# Mother — American Indian Stories character guide > Mother in American Indian Stories by Zitkála-Šá. **Role:** supporting **First appearance:** 0004-i-my-mother ## Snapshot The narrator's mother, whose compressed lips and hidden tears teach her wild daughter both freedom and the first bitter lessons about the paleface. ## Who they are She walks to the muddy Missouri morning, noon, and evening for water, her full lips pressed into hard lines when sadness overtakes her, yet she smiles through tears and urges her daughter to run. She prizes the child's wild freedom and overflowing spirits, teaching her no fear save that of intruding on others, even as she warns that the paleface may one day take the river they drink. Her grief and her pride are the emotional ground of the narrator's childhood, and her words plant the first seed of the book's reckoning with loss. ## Relationships ### [Blue-Star Woman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/characters/blue_star_woman) _social_ Blue-Star Woman and Mother interact often as acquaintances within the community, possibly sharing cultural or tribal ties. ### [Uncle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/characters/uncle) _family_ Mother and Uncle are relatives, likely siblings or in-laws, with a close family dynamic. ### [Cousin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/characters/cousin) _family_ Cousin is a younger relative of Mother, indicating a familial relationship with care and guidance. ### [The Great Spirit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/characters/the_great_spirit) _psychological_ Mother has a deep spiritual connection to The Great Spirit, often seeking guidance or expressing reverence. ### [Tusee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/characters/tusee) _family_ Mother and Tusee are likely related, with Tusee possibly being a daughter or niece, given their frequent interactions. ### [Warca-Ziwin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/characters/warca_ziwin) _family_ Mother and Warca-Ziwin are likely sisters or close female relatives, sharing a nurturing bond. ### [Ohiyesa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/characters/ohiyesa) _social_ Mother and Ohiyesa are acquaintances, possibly meeting in a community or educational setting. ### [Uncle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/characters/uncle) _family_ Mother and Uncle are relatives, likely siblings or in-laws, with a close family dynamic. ### [Blue-Star Woman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/characters/blue_star_woman) _social_ Blue-Star Woman and Mother interact often as acquaintances within the community, possibly sharing cultural or tribal ties. ### [The Great Spirit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/characters/the_great_spirit) _psychological_ Mother has a deep spiritual connection to The Great Spirit, often seeking guidance or expressing reverence. ## In the story ### [American Indian Stories](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/american-indian-stories) Key familial figure, associated with teaching beadwork and cultural traditions. ### [Impressions of an Indian Childhood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/impressions-of-an-indian-childhood) The narrator's mother, a central figure in her childhood memories. ### [My Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/i-my-mother) The narrator's mother, who draws water from the Missouri River and shares painful memories of displacement and loss. ### [The Legends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/ii-the-legends) The narrator's mother, who builds the fire, prepares meals, and hosts the evening storytelling gatherings. She teaches her daughter proper behavior and encourages her to observe and remember details. ### [The Beadwork](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/iii-the-beadwork) Teaches the narrator beadwork and quillwork with patience and high standards, treating her as a dignified individual. ### [The Coffee-Making](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/iv-the-coffee-making) Leaves the narrator alone in the wigwam and later returns to find her serving coffee to a guest. ### [The Dead Man's Plum Bush](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/v-the-dead-man-s-plum-bush) Teaches the narrator patience, compassion, and respect for the dead. ### [The Ground Squirrel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/vi-the-ground-squirrel) The narrator's mother, who works with her aunt to preserve food and is usually quiet but laughs heartily during the visit. ### [VII: The Big Red Apples](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/vii-the-big-red-apples) The narrator's mother, who initially discourages her from going with the missionaries but ultimately agrees, believing education is necessary for her daughter's future. ### [The School Days of an Indian Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/the-school-days-of-an-indian-girl) The narrator's mother, who is left behind on the reservation and whose absence is deeply felt. ### [The Land of Red Apples](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/i-the-land-of-red-apples) The narrator's mother, who is absent and deeply missed during the journey and upon arrival at the school. ### [II: The Cutting of My Long Hair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/ii-the-cutting-of-my-long-hair) Mentioned in the narrator's anguish as the absent comforter she longs for. ### [The Snow Episode](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/iii-the-snow-episode) Not directly present in this chapter, but the narrator's mother is referenced implicitly through the narrator's identity as a Dakota child. ### [The Devil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/iv-the-devil) Appears in the narrator's dream, sitting quietly by the stove as the devil chases her daughter, then lifts the narrator onto her lap, causing the devil to vanish. ### [Iron Routine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/v-iron-routine) Referenced indirectly through memories of happy dreams of Western lands, contrasting with the boarding school's iron routine. ### [Four Strange Summers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/vi-four-strange-summers) The narrator's mother, who never attended school, tries to console her daughter with an Indian Bible but cannot bridge the gap between their experiences. ### [VII: Incurring My Mother’s Displeasure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/vii-incurring-my-mother-s-displeasure) The narrator's mother disapproves of her continued education, urging her to return to the prairie life; her displeasure weighs heavily on the narrator. ### [My First Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/i-my-first-day) The narrator's mother, who would have disapproved of the white man's education if she knew of her daughter's illness. ### [A Trip Westward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/ii-a-trip-westward) The narrator's mother, who lives in a log cabin and teepee, maintains traditional ways while making compromises with white customs. She reveals that Dawée lost his job for seeking justice for the tribe. ### [III: My Mother’s Curse Upon White Settlers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/iii-my-mother-s-curse-upon-white-settlers) Sits with her daughter, recounts family losses, and curses the white settlers. ### [Retrospection](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/iv-retrospection) The narrator leaves her mother and later gives her up due to her mother's simple view of life, feeling uprooted from her. ### [Why I Am a Pagan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/why-i-am-a-pagan) The narrator's mother, now a follower of the new superstition, is recalled in a memory of a burned holy book. ### [The Softhearted Sioux](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/the-softhearted-sioux) Ohiyesa's mother, who represents traditional Sioux values and is distressed by her son's transformation. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/i) Advises her son to be active and provide buffalo meat and buckskins before taking a wife. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/ii) Sits with bowed head, weeping over her husband's illness, spiritually separated from her son. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/iv) The narrator's mother, who urges him to bring meat for his father. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/v) The narrator led his mother to the camp of the medicine-man after his father's death. ### [A Warrior's Daughter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/a-warrior-s-daughter) Tusee's mother, who sits doing beadwork and chides Tusee about the gift for her first dance. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/characters/mother - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/american_indian_stories_se/characters