The Birchbark House facts for kids

The Birchbark House is a 1999 novel by Louise Erdrich. It is the first book in "The Birchbark Series." This story is about a young Ojibwe girl named Omakayas. It shows her life and her community. The story begins in 1847 near Lake Superior. The book has been praised by many. It was a finalist for the 1999 National Book Award for young people's fiction.

The novel tells Omakayas's story through her eyes. She is a seven-year-old girl. Her name, Omakayas, means "little frog." This is because her first step was a hop! The book shows the Ojibwe way of life. It follows the four seasons: Neebin (summer), Dagwaging (fall), Biboon (winter), and Zeegwun (spring). In each season, the community works together. They hunt, build, gather, and survive. Omakayas learns about her deep connection to nature. She also discovers her special gift of dreams. The book includes lovely pencil drawings. It also has a map of the Ojibwe community. There is even a glossary of Ojibwe words.

Main Characters

A big part of The Birchbark House is about community. Many characters live in Omakayas's world. Here are the main characters you will meet in the book.

Omakayas

Omakayas is one of the main characters. She is usually calm and brave. She is a kind and friendly girl. But she hides some sad feelings inside. Omakayas is very active. She also has a special bond with animals.

Nokomis

Nokomis is Omakayas's grandmother. She lives with Omakayas and her family. Nokomis is very skilled at healing. She knows a lot about the land. She shares her wisdom with Omakayas. She does this by teaching her and telling amazing stories.

Yellow Kettle

Yellow Kettle is Omakayas's mother. She is a strong woman. She usually does not show her anger. But sometimes her anger can be very clear. She keeps the family together. This is especially true when Deydey is away.

Deydey

Deydey is Omakayas's father. He is part white and part Ojibwe. He works as a trader. He is away trading during some parts of the story. He has a strong personality. But he also shows moments of kindness and care.

Neewo

Neewo is Omakayas's baby brother. Omakayas loves him very much. She often pretends he is her own baby. Neewo likes Omakayas more than his other siblings. He sadly passes away during a sickness.

Angeline

Angeline is Omakayas's older sister. Omakayas loves her and looks up to her. Angeline is known for her beauty. She is also very skilled at beading.

Pinch

Pinch is Omakayas's younger brother. Omakayas loves him. But she also sees his faults. For example, he can be a bit lazy. Pinch is also a bit of a trickster. He often uses his cleverness to avoid chores.

Andeg

Andeg is Omakayas's pet crow. She finds him injured and helps him get better. Andeg adds a lot of humor to the story. Through Andeg, you can see Omakayas's strong connection with animals. "Andeg" is the Ojibwe word for crow.

Key Themes

The Birchbark House explores several important ideas. These ideas help us understand the Ojibwe culture and the characters.

Ojibwe Culture

The book shares much about Ojibwe cultural practices. For example, Omakayas learns to prepare a moose hide. She struggles at first. But she uses her feelings to keep working. She ends up with one of her best hides ever. This special hide is used later to make things like moccasins.

Language and Storytelling

Language is another important theme in the novel. Ojibwe words are sometimes used directly. Other times, they are explained. Storytelling is a key part of this. Nokomis and Deydey are great storytellers. They share family history, old tales, and customs. Nokomis tells stories in the cold winter. Deydey tells stories about his travels. The family, especially the children, love listening to these stories. The Ojibwe language was spoken, not written. So, their history and identity live on through these stories.