γ― (wa) is a particle that flags a noun as being the topic of a sentence.1
Example: As for me, I am an American
γγγγ―γ’γ‘γͺγ«δΊΊγ
Info
In this example, γγγ (I) is marked by the γ― particle, flagging the speaker as the topic of the sentence (e.g in relation to me).
The γ particle is missing, which means that the core subject is not explicitly stated. In this case it defaults to γγγ (I).
γ’γ‘γͺγ«δΊΊ has the γ copula which means it is a class that the core subject (γγγ) belongs to.