Who is Old Tallow from The Birchbark House and what is their importance?

Old Tallow is an elder within the Ojibwa community. She is described as mysterious, outspoken, sharp-tongued, reclusive and eccentric. Old Tallow is feared by those in the community, but she is nevertheless respected. Unlike the others, Omakayas does not find her frightening, but rather, finds her intriguing and unusual.