Green Grass, Running Water Characters

Norma, a Blackfoot Indian, is the sister of Eli and the aunt of Lionel and Latisha. She disagrees with how Lionel is living his life and spends much of the novel trying to convince him to take more control over his life and to embrace Indian values.

The narrator, who is never named, tells the outer frame of the story and speaks with Coyote. In contrast to the mischievous Coyote, the narrator is more matter-of-fact about trying to tell the story the correct way.

Bill Bursum is a white man who employs Charlie and later Lionel in his stereo and television store near Blossom. He promises to make them money, but the reality of working for him falls short of that.

Karen is a white woman from a wealthy family who marries Eli. She tries to take an interest in Eli’s culture, particularly the Sun Dance. She gets sick and later dies in a car accident, sending Eli back to his old home in Blossom.

First Woman is the main character in the first of the novel’s four creation stories. She lives in a garden with Ahdamn, where GOD sets rules so strict that she eventually decides to leave. Near the end of her story, she adopts the persona of the Lone Ranger.

Changing Woman is the main character in the second of the novel’s four creation stories. She meets Ahab, who wants her to help him find a white whale. She is associated with the elder Ishmael.

Thought Woman is the main character in the third of the novel’s four creation stories. She floats down the River, which causes her to fall asleep and lose control of where she goes. She is associated with the elder Robinson Crusoe.

Changing Woman is the main character in the second of the novel’s four creation stories. She meets Young Man Walking on Water and Nasty Bumpo on her journey. She is associated with the elder Hawkeye.

Clifford Sifton is a white man involved with the dam-building project near Blossom. He often talks with Eli, even though they are rivals, with Eli opposing the Dam.

Portland is the father of Charlie. He used to work in Hollywood, but never got leading roles due to the types of parts that were available for Indians at the time. After leaving Hollywood, he’s never quite the same.

Sergeant Cereno is a police sergeant who interviews Dr. Hovaugh and Babo in order to try to find the four Indians who have escaped a psychiatric hospital (Lone Ranger, Hawkeye, Ishmael, and Robinson Crusoe).

Ahdamn is First Woman’s companion in GOD’s garden, similar to the Biblical figure Adam.

Bob is Alberta’s ex-husband, whom she marries only briefly and doesn’t have children with.

Amos is the father of Alberta and the husband of Ada. He drank a lot and disappeared from the family one day.

Ada is the mother of Alberta and the wife of Amos.

Dr. Loomis is the doctor who sees Lionel when he complains of tonsil problems.

Old Coyote, who may or may not be related to Coyote, is the creature that Changing Woman lands on when she falls out of the sky.

Noah is a man who lives on a boat full of animals and poop. He chases after Changing Woman, believing she was sent to be his wife. He’s based on the Biblical figure of Noah.

Christian is the oldest child of Latisha and George.

Benjamin is the middle child of Latisha and George, whom Latisha had to try to save her marriage.

Elizabeth is the youngest child of Latisha and George, the result of an unplanned pregnancy.

Lillian is the wife of Portland and mother of Charlie. She dies relatively young.

Ahab is a sailor who tries to make Changing Woman hunt with him for a white whale. He’s based on a character from the novel Moby-Dick.

Moby-Jane is a black whale that appears in the creation story of Changing Woman. She’s a parody of the white whale Moby-Dick.

The River greets Thought Woman and lulls her to sleep, then carries her down the current.

Young Man Walking On Water is a figure that Old Woman meets while floating in the water. He is trying to stop a storm, similar to Jesus in the Bible.

Nasty Bumpo is a man with a rifle that Old Woman runs into. He’s based on Natty Bumppo from the Leatherstocking Tales novels.