What's the importance of forgiveness in "Smoke Signals"? How does Victor learn to forgive his father?

Forgiveness is something your release out from the all the pain and anger you may have piled up. If you don't learn to forgive you'll constantly be stuck in the past, therefore it is better to forgive so you can live in the future and move on. Even though you are forgiving it doesn't mean that you are forgetting, it just means your letting go of the pain and anger. In "Smoke Signals" Victor was angry and held a grudge against his father, because he had left him and his mom when he was very young. For Victor not forgiving his father it makes things more complicated for him to move on with his life. Because Victor's father was an abusive alcoholic towards him and his mother that made it harder for him to forgive and it was not until Victor's father passed away that he realized he should of forgiven his father and spent times with him. Victor had to go pick up his fathers ashes, and Thomas offered go with him. I believe Thomas helped Victor realize that he should have forgiven his father.