Crows
In the context of Catching Teller Crow, birds are a symbol of the way that the living and the dead communicate between realms. This symbol underscores how fickle the relationship between both is.
Fire
Fire is one of the most powerful symbols in the novel. Typically, fire symbolizes destruction in literature. However, in Catching Teller Crow, it symbolizes both destruction and renewal. The past's crimes that were committed against Indigenous people are brought to light through the arson of the Indigenous girls' school, signaling that fire also represents cleansing.
Ghosts
Ghosts, most specifically Beth Heller's ghost, is symbolic of grief. After the sudden tragic death of his daughter Beth, Michael Heller is able to see and interact with his daughter's ghost. He is only able to do so because of his grief, which has plagued him. He uses his newfound ability to interact with his daughter as a way to work through his grief.
Trees
Trees are symbolic of the ties that exist between the living and the spiritual worlds. Trees are present in both worlds; they also tie both worlds together.
The Indigenous home for children
The Indigenous home for children is a powerful symbol of the systematic abuse many Indigenous peoples suffered at the hands of their white oppressors. Rather than letting the native people survive and thrive, white people forced them into camps and homes like the one in the story, stripping them of their freedom and identities.
