Crow’s Sun

By Duane Niatum
Story
Summary:

● Throughout Crow’s Sun, Thomas’s transgression leading to his

confrontation with the brig warden is not disclosed. However, it is
revealed that within his first year in the Navy, he encounters trouble,
which results in him being sent to the Brig. The Warden’s hostility towards
Thomas forces him to rely on his grandfather’s spiritual guidance to
manage the situation. Repeating his grandfather's words, Thomas uses
the advice to stay calm despite end the verbal abuse from the Warden.
Theme Throughout the Story
Theme:

In Crow’s Sun, the author Duane Niatum presents the theme of using one's
faith to make it through adversity by showing how Thomas, the main
character, relies on his grandfather's wisdom when faced by the Brig
Wardens racially motivated harassment.

●
Background
Cultural Background:
● Klallam Tribe (meaning strong people)
● Spoke Klallam, their language derived
from British Columbia
● Gave up their native land in 1855 to
move to a reservation in Washington
● Split into two main tribes - S’Klallam
and Lower Elwha Klallam
● Known as skilled craftsman
● Around 1400 left
Author Background:
● Grew up in Seattle, Washington
● Member of Klallam Tribe
● Ph.D in American Studies from
University of Michigan
● Taught at middle schools, high
schools, and universities
● 4x nominee for Pushcart Prize
● Has written stories, poems, and
essays for a number of
magazines/newspapers
Essential Question
● What roles do nature, spirituality, and the relationship between humans and the
natural world play in Native American literature?
○ Nature and spirituality play an essential role in Native American literature, as
they represent a source of wisdom and balance. In Crow’s Sun, Thomas uses
his spirituality to seek guidance, and relies on memories of nature from his
home to find peace while experiencing racial harrassment

● How do Native American writers address the historical and contemporary

challenges faced by their communities, such as displacement, cultural erasure, and
social injustices, in their literary works?
○ Native American writers often challenge stereotypes within their writing by
humanizing Native Americans. In Crow’s Sun, the author uses the Warden to
represent discriminatory beliefs, his harrassment of Thomas is an example of
what Ntaives have faced for generations.
Young Thomas Characterization
“Thomas feels his fingers change to claws, to a wing of thrashing spirit flying wildly inside his ear. (Be
calm and steady now. This man could be your enemy. Know his every move. Break him like a twig if he
tries to harm you. Be the Thunderbird of our song. I am Crow, your father.“

● (Indirect) Thomas’s ability to reel in his emotions and remain calm show how his ability to trust his
faith, culture, and ancestors allows him to make clearer decisions for himself rather than acting
on impulse

“Thanking his guardian spirit, his grandfather, the people, and the dawn striking its story into the
undulating coastal waters, he stands easily within the steel bars that surround the room.”

● (Indirect) Thanks to his strong sense of self and knowledge of who he is, Thomas is able to stay
calm in a time where many would be more rash, taking actions based of their emotion.

Despite being described as “thick skulled” and “hot-headed”, Young Thomas‘s actions when faced with
adversity prove to the reader that he is level headed and in tune with a more spiritual side of life.
Conflict
Man VS Man
● Between Thomas and the Brig Warden
● Justify and strengthen the theme of the story, as the reader comes to
understand who Thomas is
● Shows his trust in his culture
Man VS Man
● Between Thomas and his Grandfather
● Thomas uses his grandfathers wisdom continually throughout the story
● The reader learns that his grandfather is the reason why Thomas’s faith is
so strong
Symbolism
● Crow
○ Thomas Reflects on his Grandfather, Cedar Crow, many times throughout the story
○ Crow symbolizes bravery and a clear mind
○ Tells the reader a lot about how Thomas’s culture revolves around ones heritage
○ Lets readers understand how being a Crow gives Thomas strength and courage
● Owl
○ Symbolizes death
○ Thomas looked for the owl spirit within the Warden to see if he would be thretained by
death
Final Thoughts
● Crow’s Sun revolves around the themes of resilience, cultural identity, and
ancestral wisdom, connecting them to a broader idea of how they are
used by modern day Native Americans
● In all, Native American Culture is heavily reliant on family, spirituality and
the role that nature plays to connect them
Works Cited!
“Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.” Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, 19 Jan. 2023,
www.elwha.org/.

Whisperinggums. “Duane Niatum, Crow’s Sun (#review).” Whispering

Gums, 7 Feb. 2024,
whisperinggums.com/2024/02/07/duane-niatum-crows-sun-review/.