Motorcycles And Sweetgrass Nanabush Character Analysis

In Anishnawbe culture, Nanabush, the trickster, was a foolish, but clever man who taught the Native people lessons, but also brought bad luck with him wherever he went. In the book Motorcycles and Sweetgrass, Nanabush, or John Tanner/Richardson/Clayton/Prestor/Frum/Smith, has gone on a quest to once again become relevant in the small Native reserve of Otter Lake. The entire village of Otter Lake talks about this strange man and how he constantly changes, Nanabush creates havoc in the village around the newly bought land, and he becomes a danger to the citizens of Otter Lake and get kicked out. Nanabush does become relevant in Otter Lake, but not the way he wanted to. The Otter Lake locals wonder at first who this stranger is, but through many contacts with the entire village, everyone knows him. When Maggie was hanging out

There is also dialogue throughout book talking about this stranger who is continually changing, and that he might be a trickster. He has helped the people of Otter Lake reconnect with their history because the village wonders if he is Nanabush. The newly bought land in Otter Lake has caused lots of controversy with the residents, but what Nanabush does causes dismay. After a news reporter has found something horrible underneath the newly purchased land. “Definitely. Once those bones are properly analyzed, they'll realize how old and ancient that they are. Like they belong to an ancient Indian burial ground.”(313). Nanabush has spread ancient native bones throughout the newly purchased land trying to help Maggie, but in turn has caused panic in the village. He has become relevant to the Otter Lake locals through