How we cite our quotes: (Section.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
It was a poor convent. I didn't see that then, but I know that now. Compared to others it was humble, ragtag, out in the middle of no place. It was the end of the world for some. Where the maps stopped. Where God had only half a hand in the creation. Where the Dark One had put in thick bush, liquor, wild dogs, and Indians. (2.1.6)
Catholicism has a weird position in the book… at times, it seems like it hasn't replaced Native American customs and religion so much as claimed its own jurisdiction within those customs. You can see that here in this quote from Marie's inner monologue, which suggests that perhaps the Catholic God hasn't been entirely responsible for everything around them at the reservation—apparently, in some people's views, Satan took over with certain things, including alcohol and "Indians."
Quote #5
I was like those bush Indians who stole the holy black hat of a Jesuit and swallowed little scraps of it to cure their fevers. But the hat itself carried smallpox and was killing them with belief. Veils of faith! (2.1.8)
Here, Marie's faith appears to be getting a shake, perhaps because she's become the victim of the crazed and delusional Sister Leopolda. There definitely seems to be an analogy between the smallpox-infested hat Marie references and Leopolda's "religion"—they both look like holy things, but they kill.
Quote #6
The Pillager was living back there with the spirits. Back where the woods were logged off and brush had twisted together, impassable, she kept house and cared for Nanapush. That side of the lake belonged to her. Twice she lost it, twice she got it back. Four times she returned. Now she wore moccasins, let her braids grow long, traveled into town on foot, scorned the nuns as they scorned her, visited the priest. She made no confession, though some said Father Damien Modeste confessed his sins to her. (5.2.29)
These are Marie's thoughts about Fleur Pillager, Lulu's mother, who helped Marie while she was giving birth. Like Lulu and Lipsha, Fleur definitely seems to be associated with Native American customs and religion (as opposed to any others that had been introduced by non-Native Americans)—as Marie says, Fleur "scorned" the nuns and, yet, "was living back there with the spirits." In other words, she does her own thing, and she doesn't kowtow to the local priest… if anything, he kowtows to her, apparently.