Racism And Stereotypes In Indian Horse By Richard Wagamese

In recent years, Canada has built a reputation for its diverse and accepting society, however, the racist and violent treatment towards different ethnic groups, specifically Indigenous communities, makes up a significant part of the country's history and continues to have an effect on today’s society. The novel, Indian Horse, written by Richard Wagamese, strives to prove how individuals who encounter racial abuse and stereotypes will face hardships in an attempt to live to their full potential. This point is exhibited through Saul’s harsh experience in Residential School, his hockey journey, and alcoholism struggle.

SUBTOPIC:

The first example of how racism and racial stereotypes prevent an individual from reaching their full potential

These violent consequences are used as a scare tactic to ensure that the kids won’t attempt to speak the language. These actions were constantly enforced by nuns and priests to show how they have absolutely “no tolerance for Indian talk”. Saul later on expresses “the tearing away of the bush and my people was like ripped flesh in my bell, everytime I moved or was forced to speak, it roared its incredible pain.” In this quote, Saul compares the act of being torn away from the bush with his grandma and people to the feeling of having ripped flesh in his belly. This graphic imagery of a lingering pain residing in his stomach symbolizes the racism and hatred he faces. Saul expresses that every time he moved or was forced to speak “it roared its incredible pain”, which was in reference to how Saul and the other kids were forced to abandon their mother tongue and speak the language of the colonists. Getting kidnapped only began the indescribable pain, while the racist actions done at St. Jeromes caused the pain to flare up and “roar”. The act of prohibiting the speaking of Ojibwe is one of the many ways St. Jerome’s Residential school used racism and violence

Jerome's Residential School, Saul expands on his passion for hockey. He plays for a higher league team, where he, unfortunately, continues to face racism of different degrees. All the trauma and racism Saul experienced from the residential school and his hockey journey would suddenly start to take a toll on him: “The rage was still there. It sat squarely in my chest whenever I heard ‘chief’, ‘tonto’, ‘geronimo’, ‘dumb injun’ or the hundred other labels” (Wagamese 180). Saul expresses that these specific phrases would be said to taunt Saul and show the people’s racist nature. The rage that reoccurs whenever he encounters a racist event, is described as sitting “squarely” in his chest. Rage isn’t an object that can physically sit on someone’s chest, it symbolizes the heavy anger and sadness he constantly feels. When an individual experiences a strong/heavy wave of emotion, usually grief, anger, or sadness, the pain is felt in their chest; this is what Saul is referring to when he states “rage sitting squarely in my