Analysis Of The Marrow Thieves: A Guide To Survival

A Guide to Survival

In a society where Indigenous people are hunted for their bone marrow, survival requires more than just physical strength, mental bonds with others become the key. Author Cherie Dimaline explores the topic of survival with family and friends in the novel The Marrow Thieves, following the perspective of French, a young boy who separated from his family. After the devastating loss of his brother Mitch, French strives to survive independently until he is saved by Miig and his companions. Although the group members are not related by blood, their profound emotional connections make each one of them consider themselves as family. Through strong bonds and support with each other, the group manages to sustain

Some members of the group came to a depressive state after one’s loss, leading them to be ineffective in ensuring the group’s survival. Throughout the novel The Marrow Thieves, Cherie Dimaline demonstrates that when one develops strong social bonds with loved ones, regardless of how long they have been separated, they provide emotional support for each other, which leads to a greater likelihood of surviving.

Through the strong bonds between family and friends in the past and present, one can strengthen emotional connections and relief when being with another loved one. Throughout French’s experience with the members, Miig has always been obsessed with his lover, Issac, who doubted whether or not he was still alive. Towards the end, French unexpectedly encounters Issac and is led to the village where he and Miig joyfully reunite after years. Overwhelmed with tears of joy, both of them break down into tears, as they celebrate for each other’s safety. When Miig sees Issac, “I heard it in his voice as Miigwans began to weep. I watched it in the steps that pulled Issac, the man who dreamed in Cree, home to his love. The love who’d carried him against the rib and hurt of his chest as

When French was considered a rookie to the group, he was taken out to practice his hunting with other younglings. As the leader of the group, Miig takes a different approach to teaching the kids how to hunt properly. Through humorous jokes and a more interactive class, the boys can learn how to hunt quickly and come back to camp successfully with multiple dead critters. As Miig tries to act humorous when teaching the boys, “Miig’s response brought fresh peals of laughter, including my own… It was midday when we began the walk back to the camp with a couple of rabbits and one patchy-furred squirrel for lunch before an afternoon march to the next bunking” (Dimaline 35). When Miig brings the group “fresh peals of laughter”, he establishes emotional memories and connections between the group through humorous and joyful jokes. Through these light-hearted moments, the group is relieved of the seriousness of their situation with survival and can cooperate better as a team through their interactions. The members are easily able to refocus by showing effectiveness in their survival tactics(hunting) as they come home with multiple dead animals for food. Although establishing strong social bonds with family or friends leads to better survival chances, one may lose their resistance to survive