Bad Cree

How does the novel integrate Indigenous folklore, mythology, and oral tradition into its narrative structure? How do they relate to the characters’ broader personal and cultural struggles?

Analyze how the novel addresses mental health and trauma among Indigenous communities, including intergenerational trauma and racist violence. How do the characters’ experiences with death and violence—on the personal and systemic level—influence their behaviors and relationships?

Compare and contrast the experiences of Indigenous characters living in urban versus rural settings as depicted in the novel. How does the setting influence their experiences and interactions with their culture and community? How does location influence the narrative?

How does the novel’s portrayal of grief and loss challenge traditional, linear narratives of emotional healing?

Examine how Bad Cree fits within the Indigenous horror subgenre. What elements of the traditional horror genre does the novel incorporate, and how does it adapt or subvert these narrative conventions through an Indigenous lens?

What is the role of individual and collective memory in Bad Cree?

Examine the role of rituals and traditional practices in Bad Cree. How do these examples contribute to the characters’ sense of identity or lack thereof (for example, Mackenzie’s relationship to sage)?

Explore how Bad Cree combines reality and the supernatural. How does the novel integrate supernatural elements into its narrative, and what effect does this have on its key themes?