Nine-year-old Omakayas, of the Ojibwe tribe, moves west with her family in 1849 following the death of her baby brother, Neewo, from smallpox that killed many villagers. Omakayas and her family learn of a new threat with the arrival of chimookomanag--white people. When the U.S. government orders removal of the Ojibwe westward, a small advance party leaves to gather information while the remaining tribe members adjust to the new villagers and prepare for their changing future. As the seasons pass, Omakayas matures toward adulthood.

Sequel to: The birchbark house.