Keeper'n Me

The novel centers on Garnet’s journey who relates his story in the first person. Analyze the author’s choice to include Keeper as a first-person narrator alongside Garnet. What does this reflect about the Anishinaabe culture and storytelling?

Garnet’s relationship with his mother is not in the foreground of the story despite being crucial. Why does this story center on male characters?

How does the text portray Canada’s policies toward Indigenous people?

Analyze Jackie’s character and how his experience diverges from or resembles Garnet’s. How does the novel represent brotherhood?

Consider the concept of a heartbeat, a recurrent motif in the text. How does this motif relate to the theme of The Impact of Colonialism on Indigenous Tradition?

Why do you think Garnet and Keeper both had the same experience of seeing eagles during their four-day stay alone in nature? What does this reveal about their relationship?

Consider the importance of storytelling in the preservation of cultural heritage. How does this novel compare to another example of Anishinaabe storytelling?

Land is significant in the novel and reflects the Anishinaabe worldview. How does the text reflect contemporary issues on Indigenous rights?