As Leon accepts the death of Telifo, he “ tie[s] a small gray feather in the old man's long white hair”, symbolizing perseverance of his soul and of life (Silko paragraph 2). Just as Telifo’s body and spirit are kept alive, incorporating this small detail further highlights Silko’s message of preserving the Native American culture. Gray is a neutral color and Silko uses it to symbolize the balance between two things, such as life and death or tradition and change. Specific colors in the Native American community highlight the perseverance of the culture and what it means to die as a Native American. While Silko places an importance on keeping cultures alive, she also states the importance of change and acceptance by expressing the Native Americans’ choice to bless Telifo’s body with holy water. As Louise comes to terms with the necessities for a Christian burial, she tries to convince Leon that Telifo deserves to be sprinkled with holy water, not just to accept modern change but “So he won’t be thirsty” (Silko paragraph 19). This quote shows the Native American belief in life after death and incorporates Silko’s idea of change as something that is not