1. The Marrow Thieves
describes an apocalyptic not-so-distant future in which the world has been
ravaged by global warming. Do you think this kind of future could plausibly
happen in the real world? Why or why not?
a. Yes, because there’s
already a lot of climate issues
b. People not thinking about
the earth as part of something humanity needs to take care of
c. Published in 2017
d. People don’t get that food
chain supply is being affected from pollinators to not enough water for crops
e. Then you human migrations
in the U.S. and the whole world
2. Oneirology is the
scientific study of dreams, and in the book, the plague that has hit everyone
except Indigenous people prevents them from dreaming. As a result, Indigenous
people are being hunted for their bone marrow.
a. In the novel, why do you
think Indigenous people are immune to the plague that prevents people from
dreaming? Oral tradition and being tied to the land. Using dreams to travel,
draw visions, and find solutions. There is more practice in remembering dreams.
b. Do you think the ability
to dream is important enough to murder for? No, but we do know that sleep is
essential. You’ll die from lack of water in 10 days, from lack of food in 30
days if you still have water, and 10 days from lack of sleep but feel affects
after 4 and cannot function.
3. There were three main
romantic love stories in the novel: between Frenchie and Rose, Chi-Boy and
Wab, and Miigwans and Isaac. Did you find the love stories believable? Yes.
4. Miig explains to Wab
that their family band and non-Indigenous people are “both motivated by the
same thing: survival.” Miig then says that “in a way,” their family and the
Recruiters are the same. Do you agree? Why or why not?
a. They are not trying to
hunt the recruiters.
b. One respects human life and
the other doesn’t.
5. Miig and Minerva
emphasize the importance of shared stories: their history “Story” by Miig, the
Rogarou story by Minerva, each of their “coming-to” stories that they must tell
themselves. What do you think makes their stories so sacred to them? All of
them had a “coming to the group” story.
a. You can’t tell someone else’s
story.
b. You were part of the group
when THEY told you their story.
c. So many ways languages
were taken from indigenous people.
d. Colonizers/ conquerors have
been telling other people’s stories for years.
6. When Minerva teaches the
group the word “abwaad,” which means “cooking on a fire,” Frenchie “repeat[s]
it “over and over as softly as [he can], hoarding something precious” (pg.
109).
a. Do you ever feel like
that when you learn words in a different language? Yes. Farfegnugen.
b. Why do you think
Frenchie and the others feel that way about learning a word in their language? So
many indigenous languages have been lost that pulling it from the rubble is precious.
It’s cool to learn words that have no exact translation because they are so
specific to that culture.
7. When the group enters
the Four Winds Resort, although there is easily space for everyone to have
their own rooms, everyone ends up having a slumber party in Frenchie’s room in
the end (interrupting Rose and Frenchie making out). Why do you think they
(Frenchie, Rose, RiRi, Slopper, Tree, Zheegwon, Minerva, Miig, Chi-Boy, and
Wab) chose to all sleep together in the same room instead of separately?
a. Family coming together.
b. Weird to come from
outside open space to walls and doors.
8. What did you think of
the ending? Was it satisfying?
a. Confused.
b. She blew everything up –
there is power in connection.
9. Was there anything you
wanted to read more about or unanswered questions you had at the end of the
novel? What do you think will happen next? What can a novel about an
undesirable future tell us or emphasize for us about the world we live in
today?*
10. The theme of dreamers is
a major theme in this novel, and it is reflected in this quote: “And I
understood that as long as there are dreamers left, there will never be want
for a dream (p. 231).
a. Who are the dreamers of
today? Immigrants, social justice activist, climate activists
b. What are their dreams?* wanting
to come to America, have a different America
11. The Marrow Thieves
explores the idea that our physical bodies serve as a storage for our memories.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the human body?*
12. How is the future
depicted in The Marrow Thieves informed by the actual history of Indigenous
peoples in North America?*
13. Who is Cherie Dimaline?
Why do you think she has written this story?*
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