Nangohns in Moon of the Turning Leaves: Character Analysis

Overview

Nangohns is a fifteen-year-old Anishinaabe girl living in the new village of Shki-dnakiiwin, built after the collapse of modern society. She is introduced as a skilled hunter and fisher, and she becomes the youngest member of the six-person scouting expedition south. Her journey tests her abilities, deepens her connection to her heritage, and ultimately shapes the future of her community. The novel traces her growth from a capable but sheltered teenager to a resilient young woman who carries forward the knowledge and responsibilities of her people. For a full summary of the book, see the book overview.

Plot Role

Nangohns is central to the plot. She insists on joining the expedition, and her participation is a key decision that the community accepts. She proves her worth through hunting, scouting, and her knowledge of the bush. She also becomes a bridge between generations, as she learns from elders and later helps guide the community to a new home. Her capture by the Disciples leads to a violent confrontation, and her father's death is a pivotal moment. In the epilogue, she is remembered as part of the group that left, and her legacy continues through her niece.

Motivations and Traits

Nangohns is motivated by a deep sense of responsibility for her community's survival. She tells her father that staying put is dangerous, and she believes that remaining in a depleted environment will lead to death. She also wants to honor the teachings of her parents, who raised her to be self-sufficient and respectful of the land. Her traits include:

• Skill: She is an expert hunter, able to make a double-lung shot with a bow, and she tracks animals with ease. - Confidence: She asserts her abilities and argues her case persuasively. - Respect: She offers tobacco and prayers after a kill, showing her spiritual connection to the land. - Determination: She refuses to back down when her parents object, and she accepts her mother's silence as permission. - Compassion: She cares for her niece and shows empathy for others, like when she comforts Pichi. - Bravery: She faces danger without flinching, even when captured.

Chronological Arc

Nangohns's arc spans the entire novel. In the opening chapter, she nets fish and worries about the meagre catch. In Chapter 3, she kills a deer and then tells Evan she wants to go south. After convincing her parents, she attends the meeting and is chosen as one of the walkers. She departs with the group, carrying her bow and quiver. Along the journey, she hunts, scouts, and navigates. She hears a branch snap at night, foreshadowing danger. At Saswin, she connects with Linda and feels homesickness. Later, she scouts ahead and is captured, leading to a shootout where Evan is shot. She holds him as he dies. In the epilogue, she is among the four walkers who return, and she helps the community migrate to the island.

Relationships

Nangohns's relationships are central to her development. With her father Evan, she shares a close bond, learning hunting and bushcraft from him. He initially refuses to let her go but eventually supports her. His death is a profound loss. With her mother Nicole, there is tension because Nicole fears losing her daughter's innocence, but she ultimately accepts Nangohns's decision. Her brother Maiingan stays behind, and her sister-in-law Pichi shares a tearful farewell. Her niece Waawaaskone represents the future she fights for. Among the walkers, she works with Tyler, J.C., Amber, and Cal, respecting J.C.'s knowledge and mourning his death. She is wary of Zhaabdiis but learns from his story. With Linda, she finds a mentor who sees her as a symbol of hope.

Key Decisions and Consequences

Nangohns makes several pivotal decisions. Her decision to join the expedition leads to her growth and the community's eventual survival. Her decision to scout ahead alone results in her capture and Evan's death, but also leads to the intervention of Anakwad and Giizhik. Her decision to return home after seeing the north shore ensures the community can migrate. Each choice carries weight and shapes the narrative.

Theme/Symbol Connections

Nangohns embodies several themes of the novel. She represents intergenerational knowledge and responsibility by carrying forward the teachings of her parents and elders. Her participation in the journey south connects to migration and return to ancestral homelands. Her respectful hunting practices reflect sustainability and ecological balance. She also speaks Anishinaabemowin and participates in ceremonies, linking to cultural continuity and language preservation. Finally, her experiences of loss and healing connect to grief, loss, and healing. She symbolizes the resilience of the next generation and the importance of carrying forward traditions.

5 Book-Specific Questions with Direct Answers

1. Why does Nangohns insist on joining the expedition south?

She believes that staying put is dangerous because the environment is depleted and the community cannot survive. She tells Evan that not knowing and just staying put is dangerous too, and argues that they need to go south to survive and grow. She also wants to prove her skills and honor her upbringing.

1. How does Nangohns demonstrate her hunting skill in the novel?

In Chapter 3, she kills a deer with a double-lung shot using her bow, tracks the blood trail, and offers tobacco in gratitude. Evan acknowledges that she is one of the only ones who can make such a shot. She also hunts deer later in the journey, and she is described as being able to run through the bush silently.

1. What happens when Nangohns scouts ahead alone?

In Chapter 20, she is captured by Disciples while scouting ahead. She drops her bow and is taken prisoner. This leads to a confrontation where Zhaabdiis is killed and Evan is shot in the gut. Anakwad and Giizhik attack with arrows, allowing the group to escape.

1. How does Nangohns react to her father's death?

In Chapter 21, she holds Evan as he dies at sunset, with the community singing a travelling song. The text says she held him as he died, indicating her presence and grief. This is a pivotal moment of loss for her.

1. What role does Nangohns play in the community's eventual migration?

According to the epilogue, after the walkers departed, four returned (including Nangohns) with Anakwad and Giizhik. They helped clear and mark a trail to the island, and the community migrated in groups. Nangohns is one of the survivors who ensures the community's future.

For more discussion of the novel's themes and events, see the ending explained and questions and answers.