How Environmentalism Plays a Role in The Marrow Thieves

            Climate change is an incredibly relevant topic, unfortunately now more than ever before. In The Marrow Thieves, the theme comes up many times and ultimately shapes the plotline of the entire novel. The primary obstacle for the protagonist, Frenchie, is that his people have an asset that the rest of society wants – bone marrow. In the story, this resource is used to enhance dreaming for those who are not Indigenous. However, it can be argued that bone marrow is only needed because of the detrimental damage to the environment. If people did not destroy the environment in the first place, they likely would not prey on people such as Frenchie. 

In the early pages of the novel, the characters are adapting to being on the run from the rest of society. The protagonist and his older brother (Mitch) are fighting together. “He held a bag of Doritos between us—a big bag, too. ‘Holy, Mitch! Where’d you get that?’ I touched the air-pressurized bag to confirm it was real. My dirty fingers skittered across the shiny surface like skates. It was real” (Dimaline, 12). This interaction is indicative of significant environmental decline. The brothers were so shocked to have found this snack, which shows things are way out of the norm. This also shows their unity as characters of the plot. 

Indigenous people are known for being connected to nature and the offerings of the earth. Therefore, with the environment in shambles, those who are on the run have also lost a deep-rooted part of themselves. Frenchie states that “with most of the rivers cut into pieces and lakes left as grey sludge puckers on the landscape, my own history seemed like a myth” (Dimaline, 41). Because society has not supported environmentalism, not only are the Indigenous people being hunted like a resource, but the people themselves have lost touch with their innate culture. Environmentalism seems to almost act as a cure for the conflict the characters are facing. Not only is the concept a theme overall, but it serves to shape this story into a cautionary tale. Even though this novel is Science Fiction, taking care of the environment is imperative to human success and peace.