Characters are the backbone of a story that portray various themes which the novel Indian Horse sheds light on. The author, Richard Wagamese, communicates important ideas about family and tradition, and abuse and trauma through the stories of Naomi, Sister Ignacia, Virgil, and Father Gaston LeBoutillier. Fred Kelly and Naomi embody the themes of family and tradition to the protagonist, Saul Indian Horse, assisting him in navigating his identity as an Indigenous person in a world that attempts to obliterate his culture. Naomi is chosen to represent the theme of family and tradition since grandmothers are the ones who instill family and traditional values in their grandchildren in Ojibway culture. She has a strong sense of pride and devotion …show more content…
“Old Naomi fought against it, trying to throw the books in the fire. Their talks and stories can sneak you away as quick as their boats,” (10). As a form of protesting white culture, Naomi makes her case. To recognize traditional activities, “Each family had their own braid tied their special way so that they can be recognized in the rice beds. Each head of rice is tied with these.” She continues, “We make a ceremony out of the gathering. It teaches us to remember that rice is a gift from creator.” (25). Naomi shapes Saul's indigenous identity by instilling pride in their culture and beliefs through traditional activities. Fred Kelly also has an impact on Saul's new identity by assisting him in overcoming trauma through emotional support. Fred is keen to assist him in pursuing his hockey ambition, which is typical of family behavior. By representing a more modern approach to Indigenous identity, Fred Kelly pushes Saul to pursue hockey as a method of achievement in a white-dominated environment. "Just keep your stick on the ice and your feet moving. Time will take care of itself." (210). By travelling to God's Lake, Naomi teaches Saul the value of their heritage and customs, by …show more content…
Sister Ignacia and Father LeBoutillier, the two main antagonists highlight the abuse and trauma that Indigenous people have endured for many years and the need for healing and reconciliation. Unfortunately, Saul had to let Sister Ignacia, a pernicious person, into his life. She was a nun in charge of the residential school where Saul is placed. By eradicating traditional values, repressing a group's language and customs, and requiring kids to adapt into white culture through education, she justifies her actions. Sister Ignacia's treatment of Saul is clear evidence of her conviction in the superiority of European culture over Native American culture. “Your Father is the heavenly father. You will learn that here. Your human father has nothing to offer you anymore.” She is in favor of changing the names of these indigenous children to remove their Indian component, except for Saul, whose name corresponds to the biblical meaning. Father LeBoutillier, on the other hand, was a representative of the Catholic Church, which was heavily involved in the Indian Residential School system, which subjected Indigenous children to sexual abuse, emotional torture, physical assault, and cultural genocide. He attended St. Jerome's as a Catholic Priest, exposing the institutional racism and colonialism that still affect Indigenous
Vincent Girard Mrs.Brooks NBE 3UI June 8, 2023 From Light to Darkness Indigenous communities have been subjected to racism in Canada for hundreds of years. The book A Quality Of Light by Richard Wagamese focuses on the unethical issues Indigenous peoples are facing in Canada while telling the story of a man named Joshua Kane. There are many issues this book touches on, one being the mistreatment that Indigenous communities are facing in Canada, which needs to change. In my writing, I plan to focus on the unethical wrong-doings that Canada has done to the Indigenous peoples.
In the novel, Boyden concentrates on representing the indigenous identity of the protagonists of the novels through following the tradition
The indigenous condition in Canada was a malleable asset in most of its history in the eyes of upper-class Canadians, stripping away from their past and their culture, to later incorporate into mainstream Canadiana, through violent and destructive means. For protagonist Saul Indian Horse, it’s no different. From cover to cover, he faces the power of white supremacy breaking him down, with his passion for hockey providing resilience in the bigotry. Despite that, his relationship with the sport recedes with age, following in tandem with the depths of his negative emotions, soon separating himself from hockey. Indian Horse's account of experiences on and off the rink emphasizes the motif of hockey, his relations regarding it ebbing and flowing,
Paragraph 1 In Richard Wagamese's novel "Indian Horse," Saul Indian Horse is a beguiling and multifaceted character. He is the novel's protagonist and narrator, and he gives readers a poignant and informative account of his life as an indigenous Canadian and his journey for self-awareness. Saul's honest and genuine voice immediately captivates readers. Saul, a Northern Ontario Ojibwe child, grows up in a traumatic and challenging environment. At residential schools, where students are forcefully isolated from their families, they are subjected to physical, emotional, and cultural torture.
The character Saul Indian Horse in Richard Wagamese's novel "Indian Horse" is an example of perseverance in the face of racial prejudice and adversity. Despite being taken from his family and forced to attend a residential school, Saul finds comfort in hockey and becomes an exceptional player. However, he still faces discrimination on the ice due to his ethnicity. Instead of giving up or giving in to anger, Saul chooses to let the game be his escape and holds onto his dream of playing, even when faced with opposition. Through his perseverance and determination, Saul is able to achieve success on the ice and overcome his struggles with alcoholism.
