Pani NalaGan is a girl Miyax meets after she moves to Barrow to marry Daniel. Pani NalaGan is Inuit, but she, like Miyax, goes by her English name (Pearl Norton) in town and at the Bureau of Indian Affairs school. Pearl and Miyax quickly become friends. Pearl is sympathetic to Miyax’s marriage situation and encourages her not to take it too seriously, promising that she can simply leave if she ends up not liking Daniel. Pearl’s advice gives Miyax a glimmer of hope and contributes to her decision to run away after Daniel assaults her. Miyax and Pearl exchange a tearful goodbye before Miyax flees Barrow to board a ship for the mainland U.S., and Pearl supplies Miyax with food and supplies to aid in her journey. Other than the animals she encounters in the wild, Pearl is Miyax’s only true friend.