Summary

"Thawing" -- When Danny began to understand the sexual abuse he had suffered was a reason he had been distant from his wife and daughter, he went to their graves and apologized to them. He indicated to Gildiner he believed he had been too “weak” (168) to say affectionate things to them when they were alive. Gildiner told Danny she believed he was strong because he had kept his vow to never drink. He had also never spoken in Cree again since his original offense when he was five. She believed he was a hero because after all that had happened to him he still wanted to live and to be the best he could be.

For Danny’s next step in his therapy, Gildiner believed that Danny needed to reconnect with his Indian culture even though it might be...