Through the Medicine Wheel, we are reminded of our lifelong journey that is continuous upon birth and living through youth, adulthood and senior years. In Richard Wagamese’s Indian Horse, the protagonist Saul experiences many obstacles which shape and develop his character. Saul’s life can be divided into more than the four stages of life to better understand his journey. Saul’s Life with His Family The time Saul was able to spend with his family was very short due to the effects of the white men.
The detrimental and unfair categorization of people by race, gender and more, commonly known as discrimination, affects many in society both mentally and emotionally. Many instances of this act of hatred occurred among Aboriginal and Native Canadians in the 20th century. However, for a little Native Indian boy stepping onto the rink, this is the norm that surrounds him. Saul Indian Horse, in Richard Wagamese’s “Indian Horse”, faces discrimination head on, where his strengths for hockey are limited by the racial discrimination from the surrounding white ethnicity. Consequently, this racism draws him into a mentally unstable state, where he suffers heavy consequences.
This quote affirms Jesse's Métis background and encourages him to safeguard it, despite any difficulties. Additionally, it emphasises the determination and pride of the Métis people, who have endured marginalisation and prejudice throughout history. His grandparents often taught him the customary Métis ways of trapping, fishing, and hunting. "I loved those moments with him, just like I loved learning to make traditional food with my grandmother" (Thistle 86). Jesse was able to connect with his culture through these activities and grow to be proud of who he is.
As the author spends time with the Palestinian lady, they start to know each other better. “We called up her son, I spoke with him in English. I told him I would stay with his mother till we got on the plane. She talked to him.” The quote showed that Naomi was trying to help the lady feel more comfortable bu using her own precious time to take care of the Palestinian woman.
Indian Horse, a severe painful yet beautiful novel by Ojibway writer Richard Wagamese, concerns Saul Indian Horse, a former hockey star undergoing treatment for alcoholism. Saul chronicles his life story as a means of identifying the source of his addiction. His autobiography is a familiar vehicle for conveying the novel’s plot. At the same time, it demonstrates how knowing your own story can heal a broken spirit.
As the world somehow continues to spin, it is crucial to take a step back and create distance from the harsh realities of the world. In the novel Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese, Saul Indian Horse uses hockey to escape the abuse and cultural genocide from his residential school, while managing to make his mark in the game. The game of hockey plays a positive role in Saul’s life, as it shields him from the brutality of his residential school while allowing him to reconcile with his childhood. When abusive behavior rises at St. Jerome's and forces the children to follow the same customs, Saul needs something to differentiate himself from everyone else. Initially, Saul becomes horrified by the measures the kids go through to withstand the school
Initially, when Saul starts playing with his hockey reserve team, he experiences his first encounter with racism. While Saul is enjoying the game, he is suddenly kicked out of the team and remarks to Mr. Leboutiller the reason behind this is “‘because I am an Indian, isn’t it’ ‘yes’, he said” (Wagamese 91). At this moment, Saul is a victim of exclusion at a young age and recognises; not only in the residential school are Indians victims of discrimination due their appearance, culture and differences, but also outside of the residential school. Through his first encounter with exclusion, he slowly notices the segregation that surrounds him resulting in mental abuse because he becomes very cautious. After Saul leaves the residential school to live with the Kelly’s, he begins to play with the Moose.
People encounter many obstacles in their lifetimes, obstacles that are too arduous to overcome by themselves. They must find a way to get through these difficulties, and there is always something, or someone, that helps keep them sane through these hard hours. To Saul Indian Horse, the main character of Richard Wagamese’s novel Indian Horse, that obstacle is St. Jerome’s Residential School and the very element that kept him sane was hockey. In the residential school, Saul is abused both mentally and physically, witnessing the continued deaths of his Indian classmates. Fortunately, Saul was able to keep himself sane through hockey.
For those who have parent’s that were once immigrants or have strong culture beliefs causes background difficulty to adapt and fit into society. In the story of Frank Norris “McTeague” he provides examples of how the characters in one’s ethic background surpasses ethnic tendencies. In “McTeague” the reader is able to see the stereotypes of the 19th Century in America. The characters of McTeague, Trina and Zerkow are used to show the reader how their stereotypes have affected them through the novel and to some lead them to their death.
Though, this piece could not be published as it is deemed controversial. But for Cheryl, she knows it by heart, and it outlines the problem both the Metis and Indian people are going through. On the other hand, April despises her Metis culture and heritage. “‘… so anything to do with the Indians, I despised’” (40). April dreams of living similarly to a white person.