I Heard the Owl Call My Name - summary.

The Kingcome tribe, as is the case with most Native American cultures, focuses on worshiping nature and what it provides for the people. This can be seen throughout the book as the tribe and its people discuss the important aspects of life around them. For example, they say prayers for the return and abundance of salmon in the river each year (p.44). These prayers are not said only in the hope that the people will have food to eat, but they are also said because the salmon and such aspects of nature are so respected as living parts of the world who go through hardships just as humans and are viewed as equals. Inanimate parts of nature are also worshiped, as in the case of a nearby mountain to the village that holds significant meaning. In a story of a battle long ago it was said of the mountain, "...the spirit that lives in Whoop-Szu, the Noisy Mountain, that is across the river and towers over the village, heard the enemy coming and sent down a slide and buried it." (p.18)

Nature was not only was seen as a provider for the people of Kingcome, but it played important roles in their views of death and the cycle of the human spirit after death. Mark and a younger woman in the tribe explained death to a child, "It is not sad. It is natural. When I was a child and a sea-hunter died, we believed he went to the land of the killer whale, and a land-hunter to the home the wolves, and a slave to the home of the owls." (p.47) This passage shows how human life is often paired with life in nature and how the two are entwined amongst each other in the beliefs of the Native Americans. More of the sacred views on death which the tribe hold can be read at the end of the book when Mark passes away and the village mourns the loss of an important leader which they will miss greatly. The women of the tribe sing ancient hymns to a "Supreme Being" as one older man reflects on the ideas of reincarnation of the soul as animals in the next life. He says that souls of chiefs and leaders come back as black ravens, while lesser people take on the body of a "ha-moo-moo" or butterfly. (p.158-159).

Throughout the book a major theme deals with the fact that the modern world is slowly taking hold of the tribe and affecting its ancient ways life. From the use of motorboats by the tribe, alcoholism brought about by the availability of liquor, and the children of the village choosing to leave so they can be schooled in the "white man's" world, the long held traditions of Kingcome are being displaced. Along with these influences there is also the religious influx of Christianity. This came about long before this story takes place, but we can see the impact it has had by the fact that in the village there is a church and vicarage which have been in place. These Christian beliefs are not indigenous to the people but brought on by the white settlers. However, through these strong Christian symbols throughout village, the Indians have remained strong to their original beliefs and have combined their views to be reflected in these Christian areas. For example, in the church itself nature is incorporated into the atmosphere through Indian paintings of Jesus holding a lamb and by a carving of a huge eagle holding the Bible on the lectern at the front of the church.(p.23) In these items the people of the tribe can hold onto their naturalistic beliefs even while hearing the words of Christianity. Throughout the village and burial grounds the tribe has maintained their totems and ancient religious symbols. Even after funeral ceremonies in which Mark gave a Christian service to the dead, after he was done the Chief would then send the soul into the afterlife through a tradition tribal service or ritual. The influence of Christianity is very vivid through the book; however the desire to keep alive ancient traditions not related to modern views comes across just as strongly.

On a personal level, I found this book to be an interesting look into the culture of the Native Americans and their outlook on life and the world around us. Granted this is a very general look into their world, being that most of the nature and symbolism did not go into great detail, but encompassed a more general view of most Native American beliefs. A deeper look into a true story tribe would have been more interesting and informative I think. But as a general look at the Native Americans and what is important to them, it did a good job.

The book itself is a fairly easy read for an older reader. It seems more geared to early high school students and people with little previous knowledge of the Native American ways. Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend keeping it on the reading list.