Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Moon of the Crusted Snow, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Technology, Society, and Survival
Colonialism, Oppression, and Trauma
Selfishness vs. Selflessness
Gender, Power, and Wisdom
Summary
Analysis
Scott aims his gun and shoots a moose, whooping in delight as it falls to the ground. Dan, Isaiah, Evan, and their friend Jeff look up, impressed. Scott gloats, before Jeff explains that they don’t like to hunt too much in winter—the moose don’t move quickly, so it’s like cheating. Scott laughs the comment off, saying that times are desperate, so he’s allowed. His expression grows icy as Evan reminds him they’re only out here because of Scott. Scott’s been at the reservation for a week, and he gloats that he’s already proving his worth. Evan recalls Scott’s hoard of ammunition and feels worried.
Scott embodies an exploitative attitude toward his surroundings—he’s thrilled to show off his hunting skills and delights in taking what he wants from the ecosystem. But Evan and Jeff don’t like Scott’s attitude: Jeff thinks it’s in poor taste to gloat about taking from the land. Evan, meanwhile, thinks Scott’s arrival is pushing the community to take more food from the land than they’re comfortable taking. Both attitudes suggest that the Anishinaabe strive to live in balance with their ecosystem and are wary of exploiting it.
Themes
Dan, as the eldest in the group, leads the other men to the moose, and they quietly marvel at its size while Scott continues to gloat loudly. Dan frowns and pulls out some tobacco, giving it to Scott, so that Scott can make an offering in thanks for the moose. Dan takes off his hat to pray, and the men, including Scott, follow suit. Scott softly copies their prayer. As Scott hauls the moose on the sled, Evan thinks that Scott might be useful around here after all.
The Anishinaabe have a respectful attitude toward the moose’s death, as evidence by their gratitude-based rituals and indigenous values (symbolized by the tobacco offering). These practices continuously remind them that the Earth’s ecosystems are not theirs to exploit. Such thinking allows them to draw ongoing sustenance from the land, because they don’t deplete all of its resources at once.
Themes
