Tula Character Analysis: Shelterwood's Twelve-Year-Old Council President

Overview

Tula is a twelve-year-old Choctaw girl who enters Shelterwood as one of three ragged siblings hiding in the cedars near Ship Rock. She is the eldest of Pinti (five) and Koi (four), and she quickly becomes a central figure in Olive’s makeshift family of runaways. By the time the children establish Shelterwood Camp, Tula has been elected president of their council—a role that reflects both her survival instincts and the community’s trust in her. Her story, told through Olive’s narration and later through the old woman’s oral history, illustrates the resilience of orphaned children in early twentieth-century Oklahoma and the fragile communities they build to protect one another.

Tula is a fictional character, but her experiences echo the historical record of Choctaw orphans whose land and guardianship were exploited during the allotment era, as documented in the novel’s author’s note and primary sources.

Plot Role

Tula’s introduction comes when Olive and Nessa, fleeing from the Lockridge household, encounter her and her siblings. Tula’s local knowledge and resourcefulness immediately prove valuable: she leads the group to a farmhouse where she trades foraged goods for food, and she later devises a plan to approach the “Good Woman” alone using a story about a train. As the group grows, Tula becomes a central organizer, helping to build the camp and eventually winning the presidency. Her actions also drive key plot points: she helps rescue Amos after he is shot, and her disappearance during a storm creates tension before she returns with him.

Tula’s role extends beyond survival; she is a bridge between the children and the adult world. Her trade at the farmhouse, her plan to approach the Good Woman, and her later work at Mrs. Paulson’s washhouse all show how she navigates adult spaces to secure food and safety for the group. In the camp, she participates in the democratic process, and her election as president marks a turning point in the children’s self-governance.

Motivations and Traits

Tula’s primary motivation is the safety of her younger siblings. Having lost her grandparents, mother, and father—who left to see a judge and never returned—she is fiercely protective. This is shown in her careful trade at the farmhouse, her willingness to go alone to the Good Woman’s house, and her nighttime mission to find Amos. She is resourceful, using a trick to get coal from train men and gathering berries and greens to trade. She is also brave, facing danger without hesitation. At the same time, Tula has a playful side, as seen when she and the other children ambush Olive as a prank. Her traits—practicality, courage, and loyalty—make her a natural leader.

The text shows Tula’s resourcefulness when she tricks the train crew into throwing coal, and later when she trades for food. Her bravery is evident when she volunteers to approach the farmhouse alone, and again when she goes out in the storm to find Amos. Her loyalty is demonstrated in her care for her siblings and her willingness to help Amos, even at personal risk. These traits are not merely stated; they are shown through her actions throughout the narrative.

Chronological Arc

Tula’s arc moves from isolated survivor to community leader. When we first meet her, she is wary and guarded, but she quickly bonds with Olive and Nessa. After the group travels to Talihina and then into the mountains, Tula helps establish Shelterwood Camp. There, she is elected president, a role she holds until the camp is destroyed by men who come to round up the children. In the aftermath, Tula and her siblings are eventually found by Kate Barnard, with help from Mrs. Grube, and taken to the Whitaker Orphanage. This arc shows her growth from a child focused on immediate survival to a leader who helps build a temporary society.

The chronology is not linear in the novel; it is revealed through Olive’s memories and the old woman’s storytelling. Tula’s backstory—her family’s death and her father’s disappearance—is shared in Chapter 10, and her later actions build on that foundation. Her election as president occurs after the group has been living in the dugout for two weeks, as Olive notes in Chapter 26. The camp’s destruction and Tula’s rescue are recounted in the old woman’s tale in Chapter 31, providing a retrospective view of her fate.

Relationships

Tula’s relationship with Olive is one of mutual respect and friendship. Olive admires Tula’s cleverness, and Tula trusts Olive enough to share her plan. With Nessa, Tula forms a sisterly bond, communicating in Choctaw and working together. Her relationship with her siblings is protective; she constantly watches over Pinti and Koi. With Dewey and Amos, she becomes an ally, participating in the ambush and later helping Amos. Mrs. Grube indirectly helps Tula by supporting the children’s cause, and Kate Barnard ultimately rescues her. These relationships highlight Tula’s ability to build community even in dire circumstances.

Tula’s bond with Olive is particularly significant. They share a sense of humor, as seen in their laughter over the coal trick, and they work together to protect the younger children. Tula also teaches Olive about local plants and survival skills, while Olive provides a sense of direction and hope. The relationship between Tula and Nessa is more sisterly; they communicate in Choctaw and often act as a unit. Tula’s protective role toward her siblings is a constant, and she extends that protection to the other children in the camp.

Key Decisions and Consequences

One of Tula’s first key decisions is to approach the farmhouse alone to trade for food. This succeeds in getting provisions but also alerts the woman to the children’s presence, a risk that later contributes to the group’s need to move. Another decision is to go out during the storm to find Amos, which results in his rescue but also puts Tula in danger. Her election as president gives her authority but also responsibility for the group’s welfare. Finally, her decision to trust Kate Barnard—or rather, to be found by her—leads to a safer life in an orphanage, though it means leaving the freedom of the camp.

The consequences of Tula’s decisions are often double-edged. Her trade at the farmhouse provides immediate food but also exposes the group’s location. Her rescue of Amos saves his life but delays the group’s escape. Her presidency gives her a voice but also makes her a target when the camp is attacked. These consequences illustrate the difficult trade-offs that orphaned children face in a world that offers few safe options.

Theme/Symbol Connections

Tula’s story connects directly to the theme of exploitation of vulnerable children. She and her siblings are orphans at risk of being taken by guardians who would exploit their land rights. Her family’s history—father disappearing after a court paper—echoes the land dispossession and indigenous betrayal that pervades the novel. Tula’s leadership in the council reflects the spirit of women’s activism and social reform, even though she is a child; the children’s democratic process mirrors the larger movements for justice. Her story is also part of the storytelling and oral history as resistance, as the old woman recounts it decades later. Finally, her rescue by Kate Barnard ties into justice and historical reckoning, showing how one person’s intervention can change a child’s fate.

Tula’s name itself may evoke the idea of a sheltering tree, though this is an interpretation. The camp’s name, Shelterwood, is chosen by Olive, but Tula’s role as a protector aligns with the concept of older trees shielding younger growth. Her presidency also symbolizes the children’s desire for order and self-determination in a world that has failed them.

Questions and Answers

1. Why does Tula trick the train crew into throwing coal?

Tula needs fuel for fire. She pretends to be a helpless child, and the men throw coal to her, which she collects. This shows her resourcefulness and willingness to use deception for survival.

1. How does Tula become president of the council at Shelterwood Camp?

The children hold a vote, and Tula wins. Olive mentions that she came in second place, and Tula is elected president. This indicates that the children trust Tula’s leadership and survival skills.

1. What happens to Tula after the camp is destroyed?

Tula and her siblings are eventually found by Kate Barnard, with help from Mrs. Grube. They are transferred to the Whitaker Orphanage at Pryor, Oklahoma, where they join a group of Cherokee orphans.

1. What is Tula’s relationship with Olive?

Tula and Olive become close friends and allies. They share a sense of humor, as seen in their laughter over the coal trick, and they work together to protect the younger children. Olive respects Tula’s intelligence and bravery.

1. What does Tula’s leadership reveal about the children’s community?

Tula’s election shows that the children value practical survival skills, courage, and the ability to make decisions for the group. It also demonstrates that even in a makeshift camp, they create a democratic structure, mirroring the larger society they have been excluded from.

For a deeper look at how Tula’s story resolves, see the ending explained page, or explore common reader questions in the Q&A section.