Guilt and Forgiveness

Guilt and the need to forgive play a significant role throughout the memoir regarding the author's attempt to apply meaning to his complex relationship with his mother, and come to terms with the tragedies of his past. In the aftermath of Lillian's death, Alexie fluctuates between anger and his need to exonerate his mother for their tumultuous relationship. In addition, he continues to experience a sense of guilt for abandoning the tribe and becoming an indigenous refugee at only 12 years old.

From a young age, Alexie was inspired to escape the confines of life on the reservation. He writes about the walls that he established between himself and his community stating, "Between me and my tribe. I didn’t belong Because maybe I never wanted To belong. When everybody else danced and sang, I silently sat in my room with books, Books, and books. I used...