In Chapter Three, resistance to assimilation is most clearly represented by Fleur Pillager. Fleur refuses to conform to white American culture and instead maintains traditional Ojibwe ways of life. She lives apart from the town, relies on hunting and fishing, and is closely tied to spiritual beliefs, particularly those surrounding Misshepeshu, the water spirit (Erdrich). Her refusal to assimilate makes her an object of fear and hostility among the townspeople, who view her as dangerous and “other.” Fleur’s resistance is not passive; it is an active rejection of the dominant culture’s values and expectations.
Compliance and partial assimilation can be seen in the surrounding Native community, particularly those who interact more closely with white society through wage labor, alcohol consumption, and participation in town life. The men who accompany Eli to Argus work in white-owned businesses and accept exploitative conditions, demonstrating how assimilation can occur through economic necessity rather than cultural desire (Erdrich). This blending of Native and white customs illustrates compliance that results in a hybrid, but often damaging, cultural experience.
Eli Kashpaw is portrayed as quiet, observant, and deeply connected to the natural world. Unlike many others, Eli does not actively seek assimilation; instead, he resists it by retreating into the woods, choosing isolation over participation in white society (Erdrich). His attraction to Fleur stems from her strength, independence, and spiritual power. Eli is drawn to Fleur because she embodies a way of life that resists assimilation entirely one that is rooted in tradition, autonomy, and connection to the land. By aligning himself with Fleur, Eli ultimately chooses resistance, rejecting assimilation in favor of preserving cultural identity and spiritual belonging (Erdrich).
