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Harvey is a Cheyenne man who lived with Jacquie Red Feather and Opal Viola Victoria Bear Shield on Alcatraz when all three of them were young adults. After disappearing from their lives for decades, Harvey is looped back in with their family after discovering that he is the absent father of two adult children: Blue and Edwin. Harvey’s relationship with Jacquie, the mother of one of his children, is fraught. On Alcatraz, Harvey was a troublemaking, alcoholic teenager who invaded Jacquie’s boundaries by attempting to sexually assault her. Eventually, his attempts proved successful: after being raped by Harvey, Jacquie becomes pregnant with a baby girl, whom she later gives up for adoption. Harvey’s behavior, like much of the violent behavior showcased in the novel, is due in part to his own personal and communal trauma: he and his brother are victims of physical abuse by their father, and, like many in the Native community, Harvey uses alcohol as a coping mechanism. Drinking exacerbates his emotional dysregulation, which results in violent, misogynistic behavior. Decades later, when Harvey randomly reunites with Jacquie at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, Harvey, who has been sober for many years, holds himself accountable for the rape and apologizes to Jacquie. He expresses interest in connecting with their daughter.
Although Jacquie is willing to strike a tentative peace treaty with Harvey, she’s not entirely convinced that he is truly changed or redeemable. While she notes that the abuse in his upbringing likely led to his violent behavior, she’s hesitant to forgive him. On their road trip to Oakland, Harvey encourages Jacquie to sleep in the extra bed in his hotel room, which strikes her as a sleazy invitation for sex. While she believes that Harvey is genuinely contrite over his past and is impressed by the positive changes he has made in his life, Jacquie still senses an objectifying and misogynistic undertone in Harvey’s interactions with her. This suggests that, while Harvey has put a stop to his physically violent urge to dominate women, he has not reckoned with his deeper beliefs about women and the role he expects them to play in his life.
Despite these remaining concerns, Harvey’s dedication to reconnecting with his children is admirable. While his first meeting with Edwin is slightly awkward, it’s also clear that Harvey is genuinely happy and relieved to be reunited with his son. The two embrace firmly, and both seem reluctant to part. After the shooting, Harvey arrives at the hospital to support his son, Jacquie, and the rest of the family as Edwin is treated for his injuries and they wait on news of Orvil’s condition. While the pain Harvey inflicted on Jacquie may not ever be truly forgivable, his reconnection with Jacquie and his children implies that there is hope that the entire family will find a way to move forward despite past wounds.
