It is apparent that religion and magic realism encompasses almost every character in this book and it also plays a parallel role. The main characters have to battle between the Western World's religion, Christianity, and their own religion. Some people do convert, but it is the Dakota religion that seems to be stronger and have a lot more meaning to its people. The whole religion concept begins with Red Dress, a Sioux that has been with her people even after her death.
             This novel moves back and forth in time from 1864-1982. In the mid 1860's, a young Sioux maiden, Red Dress, translates the sermons of Father La Frambois but deliberately misinterprets the Jesuit's message, through which he hoped to convert her tribe. In a dream, she sees herself in a western settlement and is compelled to journey to Fort Laramie, "My life, like Ghost Horse's, was altered by a dream. It was decided that I would travel to Fort Laramie after the spring thaw. No one knew what would happen once I arrivedâ€"assuming I completed the treacherous journeyâ€"least of all myself. Father La Frambois had said the Lord called him into service, and this is how I felt: directed by the spiritsâ€" (Power 247). Here she becomes secretary to the zealous Reverend Pyke, and falls victim to the ultimate treachery when the crazed preacher murders her, "You will not work your ways on me, Pyke thundered. I made you and fostered your demon intelligence. I will unmake youâ€. He raised his silver revolver, aiming it at my heart. The gun's barrel was a black eye, and when it exploded, a streak of bright color rose to meet the bulletâ€" (Power 276). After Pyke shot Red Dress, he left a note pinned to her dress saying, "Upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy lifeâ€" (Power 278). Pyke was basically telling Red Dress she would become a snake and wonder the earth,...