zhaabdiis is a red-haired Anishinaabe who has survived by passing as white and infiltrating the Disciples. His presence forces the group to grapple with issues of trust, identity, and complicity. Zhaabdiis is haunted by shame and longing for belonging, and his ultimate sacrifice in saving the group is both redemptive and tragic.

Linda (Diindiisiikwe)

Linda leads the hidden camp of Saswin, preserving language and tradition. She is wise, nurturing, and pragmatic, offering both refuge and challenge to the walkers. Linda's dreams and teachings shape the group's understanding of their journey and the broader struggle for Indigenous survival and renewal.

Anakwad and Giizhik

The brothers from the island are skilled, silent, and deeply connected to the land. They embody the ideal of Indigenous resilience and adaptability, intervening at critical moments to save the group and guide them home. Their presence is both reassuring and a reminder of the broader network of kinship and solidarity.

Waawaaskone

Born at the novel's opening, Waawaaskone grows into a young girl by the epilogue. She represents the future, the continuity of culture, and the possibility of healing. Her coming-of-age ceremony and her relationship with her grandmother Nicole anchor the story's final vision of survival and flourishing.

Plot Devices

Intergenerational Narrative Structure

The novel is structured to show the cyclical nature of Indigenous survival, with the birth of Waawaaskone at the beginning and her coming-of-age at the end. The journey south is both a literal and metaphorical return to ancestral homelands, and the narrative is punctuated by ceremonies, dreams, and oral storytelling that connect characters across time.

Foreshadowing and Symbolism

The use of dreams (such as the naming vision for Waawaaskone and Evan's final dream) and natural symbols (birch trees, rivers, animals) foreshadow key events and reinforce the spiritual dimension of the journey. The recurring motif of the birch tree marks the path home and the possibility of renewal.

Post-Apocalyptic World-Building

The setting is a world where modern infrastructure has failed, and Indigenous knowledge becomes the key to survival. The contrast between the ruins of cities and the thriving hidden camps highlights the resilience of traditional ways. The presence of external threats (militias, radiation, scarcity) raises the stakes and tests the group's values.

Moral Dilemmas and Survival Ethics

The group must navigate the use of guns, the temptation to abandon or sacrifice members, and the challenge of trusting outsiders like Zhaabdiis. These dilemmas are resolved through ceremony, dialogue, and collective decision-making, emphasizing the importance of community over individualism.

Language and Ceremony

The use of language, songs, and ceremonies is central to the characters' psychological resilience and sense of belonging. The sweat lodge, feasts, and naming rituals are not just cultural details but essential plot devices that mark transitions, heal trauma, and affirm continuity.

Analysis

Moon of the Turning Leaves is a profound meditation on Indigenous survival, adaptation, and the reclamation of land and culture in the aftermath of societal collapse. Waubgeshig Rice crafts a narrative that is both a gripping survival story and a deeply spiritual journey, centering Anishinaabe values of kinship, ceremony, and respect for the land. The novel interrogates the legacy of colonial violence—embodied by the Disciples and the poisoned "dead lands"—while offering a vision of hope rooted in intergenerational narrative structure and the renewal of tradition. The psychological depth of the characters, especially in their moments of loss, leadership, and moral dilemmas, invites readers to reflect on what it means to build a future from the ashes of the past. Ultimately, the story is a call to remember, to adapt, and to walk forward together, guided by the wisdom of ancestors and the promise of new life, as embodied by Waawaaskone.

Last updated: May 21, 2025