Judge Dana Firekeeper Character Analysis

Though Dana ultimately turns out to be an antagonist involved in the meth cell, Daunis generally likes and admires her for much of the novel. This is despite the fact that as a young woman, Dana manipulated Dad into having sex with her and getting her pregnant with Levi—Dad ultimately married Dana, leaving Mom to raise Daunis on her own. Despite this complication, Daunis loves Levi (which Dana appreciates) and admires Dana for being the first Native Tribal Judge in the Sault (previous Tribal Judges were white). However, it ultimately turns out that Dana is involved in the meth cell and is responsible for kidnapping Uncle David and then Daunis. TJ also reveals that Dana has been allowing what should be straightforward meth cases to close without charging guilty parties, while cracking down on alcohol-related and other crimes in the Sault. For her crimes, Dana is fined the maximum amount for miscarriages of justice, stripped of her title, and subjected to a banishment hearing. Opinion in the Sault is split on whether she’s getting off easy, or whether she’s being used as an example of what happens to powerful women who step out of line.