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Chapter 51
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Firekeeper’s Daughter, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Justice
Generational Trauma and Bigotry
Ceremony, Pride, and Healing
Love, Honesty, and Respect
Coming of Age
Family and Community
Summary
Analysis
Daunis attacks Stormy until Ron pulls her off and leads Stormy outside. Jamie is unharmed and leads Daunis outside, where officers are ushering Stormy away. Daunis raises an imaginary feather at Stormy in thanks for saving Jamie, and he nods in return. Then, she tells Jamie what happened with Coach Bobby, and Jamie says that Mike did nothing when the two-hour deadline passed. Mike left and hours later, Stormy arrived with the hatchet. Stormy said nothing until he screamed when Daunis attacked him.
Stormy’s actions help Daunis develop a more nuanced understanding of good and evil. He was likely involved in the meth cell, but he clearly had a change of heart and was willing to do the right thing in the end—unlike, say, Levi. Mike’s disappearance suggests that if he’s able to stay hidden, he’ll end up getting away with his crimes, just as Levi has done in the past.
Themes
Hearing another scream, Daunis sees Auntie running for her. Auntie says she’s here because Seeney called and said Daunis was on the ferry with Levi and looked scared. Mom had reported Daunis missing, but nobody took it seriously. TJ approached Auntie and said that Dana and some officers were letting people clearly involved in the meth ring go free. Daunis says that Seeney, Jonsy, and Minnie saved her on the ferry, and Auntie says the Elders set up a group text after the Tribal Youth Council helped them learn to use their cell phones. Daunis is overwhelmed with love for her Elders. They’re the community’s greatest resource, and they connect the young to the past.
Thanks to Auntie and TJ, Daunis finally learns just how deep the meth cell’s corruption goes in her community: Dana was actively protecting those involved by using her status as the Tribal judge. Her loyalty was to her family (and her finances), not to her community. However, this passage also highlights how others have come together to support the collective and make sure that people stay safe and get justice—such as the Elders helping Daunis on the ferry, and the kids who taught them to use their cell phones.
Themes
Daunis feels giddy and dizzy, and she realizes her stomach is rock hard. She’s elated; her community will get justice—and hopefully, Grant Edwards will, too. Suddenly, Daunis gasps and collapses. She can’t catch her breath, but the sky and the fall leaves are so beautiful. It doesn’t make sense why Auntie and Jamie look scared, because nothing hurts now. The sky is purple, Mom’s favorite color. Daunis dies.
It’s clear that something is medically wrong with Daunis, given her dizziness and the hard lump in her stomach. Still, as she dies, it’s telling that her focus is on her community getting justice. This highlights her loyalty to her community and her desire to help others.
Themes
