We can see that this is a man with experience. We"re able to relate to him and see how his thoughts begin. Most of us can relate because, like him, we go about our day without analytically thinking about what we"re doing. If society says it's right, then most likely we will feel good that we are doing what society tells us is good, just like what Owens does and feels. Once he gains our trust and understanding, he's ready to lead us into the next part of his story.
He now assumes his ashamed and thoughtful persona. As the women approach, he feels, "growing amazement that, by the time [they] were face-to-face, had become awe." (para.4) From the beginning, he has a sudden respect for these two women. We can already see that when they speak to him, he will listen, that he will be open and trusting of what they have to say. Upon hearing that they are on their way to White Pass, Owens completely changes his persona. Now, instead of showing the confidence and smugness he did with his original persona, he now shows that he is ashamed and calls himself ignorant. "I wanted to excuse myself, to edge around these elders and flee to the trailhead and my car, drive back to the district station and keep going south." (para.9) He shows us the inner conflict he is experiencing and his reaction to the news he has heard. At the moment, he hasn't quite come to grips with his new point of view. He begins to feel ashamed, not because he realizes his view on the wilderness is wrong, but because he feels guilt about the shelter. He shows us that at this point, he feels guilty because he has betrayed his culture. In paragraph nine, he feels as if he ought to justify what he has done when he wants to say, "I"m Indian too." This is the beginning of his thinking process to change his point of view. Adding to his guilt is the sister's reactions. "I expected outrage, anger, sadness, but instead the sisters continued to smile at me, their smiles changing only slightly.