Nicole in Moon of the Turning Leaves: Character Analysis

Nicole is Evan's wife, Nangohns's and Maiingan's mother, and Waawaaskone's grandmother in Moon of the Turning Leaves. She appears in the novel's opening chapters as a steady presence in the community of Shki-dnakiiwin, and her role expands significantly across the story: she reluctantly permits her daughter to join the dangerous expedition south, endures months of uncertainty while the walkers are away, and ultimately leads the community's migration to the island settlement of Oodenaang. The epilogue, set eleven winters after the main events, shows Nicole as an elder figure who has carried the community through loss and renewal. This analysis traces her arc from protective mother to grieving widow to community leader, and examines how her decisions shape the novel's outcome. For a broader view of the story, see the book overview.