Typical. Momentarily one of these white boys was going to say something about Ricky being off the reservation, and then what was supposed to happen could get proper-started.
-- Narration (Prologue - "Williston, North Dakota")

Importance: This line of narration pertains to the scene in which a group of white men attack and kill Ricky. The specific wording of this line emphasizes the racial subtext of the scene. The white men appear to believe that, because Ricky is Native American, the men can attack and even kill him with impunity. This scene reflects the injustice and oppression that Native Americans still face in the modern era.

Shaney’s Crow, so calling him ‘Blackfeet’ is this running joke, their tribes being longtime enemies.
-- Narration (2 - "Saturday")

Importance: At multiple points throughout the book, the narration notes the historical rivalry between the Blackfeet and Crow communities. As the book demonstrates, these tensions are no longer violently hostile, but they are still present to some...