What is the importance of birds in the novel, Where the Dead Sit Talking?

The birds that appear at several different points throughout the narrative represent freedom, possibility, and nature. Whether they appear in Sequoyah's dreams, by the side of the road as he passes, or in his actual bedroom, they represent and evoke the best side of his character, identity, and purpose. On a couple of occasions, the narrative turns this image around, at one point using a dead bird to metaphorically suggest how "dead" Sequoyah feels inside, and at another point using a bird of prey to suggest how "hunted" Sequoyah feels. Another metaphoric value of birds has to do with Sequoyah's name, which translates into "sparrow." This ties Sequoyah quite clearly to nature, making the metaphorical suggestion that he, and everything he is, have a strong connection to nature that his outer life does not always recognize, value, or support.