Night Flying Woman Character Analysis

Oona/Ni-bo-wi-se-gwe/Night Flying Woman

Oona is the story’s protagonist. Oona is born in a traditional Ojibway village in the wilderness (located in present-day Minnesota) during an eclipse. When she’s seven, Oona realizes that she’s a “dreamer,” meaning that her… read analysis of Oona/Ni-bo-wi-se-gwe/Night Flying Woman

Ignatia Broker

Ignatia Broker is the book’s author. She appears as a character in the story’s prologue, describing her life before she moves on to tell her great-great-grandmother Oona’s life story. In describing her own life… read analysis of Ignatia Broker

Grandfather

Grandfather is Oona’s grandfather. According to Ojibway tradition, she always greets him with her eyes cast down to signal her deep respect. Grandfather, a kindhearted man, always greets Oona warmly in return. He encourages… read analysis of Grandfather

Grandmother

Grandmother is Oona’s grandmother. She’s married to Grandfather, and Oona deeply respects them both. Oona learns many traditional skills and stories from Grandmother, including traditional beadwork. After the family moves to a reservation… read analysis of Grandmother

Father/Me-ow-ga-bo

Me-ow-ga-bo is Oona’s father. Before colonists move his family to a reservation, he thrives by trapping fish, farming rice in the wilderness, and living in harmony with the forest. After he’s displaced, he has… read analysis of Father/Me-ow-ga-bo

Mother/Wa-wi-e-cu-mig-go-gwe

Wa-wi-e-cu-mig-go-gwe is Oona’s mother. She is a practical, competent woman who takes an open-minded attitude toward European culture. She strives to learn English and integrate into the emerging culture, believing that it will be… read analysis of Mother/Wa-wi-e-cu-mig-go-gwe

A-wa-sa-si

A-wa-sa-si is an elderly healer in Oona’s traditional village. A-wa-sa-si names Oona “Night Flying Woman” because Oona is born during an eclipse. When the villagers are displaced, A-wa-sa-si travels with Oona and her family… read analysis of A-wa-sa-si

Michael

Michael is half-white and half-Ojibway. He and Oona get married when she is a teenager, and together—along with several other community members—they build a thriving farm and have children. Oona uses her dreaming… read analysis of Michael

Little Brother

Little Brother is Michael’s brother (making him Oona’s brother-in-law). Little Brother lives on the farm with Oona and Michael. When some white men capture Little Brother and tie him to a horse, intending… read analysis of Little Brother

Minor Characters

Warm Sky/David

Warm Sky is Oona and Michael’s eldest son.

Brother/John

Brother is Oona and Michael’s younger son.

Carl/Two Standing

Carl is Oona’s great-grandson. He takes over the family farm when Oona grows old.

Mary

Mary is a little Ojibway girl who finds an aging Oona to learn stories about Ojibway culture. Mary revives Oona’s spirits, as Oona now knows that Mary will be able to learn the stories and pass them on, enabling Ojibway culture to survive.

Ignatia’s Husband

Ignatia’s husband is a Native American veteran whom Ignatia meets when he returns from fighting in World War II. He lives in poverty with Ignatia for a few years before dying in the Korean War.

A-bo-wi-ghi-shig/Warm Sky

A-bo-wi-ghi-shig is the leader in Oona’s village, before settlers displace the villagers from their homelands.

E-quay

E-quay is Oona’s cousin. They experience a similar life, growing up together, both in the wilderness and on the reservation. Later in life, E-quay and Oona’s families live together, collectively working on their farm. E-quay and Oona’s kinship exemplifies the strong sense of community and sharing in Ojibway culture.

Walter

Walter is a farmer who marries E-quay. He dies during a fatal accident at the lumberyard where he works.

A-ki-wa-a-si

A-ki-wa-a-si is an old man in Oona’s wilderness community.

The Clansman

The clansman is a Native American from a neighboring area who comes to warn Oona’s community about strange people (meaning white settlers) who are seizing land and ripping up the forest.

The Stranger

The stranger is a white man who discovers Oona’s family in the wilderness. He leads them to the reservation where they end up settling. Despite the fact that he arrives in the village to displace Oona’s family, they still host him through the winter, showing their hospitality and warmth.

The Agent

The agent is the white man who runs the reservation where Oona’s family lives. He teaches the Ojibway about currency, and he gradually makes the Ojibway replace their traditional lifestyle with a European-inspired Christian lifestyle, like his own.

The Agent’s Wife

Oona’s mother learns about the settlers’ culture when she works as a cleaner for the agent’s wife. The agent’s wife is a kind, honest woman whom the Ojibway respect.

Sam

Sam is an Ojibway man who works with the agent. He tells Oona’s family about the new law requiring Native children to attend Christian school.

David

David is one of Oona’s cousins. He’s the first in his family to attend Christian school and integrate into the strangers’ culture. At the end of the story, he leaves the family to enter the strangers’ society, hoping to teach them more about Ojibway culture.

Gitchi Manito

Gitchi Manito is the spiritual deity in Ojibway culture. The Ojibway believe that Gitchi Manito watches over them and their forest ecosystem, helping the Ojibway to live in harmony with their natural environment.

Night Flying Woman Characters