How The Prophecy By Basil H. Johnson: The Effects Of Colonization

The reframing of mainstream rhetoric is a powerful weapon against the long-lasting effects of colonization. The short story “The Prophecy” by Basil H. Johnson, an Anishinaabe and Canadian storyteller and scholar, and the spoken word “Home isn’t Home” by Makayla Webkamigad, a student at Algoma University and poet, both stress the effects of colonization through the perspective of Indigenous peoples. When Europeans arrived in Canada, they did not only take advantage of the land, but attempted to rip Indigenous people of their culture through forced assimilation. Both stories work to reconstruct the lens through which Canadians view the cultural genocide, ultimately decolonizing the outlook society has on FNMI communities. Although “Home is not

The repetition of significant phrases in “The Prophecy” as well as “Home isn’t Home” is an intentional technique deployed to fight back against the systematic biases created by colonization. In “The Prophecy” the storyteller Daebaudjimootoften emphasizes the strangeness of the “white people” the way one would a foreign species, “The men and women that I speak of are all white, face, bodies, arms, hands and legs, pale as the rabbits of winter” (Johnson 1). His description, “different too is the color of their hair” (Johnson 1). He draws attention to the seeming distinctions between his own group and those who are “pale as the rabbits of winter” (Johnson 1). The audience responded, “An albino caribou; an albino beaver, yes! But are albino people the same? Who ever heard of White People? Even Daebaudjimoot had to laugh”(Johnson 1). Provide more evidence of the feelings of unfamiliarity the author was aiming to express. Johnson’s emphasis on these differences is created to make readers aware of the impact that colonization has had on Indigenous cultures and identities. Similarly, “Home isn’t Home” repeats important words & phrases to convey its message on the negative effects of colonization on

In “The Prophecy” the perspective is anchored in the past, particularly through Daebaudjimoot’s foreseeing of the arrival of colonizers, symbolizing the historical struggle against the elimination of Indigenous culture. For instance, the way he begins his story illustrates the prophetic nature of his vision, “‘It's not really a story because it has not yet taken place; but it will take place just as the events in the past have occurred.’ Daebaudjimoot paused to fill his pipe. ‘And even though what I'm about to tell you has not yet come to pass, it is as true as if it has already happened because the auttissookaunuk told me in a dream’"(Johnson 1). By presenting the story from the perspective of an Indigenous character, the narrative highlights the challenges of colonization from an authentic point of view. This perspective is created to push readers to take a deeper look at their understanding of the history of colonization, allowing the author to restore the dominant narrative of the arrival of Europeans and ultimately decolonize the story. Johnson does a great job using the past to humorously retell a story that still has significant impact on the FNMI community to this day. Comparably, “Home isn’t Home” utilizes the perspective of a young Indigenous woman to share its story.