Seven Fallen Feathers Character Analysis

Tanya Talaga

Tanya Talaga is the author and narrator of Seven Fallen Feathers. An Ojibwe journalist based in Toronto, Talaga was researching Indigenous voting patterns ahead of the 2011 federal election in Canada when one of… read analysis of Tanya Talaga

Jethro Anderson

Jethro Anderson was the first of the titular “seven fallen feathers” to disappear from the Thunder Bay, Ontario area in October of 2000, when he was 15 years old. Jethro had moved to Thunder Bay… read analysis of Jethro Anderson

Curran Strang

Curran Strang was one of the titular “seven fallen feathers,” a student at Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School in Thunder Bay, Ontario who went missing in the fall of 2005, at 18 years old. Curran… read analysis of Curran Strang

Paul Panacheese

Paul Panacheese was one of the titular “seven fallen feathers” whom author Tanya Talaga writes about in the book. Paul died suddenly in 2006, collapsing on the floor of his mother Maryanne’s kitchen after… read analysis of Paul Panacheese

Robyn Harper

Robyn Harper was one of the titular “seven fallen feathers.” A Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School student, she died in January 2006 after a night of heavy drinking with some new and unfamiliar school friends… read analysis of Robyn Harper

Reggie Bushie

Reggie Bushie was one of the titular “seven fallen feathers” who disappeared and whose body was later found in one of Thunder Bay, Ontario’s rivers. After a night out drinking with his brother Ricki… read analysis of Reggie Bushie

Kyle Morrisseau

Kyle Morrisseau was one of the titular “seven fallen feathers” who disappeared in Thunder Bay Ontario, and whose body was later pulled from one of the city’s rivers. Kyle came from a long line… read analysis of Kyle Morrisseau

Jordan Wabasse

Jordan Wabasse was the last of the titular “seven fallen feathers” who are the subjects of Tanya Talaga’s book. Jordan Wabasse disappeared in Thunder Bay, Ontario in February of 2011, but his body wasn’t… read analysis of Jordan Wabasse

Norma Kejick

Norma Kejick was one of the first members of the Northern Nishnawbe Education Council (NNEC) board, an organization that was created to run boarding programs and act as an authority for Indigenous students who left… read analysis of Norma Kejick

Alvin Fiddler

As of 2021, Alvin Fiddler is the current grand chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN). He stepped into the position after the former grand chief, Stan Beardy, stepped down. As such, Fiddler… read analysis of Alvin Fiddler

Chanie Wenjack

Chanie Wenjack was a student at the Cecilia Jeffrey residential school in the mid-1960s. In October of 1966, Chanie and two other boys ran away from the school, where students were abused, malnourished, and kept… read analysis of Chanie Wenjack

Nanabijou

Nanabijou is a mythical giant of Ojibwe legend. According to myth, Nanabijou protected the Ojibwe people but warned that if they ever revealed the location of local silver deposits to white settlers, something terrible would… read analysis of Nanabijou

Stan Beardy

Stan Beardy is the former grand chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN). Beardy’s son, Daniel, died in 2004 after being beaten severely at a house party while attending Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School… read analysis of Stan Beardy

Maryanne Panacheese

Maryanne Panacheese is the mother of Paul Panacheese, one of the titular “seven fallen feathers,” who died suddenly and mysteriously in 2006 while attending school in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Maryanne was home when Paul… read analysis of Maryanne Panacheese

Cheyenne Linklater

Cheyenne Linklater was Robyn Harper’s boarding parent and an on-call member of the NNEC in Thunder Bay, Ontario. On the night of Robyn’s death, Cheyenne was on-duty, driving around Thunder Bay in an NNEC… read analysis of Cheyenne Linklater

Cindy Blackstock

Cindy Blackstock is a child protection professional who launched a human rights complaint against the Government of Canada on behalf of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society and the Assembly of First Nations… read analysis of Cindy Blackstock

Ricki Strang

Ricki Strang is the brother of Reggie Bushie, who died in Thunder Bay, Ontario in 2008. After a night of drinking with his brother and some friends, Ricki blacked out and came to waist-deep… read analysis of Ricki Strang

Tammy Keeash

Tammy Keeash was just 17 years old when she was found dead in one of Thunder Bay, Ontario’s rivers in the spring of 2017. Tammy’s death made local news and soon sparked a national conversation… read analysis of Tammy Keeash

