TJ Kewadin Character Analysis in Firekeeper’s Daughter

TJ is Daunis’s ex-boyfriend and a Tribal police officer. He’s several years older than Daunis. Daunis resents and almost fears him for much of the novel, in part because she has no idea why he broke up with her—not long after they started having sex, he ended things without explaining why. Though she’s hostile to him for much of the novel, at Shagala, TJ attempts to prove his truthfulness and enlighten Daunis by telling her that Levi is bad news, and that anyone associated with him, including Jamie, is also untrustworthy. He reveals that he broke up with Daunis because Levi threatened to injure him and “end football” for him. Later, Auntie shares that TJ was the officer to raise the fact that Dana was letting people who ended up in her courtroom on meth charges go, while harshly prosecuting other, more minor crimes. Because of this, Daunis eventually comes to see TJ as a good guy and let go of the pain he caused her during their breakup.

TJ Kewadin Character Timeline in Firekeeper’s Daughter

The timeline below shows where the character TJ Kewadin appears in Firekeeper’s Daughter. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...Chi Mukwa Arena, where Lily parks on the grass. Noticing Daunis scanning the area for TJ, her ex-boyfriend who’s now a tribal police officer, Lily asks if Daunis invited him to... (full context)

...ice. He insists he’s clean, but Daunis refuses to move. Unlike all the guys (like TJ) who have lied to Daunis, Daunis can tell Travis is telling the truth. He says... (full context)

...reminds Lily that Jamie has a girlfriend. Lily says that Daunis needs to kiss someone; TJ was two years ago. Then, she says she’s just upset because Levi makes everything about... (full context)

Generational Trauma and Bigotry Theme Icon

...parallel parks like an expert at the powwow grounds and notices Daunis casually flip off TJ in his police car. Daunis doesn’t share how TJ dumped her a month after they... (full context)

...have sex with Jamie tonight. When she says no, he asks if this is about TJ. Daunis tells him to leave it alone—or she has a lot to say about how... (full context)

As TJ approaches the car, Jamie asks for Daunis’s license and says he’ll talk. When TJ sees... (full context)

...away and pay her respects elsewhere. Jamie finally leads Daunis away, but Daunis snarls at TJ, who’s been watching the scene. Jamie tells Daunis that this will only keep happening—and she... (full context)

...Mustang she bought when she turned 75) and Daunis gets in line behind Jonsy Kewadin, TJ’s grandpa. She fixes Granny June a tray and then tells Minnie about her college classes. (full context)

...rolls his eyes as he puts on and offers Daunis gloves and a breathing mask; TJ must be getting on his grandpa about safety. (full context)

...the cheek, but Daunis tells Jamie he can’t touch her hair (it reminds her of TJ). The atmosphere gets somber when Daunis asks how Jamie got his scar, and he explains... (full context)

...does. She goes to the student union in search of water, but she runs into TJ. He’s wearing a cologne that Daunis bought him, so she throws her macroeconomics textbook at... (full context)

...textbook and steers Daunis into the student union, saying that Daunis has to get over TJ and not let guys have so much power over her. Robin is two years older... (full context)

...to Heather’s body, though she refuses to get close to it. Back at the cars, TJ asks Daunis why she was out here earlier. She promptly vomits on his boots and... (full context)

...to play, that Daunis is acting odd and losing her head over Jamie, and that TJ doesn’t trust Jamie. Enraged, Daunis says she thought Auntie would be on her side. (full context)

...if he really saw Little People. And how can Auntie think Daunis is being foolish? TJ is so out of line. Daunis offers semaa to the river and asks for help,... (full context)

...waves) on the river. As they kiss, Jamie asks if he can touch Daunis’s hair. TJ used to do that, and Daunis hasn’t been ready to let anyone, let alone someone... (full context)

...share. Still, Daunis enjoys dancing with Jamie, and she’s thankful when she feels nothing watching TJ dance. (full context)

...night have been so magical if Jamie is using her? She receives a text from TJ warning her that he’s coming into the bathroom. Though Daunis locks herself in a stall,... (full context)

TJ admits he was a coward for how he broke up with Daunis, but he’s not... (full context)

...runs to the place where she and Jamie had sex. What if what Travis and TJ said about Levi is true? (full context)

...Levi and Coach look back toward the sound of sirens, Daunis looks forward and sees TJ—one of the good guys—coming toward them in his cruiser. (full context)

...and spin. She’s bleeding within moments and crawls out the driver’s side of the car. TJ has Coach Bobby at gunpoint, and his partner cuffs Coach. TJ ignores Daunis as he... (full context)

Levi begs Daunis to tell TJ that Coach Bobby forced him to help, but Daunis backs away. She tells Levi she... (full context)

...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... (full context)