Chapters 2–3 – Story & Culture Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering cultural terms, characters, places, and humorous references from Chapters 2–3 of the lecture transcript.

Anishinaabe

A group of culturally related Indigenous peoples of North America that includes the Ojibwe; the main cultural identity of several characters.

Ojibwe

An Anishinaabe nation native to the Great Lakes region; the Sugar Island tribe in the story belongs to this nation.

Sugar Island

The fictional Ojibwe reservation/island that serves as the home community and political center for many characters.

Zaganash

Ojibwe word for a non-Native (usually white) person; used by characters when describing outsiders or mixed families.

Blood Quantum

A legal measure of Native ancestry used by tribes to determine enrollment eligibility; Lily lacks the required amount.

Descendant (vs. Enrolled Member)

Someone who is of tribal heritage but not officially listed on the tribal roll; Donis and Lily are descendants, not enrolled.

Tribal Council Election

Local governmental vote determining Sugar Island’s leadership; background event driving jokes and graffiti.

Operation Secede

A proposed movement for Sugar Island to declare independence from the United States, backed by some ‘rabble rousers.’

Chi Mukwa Arena

Community recreation center that hosts polling, youth programs, and hockey activities.

Soo Locks

Large ship locks at Sault Ste. Marie where tourists watch freighters pass; landmark along the girls’ drive.

Lake Superior State University (LSSU)

Local university Donis chooses over the University of Michigan, symbolizing staying home for family.

University of Michigan (U-M)

Prestigious university in Ann Arbor that represented freedom and escape for Donis before she changed plans.

Nokomis-Mishomis Elder Center

Sugar Island senior facility offering lunch and activities; Granny June’s alternative to the Sault Senior Center.

Anishinaabemowin

The Ojibwe language; Donis uses it to teach clothing vocabulary to kids before skating.

Friday the 13th

Superstitiously unlucky date referenced during the open-skate scene with the twins.

Sault Ste. Marie Superiors (‘Soups’)

Elite junior-A hockey team for which Levi plays; stepping-stone to college or pro hockey.

Hypertrophic Scar

A raised, thick scar; Donis identifies Jamie Johnson’s facial mark as this type rather than a keloid.

Hockey World Rules

Donis’s personal code to keep her hockey life separate from her regular social life, especially dating.

Goon (Hockey Slang)

An enforcer on a hockey team who protects teammates by starting or responding to fights; Donis acts as Lily’s off-ice ‘goon.’

Love Medicine (in context)

A colloquial term for giving someone drugs in hopes of strengthening a relationship; Travis used it on Lily.

‘Be Wise, Immunize’ Owl T-Shirt

Mishandled health-campaign design featuring an owl—problematic because, in Ojibwe teaching, owls symbolize death.

Parallel Parking ‘Lily-Style’

Lily’s reckless habit of pulling in nose-first until her Jeep taps the car ahead.

Graffiti Joke: ‘Tribal Erection’

Vandalized billboard changing ‘election’ to ‘erection,’ prompting Granny June’s bawdy humor.

Knee-bending Program (Knee-baiting)

Summer childcare at Chi Mukwa aimed at tiring out kids; Donis and Lily work as group leaders.

Blackfly Excuse

Playful tactic Lily uses to slap Donis’s back, pretending to kill an oversized insect.

Donis

One of the main protagonists; a tribal descendant who chooses to stay close to home for family, a hockey player with a strict 'Hockey World Rules' code, and acts as Lily's off-ice 'goon.'

Lily

One of the main protagonists; a tribal descendant who lacks the required blood quantum for enrollment, was involved with Travis, and has a reckless 'Lily-style' parallel parking habit.

Granny June

An elder character who uses the Nokomis-Mishomis Elder Center and is known for her bawdy humor, especially regarding the 'Tribal Erection' graffiti.

Levi

A character who plays for the Sault Ste. Marie Superiors ('Soups'), an elite junior-A hockey team, indicating a potential path to college or professional hockey.

Jamie Johnson

A character whose facial mark is identified by Donis as a hypertrophic scar rather than a keloid.

Travis

A character who used 'love medicine' (colloquially, giving drugs) on Lily, hoping to strengthen their relationship.