Travelling Song Symbol Analysis in Moon of the Turning Leaves

The Travelling Song as a Living Tradition in Moon of the Turning Leaves

In Waubgeshig Rice’s Moon of the Turning Leaves, the travelling song is more than a melody—it is a communal act that binds the living to the dead, the past to the future, and the individual to the collective. The song appears at three pivotal moments: the departure of the six walkers, the injury of J.C., and the death of Evan. In each instance, its meaning shifts, yet its core purpose remains constant: to honor the journey, whether that journey is across the land or into the spirit world. By tracing the song’s recurrences, we see how it functions as a symbol of cultural continuity, resilience, and the Anishinaabe understanding of life as a series of interconnected travels.

What Is the Travelling Song?

The travelling song is a traditional Anishinaabe song sung to mark the beginning of a journey or to accompany a person’s passing. In the novel, it is described as an ancient song about an eagle seeing travellers on their path—a metaphor for guidance and protection. The song is performed with hide shakers filled with dried corn kernels, a drumming branch, and a four-beat pulse that signals its start and end. It is a communal song, often sung in a group, with participants joining in a chorus and sometimes dancing in lines. The song is not written down; it is passed orally from generation to generation, making it a vessel for language preservation and intergenerational knowledge.

The song’s structure—four beats, four rounds, and a closing shake—reflects the sacred number four, common in Anishinaabe ceremony. This repetition creates a sense of timelessness, linking the present moment to ancestors who sang the same song on similar journeys.

The Song at Departure: A Blessing for the Road

The first appearance of the travelling song occurs in Chapter Five, as the six walkers prepare to leave their new village, Shki-dnakiiwin, for the ancestral homelands to the south. The community gathers on the shore, and after formal prayers and medicine offerings, a slow pulse of four beats signals the beginning of the song. The walkers line up and dance through two lines of community members, tapping their feet twice to the beat, as the crowd cheers. The song here is a send-off—a collective blessing that carries the travellers forward with hope and pride.

In this context, the song is outward-looking. It acknowledges the danger of the journey but also affirms the community’s faith in the walkers’ ability to succeed. Evan, the leader, bellows toward the horizon as if to prepare the animals and plants ahead. The song unites the departing and the staying, creating a shared emotional space that transcends physical distance. It is a moment of cultural affirmation: the community is not simply sending people away; it is enacting a tradition that has guided their people for centuries.

The Song in Crisis: J.C.’s Defiant Hope

The second recurrence comes in Chapter Eleven, after J.C. breaks his leg and the group is forced to camp for several days. The injury threatens their mission, and morale is low. On the third night, J.C. asks to sing a travelling song. He says, “We gotta get this show back on the road somehow,” using the song as a way to rekindle the group’s determination. The others join in, shaking the hide shakers and singing the ancient song about the eagle.

Here, the song’s meaning shifts from a communal farewell to a personal act of resilience. J.C., who is in pain and knows his injury may be fatal, leads the song not for himself but for the group. He uses the song to remind them that their journey is sacred and that they must continue, even if he cannot. The song becomes a source of comfort and a temporary reprieve from the fear that hangs over the camp. Yet there is also a somber undertone: the song is traditionally sung at death as well as at departure, and J.C.’s choice foreshadows his own passing. The eagle that sees travellers on their path now seems to watch over a journey that may end in the spirit world.

The Song at Death: Honoring Evan’s Final Journey

The third and most poignant recurrence occurs in Chapter Twenty-One, as Evan lies dying from a gunshot wound. The community of Oodenaang carries him to a rocky lookout by the water, where friends say their farewells. As the sun sets, Nangohns holds her father, and the community sings a travelling song. In this moment, the song is a death song—a way to honor Evan’s life and to guide his spirit on its final journey.

The song’s meaning has now come full circle. At departure, it blessed a physical journey; at death, it blesses a spiritual one. The same words that sent the walkers south now send Evan to the ancestors. The song provides a sense of continuity: Evan’s death is not an end but a transition, and the community’s singing ensures he does not travel alone. The eagle, once a guide for the living, now becomes a companion for the dead.

Character and Theme Connections

The travelling song is deeply tied to the novel’s central themes. It embodies cultural continuity and language preservation, as it is an ancient song sung in Anishinaabemowin, passed down through generations. Its use at key moments shows that even in the face of collapse, the community holds onto its traditions. The song also connects to intergenerational knowledge and responsibility: J.C., an elder, leads it in Chapter Eleven, while Nangohns, a teenager, participates and later witnesses its power at her father’s death. The song is a bridge between old and young, ensuring that the next generation knows how to honor both life and death.

The song also speaks to grief, loss, and healing. At Evan’s death, the song transforms grief into a communal act of remembrance. It allows the community to process loss together, turning individual sorrow into shared strength. Similarly, at J.C.’s injury, the song offers a moment of healing, even if temporary.

Finally, the song is inseparable from the theme of migration and return to ancestral homelands. The departure scene in Chapter Five is the novel’s central act of migration, and the song sanctifies that movement. It reminds the walkers that they are not wandering aimlessly but following a path laid by their ancestors. The song’s recurrence at death suggests that all journeys—whether across the land or into the afterlife—are part of the same spiritual geography.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does the travelling song’s meaning change from the departure in Chapter Five to Evan’s death in Chapter Twenty-One?

At departure, the song is a blessing for a physical journey, instilling hope and unity in the community. At Evan’s death, it becomes a mourning song that honors his spiritual journey. The shift reflects the song’s dual nature: it celebrates the beginning of a journey and the end of one, showing that the same words can carry both joy and sorrow.

2. What does J.C.’s decision to lead a travelling song after his injury reveal about his character and the song’s significance?

J.C.’s choice shows his resilience and his deep connection to tradition. Even in pain, he uses the song to lift the group’s spirits and reaffirm their mission. The song also foreshadows his death, as it is associated with both travel and passing. By leading it, J.C. demonstrates that the song is not just for the living but also for those who may soon depart.

3. How does the travelling song function as a symbol of cultural continuity?

The song is an ancient tradition passed down orally. Its repeated use at key moments shows the community’s commitment to preserving their language and customs, even in crisis. The fact that Nangohns, a young person, participates in the song and later witnesses its power at her father’s death illustrates how the tradition is transmitted across generations, ensuring its survival.

4. In what ways does the travelling song serve as both a symbol of hope and a symbol of grief?

The song is sung at departures to bless and encourage travellers, representing hope for safe passage and renewal. It is also sung at death to honor the deceased, representing grief and the continuation of the community’s spiritual connection. The song thus embodies the dual nature of life’s journeys—every beginning contains an ending, and every ending is a new beginning.

Conclusion

The travelling song in Moon of the Turning Leaves is a powerful symbol of Anishinaabe resilience and worldview. It is not a static artifact but a living practice that adapts to the needs of the moment. Whether sung at a departure, in a moment of crisis, or at a deathbed, the song reminds the characters—and the reader—that they are part of a larger story, one that has been sung for generations and will continue long after the final note fades. Through this song, Rice shows that culture is not lost when the power fails; it is carried in the voices of the people.