The Night Watchman is a novel by Louise Erdrich first published on March 3, 2020, by HarperCollins. The novel is set in the 1950s. This is Erdrich's sixth standalone novel following Future Home of the Living God. The novel was inspired by the life of Erdrich's grandfather who motivated and inspired other members of the Turtle Mountain Reservation to resist the Indian termination policies of the 1940s-1960s. The Night Watchman is the first novel that Erdrich has written that is set on the Turtle Mountain Reservation.
In 2021, the novel was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
Writing and composition
In the letters written by her grandfather detailing his resistance against termination bills meant to assimilate Ojibwe people into broader American society through a variety of means, including the end of federal recognition of the sovereignty of indigenous tribes. Erdrich has referred to the letters as "[...] beautiful, full of humor and storytelling." She based The Night Watchman on his loving personality and commitment to his tribe.
This historical fiction provides detailed descriptions of surroundings and relationships between characters. Alongside the political storyline, readers follow a variety of other characters through daily life on the reservation, family tragedy, boxing matches, and romance. It is written in third person and follows a number of characters, and in some instances, animals. The story switches narrators between other characters in the book to give a different perspective.
Plot
Thomas Wazhashk, a night watchman at a jewel bearing plant and an Ojibwe Councilor, works to comprehend the consequences of a new termination bill drafted by Arthur Vivian Watkins heading to the floor of the United States Congress. In 1953, Thomas and other Ojibwe people begin to fear the implications of this bill. As Thomas tries to save his tribe from termination, his niece Patrice embarks on a journey to Minneapolis in order to find her sister, Vera. Patrice Paranteau, a young Ojibwe woman and a former high school valedictorian, balances the demands of both modern and traditional life. She works at the jewel bearing plant and earns just enough to help her mother Zhanaat and her brother Pokey. Patrice's alcoholic father comes home sporadically to threaten the family for cash. Patrice uses her saved money to look for her sister Vera, who vanished after moving to Minneapolis with her husband. During her journey, Patrice encounters abuse and danger. The lives of the young Ojibwe boxer, Wood Mountain and his mother, Juggie Blue intersect with those of many others living on the reservation as they each make the best out of their respective circumstances.
Characters
Thomas Wazhask — Thomas is a kindhearted man, a husband, and a father who spends his nights as a Watchmen in a jewel bearing plant in Turtle Mountain. He becomes politically involved when he reads the Indian Termination Bill and begins to organize against it. Wazhask translates to "muskrat" in Ojibwe and is pronounced Wa-shush-k. While unfortunately locked outside of his place of work during a snowstorm in the night, Thomas experiences a vision where he describes seeing Jesus Christ and others.
Patrice Paranteau — Patrice (also known as Pixie) is a strong, willful 19 year old who is determined to find her missing older sister, Vera. She ventures to the city and takes up a job performing at a bar while pursuing various leads towards her sister's whereabouts.
Vera Paranteau — Vera is Pixie's older sister who is missing in Minneapolis and has had a baby.
Pokey Paranteau — Pokey is Pixie's younger brother.
Zhanaat Paranteau — Mother of Pokey, Vera, and Patrice Paranteau, Zhanaat lives on the reservation and taught Patrice of traditional ways of living.
Lloyd Barnes — A local math teacher at the reservation school. He is referred to as "Hay Stack" by members of the community because of his blonde hair. It is well known among the community that he desires a romantic relationship with Patrice Paranteau.
Wood Mountain — A young boxer under the tutelage of Lloyd Barnes and the son of Juggie Blue. He has a crush on Patrice, but he focuses on helping Patrice find her missing sister Vera. He does not pursue Patrice in the same way Barnes does. He fights against Joe Wobleszynski at the Battle Royale to raise money for Thomas and the other members of the community council to travel to Washington D.C.