Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary genre of 'Bad Cree'?
What is the primary genre of 'Bad Cree'?
Which character serves as the grounding force for Mackenzie?
Which character serves as the grounding force for Mackenzie?
What significant event leads Mackenzie to return to her family’s home?
What significant event leads Mackenzie to return to her family’s home?
What do the Crows symbolize in Mackenzie’s dreams?
What do the Crows symbolize in Mackenzie’s dreams?
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How does Mackenzie feel about discussing her dreams with others?
How does Mackenzie feel about discussing her dreams with others?
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What key theme is explored through Mackenzie’s experiences in the novel?
What key theme is explored through Mackenzie’s experiences in the novel?
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What do Mackenzie’s cousins represent in her life?
What do Mackenzie’s cousins represent in her life?
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Which of these events does NOT occur in the narrative?
Which of these events does NOT occur in the narrative?
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What role does Sabrina play in Mackenzie’s life according to the narrative?
What role does Sabrina play in Mackenzie’s life according to the narrative?
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What is Kokum’s primary method of providing guidance to Mackenzie?
What is Kokum’s primary method of providing guidance to Mackenzie?
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Which theme is prominently explored throughout the narrative?
Which theme is prominently explored throughout the narrative?
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What do the crows symbolize in Mackenzie's journey?
What do the crows symbolize in Mackenzie's journey?
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What significant activity do Mackenzie and her family perform to confront the crows?
What significant activity do Mackenzie and her family perform to confront the crows?
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How do Mackenzie's dreams evolve throughout the story?
How do Mackenzie's dreams evolve throughout the story?
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What does Mackenzie discover about her dreams and their implications?
What does Mackenzie discover about her dreams and their implications?
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What lesson does Kokum convey about the crows?
What lesson does Kokum convey about the crows?
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What does Mackenzie ultimately achieve by the end of the novel?
What does Mackenzie ultimately achieve by the end of the novel?
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What does the narrative reveal about intergenerational trauma?
What does the narrative reveal about intergenerational trauma?
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How does Mackenzie feel when she is with her family?
How does Mackenzie feel when she is with her family?
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What impact do the rituals performed in the story have on Mackenzie?
What impact do the rituals performed in the story have on Mackenzie?
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What is a significant physical manifestation from Mackenzie's dreams?
What is a significant physical manifestation from Mackenzie's dreams?
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Which aspect of nature is emphasized in the novel?
Which aspect of nature is emphasized in the novel?
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Study Notes
Overview of Bad Cree
- Author: Jessica Johns
- Publication Year: 2023
- Genre: Horror, literary fiction, Indigenous storytelling
- Narrator: Mackenzie, a young Cree woman
- Setting: Edmonton and rural Alberta, Canada
- Key Themes: Grief, intergenerational trauma, cultural reconnection, the power of dreams, familial bonds
Key Characters
- Mackenzie (Mack): Protagonist, struggling with grief after sister Sabrina's death, experiences vivid, disturbing dreams.
- Sabrina: Mackenzie's deceased older sister, whose death profoundly affects the family; her presence lingers in dreams.
- Mom: Mackenzie's mother, supportive figure providing practical and emotional guidance.
- Kokum: Wise elder, helps Mackenzie reconnect with Cree identity through stories, rituals, and traditional knowledge.
- Jill, Tracey, and Tasha: Mackenzie's cousins, offering support through the struggles with dreams.
- The Crows: Supernatural entities in Cree spiritual beliefs, appearing in Mackenzie's dreams, representing both danger and ancestral wisdom.
Major Events and Plot Summary
- Opening: Mackenzie's disturbing dreams begin with a severed crow head in a snow-covered forest, leading to the blurring of dreams and reality. Grief over Sabrina's death and isolation in Edmonton follow.
- Return Home: Mackenzie returns to the rural Alberta family home, seeking reconnection with Cree roots and addressing her grief.
- Family's Shared Grief: The family shares similar strange experiences and dreams. Flashbacks highlight Sabrina's protective role in Mackenzie's life.
- Kokum and Cree Teachings: Kokum offers guidance through Cree myths and rituals, explaining crows' dual role as danger and wisdom.
- Supernatural Activity Escalates: Mackenzie's dreams become more vivid and threatening, with physical manifestations like crow feathers appearing in the waking world.
- Confronting the Crows: Mackenzie realizes the crows represent both ancestral connection and unresolved family trauma. Memories reveal a suppressed argument with Sabrina.
- Climactic Ritual: A cleansing ritual is performed to confront spiritual disturbances, involving shared stories and memories of Sabrina.
- Resolution: Mackenzie reconnects with family and Cree identity, incorporating cultural practices, and confronting fears. The supernatural elements recede, yet their power remains a reminder.
Themes
- Grief and Healing: The process of family members coping with loss and communal support.
- Dreams and Reality: Dreams serve as a link between physical and spiritual worlds, reflecting Mackenzie's internal conflicts.
- Cultural Reconnection: Importance of embracing Indigenous identity and traditions.
- Intergenerational Trauma: The impact of historical oppression on the family's experiences.
- The Power of Nature: The natural world as both dangerous and wise.
Symbols
- Crows: Represent death, guidance, and ancestral connection, expressing both fear and cultural ties.
- Dreams: Mackenzie's subconscious processing of grief and her connection to the spiritual realm.
- Forest: Represents the unknown aspects of Mackenzie's psyche and her healing journey.
- Feathers and Dream Objects: Physical manifestations of the dream world, signifying the blurred boundaries between reality and the spiritual.
Possible Essay/Exam Questions
- Dreams as a narrative device exploring grief and identity.
- Family's role in Mackenzie's journey.
- Symbolism of crows representing danger and wisdom.
- Intergenerational trauma and solutions presented.
- Kokum's teachings and impact on Mackenzie's identity.
- Balance of horror and healing in the narrative.
Key Quotes
- Mackenzie on dreams: "In my dreams, I was never alone. But that didn’t make it any less terrifying." (connection to the spiritual realm and fear).
- Kokum's wisdom: "The crows are here for a reason. They’re messengers, not monsters." (importance of cultural interpretation of spiritual symbols).
- Mackenzie on family: “It was only when I was with them that I felt like I could breathe again.”(importance of familial bonds in healing).
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Description
Explore the haunting and compelling narrative of Bad Cree by Jessica Johns. This quiz delves into key characters, themes of grief and cultural identity, and the supernatural elements influencing Mackenzie's journey. Engage with the rich tapestry of Indigenous storytelling set against the backdrop of Edmonton and rural Alberta.
