Independent Novel Study: Birdie By Tracey Lindberg

Ella Bradford March 29th 2024 Independent Novel Study — Response #3 Birdie, Tracey Lindberg (all chapters).

Write about a connection you made with the story. Something you’ve read that you have experienced or relate to.

Throughout the story, while Birdie is in her dream-like memory state, lists appear. They are lists of ingredients, with traditional Cree and western foods, seemingly random such as: pemmican, moose guts, glosette raisins. These lists show up in Bernice’s handwriting and in strange places, for Freda, Val and Birdie. Freda, at a loss for what to do to help Birdie, gathers all the ingredients and when Birdie finally gets up, the two sister cousins, along with Auntie Val, cook a feast. Bernice “gives instructions to her family and the four of

The memories, thoughts and stories flow in a non-linear way, making the past hard to follow and somewhat difficult to know what is happening to Birdie. However, it is obvious that she is not just dreaming, she is rebecoming herself and healing from many of the traumas of her past. Auntie Val recognizes that “she is not resting”. She is not at peace.” (Pg. 183) Her state isn’t just a dream, but it is necessary for her to move forward. Birdie is referred to throughout the book as a shifter, suggesting that her state is heavily influenced by Cree culture and her family heritage. Freda “didn’t want to explain a fast, a vision, a change,” pg. 113. 135) but obviously understood part of what Birdie was going through. Her sleep dreamwake state is part of her healing from her past traumas, some of it related to being Cree, or simply how she grew up. If Birdie was non-indigenous, her path would have been completely different, so we can’t say that she would have ended up needing her sleep dreamwake to help her heal. Other First Nations cultures likely have a similar way of healing, but Birdie’s state is specific to her past, her needs, and her family