Braiding Sweetgrass

by

Robin Wall Kimmerer

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Lionel Character Analysis

Lionel is a modern-day fur trapper and a member of the Métis nation who lives in Quebec. Robin meets with him to discuss how he can work as a fur trapper and still abide by the rules of the Honorable Harvest, and she is struck by the respect and care that he exercises towards the animals that he kills. Lionel’s work shows how one can treat all life with respect and gratitude even in a capitalist society.
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Lionel Character Timeline in Braiding Sweetgrass

The timeline below shows where the character Lionel appears in Braiding Sweetgrass. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 17
Reciprocity and Communalism Theme Icon
Indigenous Wisdom and Scientific Knowledge Theme Icon
Gifts, Gratitude, and Responsibility Theme Icon
Robin describes her interview with Lionel, a fur trapper with Indigenous heritage from the woods of northern Quebec. She can’t help... (full context)
Reciprocity and Communalism Theme Icon
Indigenous Wisdom and Scientific Knowledge Theme Icon
Animacy and Value Theme Icon
The Indigenous Past and Future Theme Icon
Lionel then worked in an Ontario mine for a while, but he became disillusioned when he... (full context)
Reciprocity and Communalism Theme Icon
Indigenous Wisdom and Scientific Knowledge Theme Icon
Gifts, Gratitude, and Responsibility Theme Icon
Lionel considers the animals that he traps to be his neighbors, and he feels a responsibility... (full context)
Reciprocity and Communalism Theme Icon
Indigenous Wisdom and Scientific Knowledge Theme Icon
Gifts, Gratitude, and Responsibility Theme Icon
Robin is surprised by the tenderness in Lionel’s voice as he talks about the martens. He is helping his own business by taking... (full context)