Character Analysis
Chief Chowig is the father of Karana, Ulape, and Ramo, and the leader of the people of Ghalas-at. Chowig represents the male leadership (patriarchal order) of the village. He negotiates for his people with the Aleuts. As he tells his daughter, he believes the Aleuts are incapable of friendship (2.7), and soon he gets killed by the Russian men. He represents the old, male leaders of the island, which Karana later replaces. She also proves her father wrong when she becomes friends with an Aleutian girl named Tutok.