Their history and identity survives through such story telling. Erdrich informs the reader that The Birchbark House and other of her books tell her own family s history. After relating the rescue of a baby smallpox survivor from Spirit Island, the story jumps seven years and unfolds from Omakayas point of view. She introduces all the characters and paints the deep love and respect of their family as they complete the seasonal chores of life such as growing food, hunting for and storing meats, and making clothes and other household articles. Mother, Yellow Kettle, her older sister, Angeline, and Grandma, Nokomis, the family women, are strong and capable.
Mother is shrewd, joyful and beautiful.
Omakayas is jealous of Angeline s beauty and bead skills, and yet wants to grow up to be just like her. Nokomis constantly attends to chores, medicines and rituals. Omakayas learns to build the birchbark house, to listen to the plants, animals and dreams and to tell stories by helping Grandma daily. Her little brother Pinch is an incessant bother, always naughty and greedy. Omakayas is embarrassed by the mean thoughts she has about Pinch.