Many of the later events in this book are autobiographical, with the incidents paralleling those that Highwater can remember from his early years.

Like Jamie Ghost Horse, Highwater's father followed the rodeos, worked as a movie stuntman and told many stories about his life. At one point, characterizing his father, Highwater said: "I am not even certain both of his parents were Native people. He was a renegade and an alcoholic — a marvelous, energetic man . . . He came from Virginia, Tennessee, or North Carolina, depending on his memory and his mood."

The Amana of the novel seems to represent Highwater's mother, for he has stated that his mother "retained much of the special mentality of her tribal background. She taught me something of the language and customs of both her French and Blackfeet parents . . .

She was a marvelous storyteller; and it was undoubtedly from her that I attained...