The narrative of Tracks centers on the harrowing experiences of the Anishinabe people, also known as Chippewa or Ojibway, between 1912 and 1924 in Matchimanito, North Dakota. It intricately weaves the life of Fleur Pillager with those around her, exploring their fight for survival and the complex web of conflicts they face. The story is told through the alternating perspectives of Nanapush, a wise tribal elder, and Pauline Puyat, a fervent nun of mixed descent, whose accounts both complement and contradict each other.

Rescue and Recovery

As a seventeen-year-old, Fleur is rescued by Nanapush during a brutal winter when many in Matchimanito succumb to illness and starvation. After regaining her health, she moves to Argus to work in a butcher shop. There, she meets Pauline, a younger girl who knows Fleur as a survivor of two near-drownings, believing her to be favored by Misshepeshu, the enigmatic lake monster. Pauline recounts how Fleur, having drawn the attention of three male workers and bested them in cards, faces sexual assault. Her nephew, Russell, tries to intervene but fails. A tornado later hits, prompting the men to seek shelter in a meat locker, where Russell locks them in, resulting in the death of two men. Following these events, Pauline returns to the reservation and discovers Fleur is pregnant. While the circumstances of Fleur's pregnancy are unclear, Nanapush claims that with his personal knowledge and love medicines, he helped Eli Kashpaw, a hunter, win her love. Fleur's childbirth is fraught with danger, nearly taking her life, and the baby, named Lulu Nanapush, becomes a central figure in Nanapush's narrative.

Complicated Relationships

Pauline finds work on a farm in Argus owned by Bernadette Morrisey. As she becomes aware of her own sexuality, she experiments with Napoleon, Bernadette's brother, but ultimately feels drawn to Eli. Rebuffed by him, she retaliates using love potions, resulting in Eli's unintended intimacy with Sophie, Bernadette's daughter. As punishment, Sophie is sent away by her mother and ends up at Fleur's cabin, where her presence strains Fleur and Eli's relationship. Seeking retribution for Sophie, Bernadette's son Clarence attacks and humiliates Margaret, Eli's mother. This insult prompts a united response from Margaret, Nanapush, and Fleur.

Pauline's Transformation

Pauline's involvement with Napoleon leads to the birth of her daughter Marie, who is left in Bernadette's care. Seeking redemption, Pauline enters Sister Anne's convent where she claims to witness visions of Christ. Consumed with a mission to rid the land of evil, she returns to the reservation. During a visit, Fleur goes into premature labor, but Pauline's clumsiness prevents her from stopping the bleeding. Consequently, Fleur loses consciousness, and the baby does not survive.

Struggles and Betrayals

As winter tightens its grip, the scarcity of food becomes dire. Adding to their woes, Father Damien announces the impending foreclosure of land allotted to the Pillager, Kashpaw, and Nanapush families unless taxes are paid. Amid this crisis, Fleur falls ill with a mysterious condition. Despite Pauline's disruptive interference during a healing ceremony, the families manage to gather enough resources to cover the taxes. However, their trust is betrayed when Nector Kashpaw, Eli's brother, diverts the payment to secure Kashpaw land, leaving Nanapush and Fleur devastated. This betrayal fractures Fleur's relationship with Eli and pushes her to attempt suicide by drowning.

Pauline's Delusions and Consequences

Obsessed with martyrdom in her newfound faith, Pauline seeks to confront what she perceives as Satan, embodied by the lake monster. In her delusion, she mistakenly kills Napoleon and later takes her vows, becoming Sister Leopolda.

Fleur's Final Stand

The encroachment of a lumber company near Fleur’s home heightens tensions. To protect her daughter, Fleur sends Lulu to a government school and devises a plan for revenge. Ingeniously, she weakens the trees around her cabin so that they appear intact. When the lumber company men arrive to forcibly remove her, the trees come crashing down, causing destruction to men and equipment. In the aftermath, Fleur departs from her land. Recognizing the power of political influence, Nanapush decides to run for tribal chairmanship to aid his people. Upon victory, he succeeds in rescuing Lulu from the government school.