Character Analysis
Saknis is Attean's grandfather, and this gramps is all that and a bag of chips (sour cream and onion, please and thank you). He's the chief of the Beaver clan, a mighty hunter, and a loving grandfather/father-figure to Attean—after Attean and his sister's parents were killed, Saknis and his wife became their guardians.
Saknis respects his people and culture, but he sees more than most of the men he leads. Call him the Dumbledore of the Beaver clan, if you will. With good reason, Attean and Saknis's wife detest any white people—white men slaughtered Attean's father and mother, after all—yet Saknis seeks to see beneath the surface. He's not unfeeling or cold, but he seems to clue in on the fact that (1) not all white people are evil, and (2) they aren't going away.
Because of this, Saknis is willing to save Matt's life when he finds the boy in a serious bee sting situation, and he also makes the practical decision to have Matt teach Attean English (though Attean thinks this idea is the worst). Since white trappers continue to force the Beaver clan further west, Saknis knows his grandson will need English to avoid being cheated when he inevitably enters into agreements with white folks down the road. As Saknis explains:
White man come more and more to Indian land. White man not make treaty with pipe. White man make signs on paper, signs Indian not know. Indian put mark on paper to show him friend of white man. Then white man take land. Tell Indian cannot hunt on land. Attean learn to read white man's signs. Attean not give away hunting grounds. (6.50)
Attean doesn't have to like it, but Saknis knows what's best for the future of both his grandson and his clan, and he will do all he can to prepare them both for the changing world of the future. If Attean is going to be a leader someday, then he's going to need to know English in order to defend his clan against the advances of white folks. It's a grim reality, but Saknis recognizes it as true and proceeds accordingly.