Skye Kakegamic

Skye Kakegamic is a former friend of Robyn Harper’s. On the night of Robyn’s death, Skye had made a promise to look out for Robyn if Robyn drank too much. Skye dutifully tried to… read analysis of Skye Kakegamic

Rhoda King

Rhoda King is the mother of Reggie Bushie and Ricki Strang. Rhoda wasn’t told that Reggie was missing until three days following his disappearance. Rhoda, together with Alvin Fiddler, would later call for… read analysis of Rhoda King

Darryl Kakekayash

Darryl Kakekayash was viciously attacked and thrown into the McIntyre River in Thunder Bay, Ontario by a group of white men in October of 2008, when he was just 16. Darryl survived the attack. At… read analysis of Darryl Kakekayash

Shannen Koostachin

Shannen Koostachin was an Indigenous youth activist who lobbied the Canadian government for more funding for schools on Indigenous reserves. Her pleas were largely met with inaction. Shannen ultimately had to leave her reserve to… read analysis of Shannen Koostachin

Norval Morrisseau

Norval Morrisseau was a famed Ojibwe painter, often called the “Picasso of the North.” He was a survivor of the residential school system. Norval was catapulted to fame in the 1960s, but his personal life… read analysis of Norval Morrisseau

Christian Morrisseau

Christian Morrisseau is the son of famed Ojibwe painter Norval Morrisseau and the father of Kyle Morrisseau, who was found dead in a Thunder Bay, Ontario river in 2008. In response to the results… read analysis of Christian Morrisseau

Ivan Masakeyash

Ivan Masakeyash is a runner who was with Kyle Morrisseau on the night of Kyle’s death. Kyle asked Ivan for help procuring a gun, but Ivan, who didn’t really know Kyle, brushed him off. There… read analysis of Ivan Masakeyash

Julian Falconer

Julian Falconer is a Toronto lawyer who helped Reggie Bushie’s family push for an inquest that would examine accusations of neglect on the part of the regional supervising coroner in Thunder Bay, Ontario. There… read analysis of Julian Falconer

Frank Iacobucci

Frank Iacobucci is a former Supreme Court of Canada Justice who worked together with Julian Falconer to review the jury system used in cases concerning Indigenous people. The two of them wanted to ensure that… read analysis of Frank Iacobucci

Sam Achneepineskum

Sam Achneepineskum is an Indigenous Elder and a survivor of Canada’s residential schools. Chanie Wenjack was one of his cousins, and they attended school together. Sam traveled to Thunder Bay, Ontario during the inquest… read analysis of Sam Achneepineskum

Nathan

Nathan is Jethro Anderson’s cousin. Years after Jethro’s body was pulled from a Thunder Bay, Ontario river, a patron at a bar where Nathan was drinking with some friends approached Nathan and seemingly… read analysis of Nathan

Minor Characters

Josiah Begg

Josiah Begg was only 14 when he was found dead in one of Thunder Bay, Ontario’s rivers. Josiah and Tammy Keeash’s deaths finally forced the Ontario chief coroner to request the assistance of a regional police force’s assistance in investigating the string of nine Indigenous deaths in Thunder Bay.

Clifford and Jessica Wabasse

Clifford and Jessica Wabasse are cousins of Jordan Wabasse. Clifford, Jordan’s cousin, and Clifford’s wife, Jessica, took Jordan in as a boarder when he moved to Thunder Bay, Ontario to attend Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School.

David Fox

David Fox is a member of the NNEC who helped bring Robyn Harper home to Cheyenne Linklater’s house, where Robyn was living, on the night of Robyn’s death.

Pearl Wenjack

Pearl Wenjack is one of Chanie Wenjack’s older sisters.

Daisy Wenjack

Daisy Wenjack is another of Chanie Wenjack’s older sisters.

Shawon Wavy

Shawon Wavy was a close friend of Jethro Anderson’s at the time of Jethro’s death. He was also friends with Paul Panacheese at the time of Paul’s death.

Dora Morris

Dora Morris is Jethro Anderson’s aunt. She was his caregiver and boarding parent while he attended Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Stella

Stella is Jethro Anderson’s mother.

James Benson

James Benson is a former school friend of Jethro Anderson who felt powerless to help Jethro escape a downward spiral of alcoholism, depression, and inattentiveness in school in the weeks leading up to his death.

Stephen Harper

Stephen Harper was the prime minister of Canada from 2006 to 2015.

Justin Trudeau

As of 2021, Justin Trudeau is the current prime minister of Canada. He has been in office since 2015.

Seven Fallen Feathers Characters