The Berry Pickers

Discuss the motif of Norma’s dreams. What do they mean and which of the novel’s broader themes do they speak to? What commentary do these dreams offer on the notions of authenticity and truth?

Discuss the theme of Indigenous family bonds. How would you characterize Ruthie’s birth family compared to her white family? Compare their homes, careers, socioeconomic statuses, perceived happiness, and treatment of Ruthie.

Discuss the characterization of Lenore. How can she be said to be the novel’s antagonist, and how does she contrast with Ruthie’s real mother? Is there anything redeemable about her character? Can her deteriorating health be read as a metaphor for her actions, and if so, how? Be specific in your claims.

How is this novel in dialogue with assimilation in Canadian society and government? In what ways do these characters resist assimilation, and to what degree of success? Use outside sources to discuss the history of assimilation in Canadian society and government.

In what ways does The Berry Pickers depict anti-Indigenous racism? Explore the racist interactions and discuss and what their impact on the lives of these characters is, both in an immediate and long-lasting sense.

Discuss the miscarried and lost children within the text. How do they link Lenore, Ruthie, and Ruthie’s mother? How did each woman respond to the loss and carry on with life?

Discuss Joe’s tumor as a metaphor for a life of grief. Give specific examples of what Joe has carried in his heart and why a tumor might signify the accumulation of such pain. How might you then read Joe’s death as peaceful and even necessary?

In your opinion, does this novel successfully establish dialogue with the damaging legacy of Canada’s residential school program? Give specific examples from the text and outside sources to support your claim.