Colonialism, a long-standing issue that originated centuries ago, continues to plague Indigenous populations today. One example is in Canada where Indigenous groups have experienced immense suffering as a result of the loss of their cultural heritage and forced assimilation into the mainstream society. Through "Moon of the Crusted Snow," Waubgeshig Rice presents a modern perspective on the history of colonialism, giving readers an insightful understanding of the ongoing trauma caused by oppression and violence in Anishinaabe communities. In Waubgeshig Rice's novel "Moon of the Crusted Snow," the character of Justin Scott serves as a complex and nuanced representation of the ongoing effects of racism on the Anishinaabe community. Through his …show more content…
One of the main themes of the novel is Justin's struggle to find his place in the world, both within his own community and in the larger white-dominated society. Justin is a mixed-race Anishinaabe man, and this creates a sense of alienation, mistrust and a deep sense of not belonging for him. Throughout the novel, Justin reflects on how he felt growing up in a mostly white school, where he was bullied and dehumanized for his heritage. On page 100, Justin states, "I had to constantly be on guard, to hide my culture, to suppress my language...I felt like a stranger in my own skin." (Rice 100)This powerful quote illustrates the damaging effects of forced assimilation on Indigenous peoples, who have been forced to abandon their own culture and adopt the culture of the colonizers. This process has led to a deep sense of alienation and cultural disconnection among Indigenous peoples. Moreover, on page 114, Justin notes that many members of his community have become "disconnected from their traditional ways" (Rice 114) as a result of the forced relocations, residential schools, and other government policies designed to assimilate Indigenous …show more content…
For example, when Evan's community is confronted by a group of white hunters who are illegally poaching on their land, one of the hunters says, "We're just trying to make a living, same as you. We've been doing it for centuries. You people should just be grateful we're here to help you" (p. 78). This passage illustrates how Social Darwinism is used to justify the exploitation and domination of indigenous peoples and their resources. By implying that the white colonizers have been "doing it for centuries," the hunter justifies the continuation of their actions, and at the same time puts indigenous people in the position of being grateful for their actions. In this specific example, the white official suggests that the Anishinaabe people "need to learn how to farm like civilized people," implying that their traditional hunting and gathering are inferior and outdated. This attitude reflects the Eurocentric belief that European culture and ways of life are superior and should be imposed on other cultures. The white official also suggests that the Anishinaabe people "can't just rely on hunting and gathering as you have for centuries," implying that their traditional ways of life are unsustainable and that they need to adopt European ways of farming in order to survive. This attitude reflects the Eurocentric
At the start of the book, Starblanket and Hunt provide vast amounts of historical context to ensure that audiences understand how white settlers in the Prairies, such as Gerald Stanley, felt they had large amounts of power. For example, they take note of the immigration campaigns advocated by Canadian government officials which instilled ideas of masculine pride and superiority in white settlers. Similarly, the two authors also provide extensive explanations of contested land in the Prairie regions of Canada, such as the dissolution of treaties and the growth of property laws, which created the racist environment that ultimately led to Stanley feeling he could shoot at Indigenous people on his farm. Overall, Starblanket and Hunt’s book, Storying Violence, did not just summarize a singular case of an unjust crime against an innocent Indigenous young man.
Both "Moon of the Crusted Snow" by Waubgeshig Rice and "One Native Life" by Richard Wagamese is works of Indigenous literature that offer powerful and thought-provoking insights into the experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada. While the two works differ in genre and structure, they share several common themes woven throughout their narratives. One of the main themes explored in both works is the struggle for Indigenous identity in the face of cultural traditions and societal expectations. In "One Native Life," Wagamese reflects on his journey of self-discovery. At the same time, in "Moon of the Crusted Snow," the Anishinaabe community must confront questions of identity as they navigate a changing world.
Critiquing “Modern Cannibals of the Wild” by Basil Johnston Indigenous struggles have been ignored throughout Canadian history for centuries. They have lost their sacred land, human rights, and communities. Johnston effectively portrays these struggles by putting us in the shoes of Indigenous peoples and reflecting on the damage we have caused to them, whereas Rice directly conveys his message without the same vibrance. Due to the above, Johnston effectively uses stylistic elements to address the negative impact of human greed and environmental exploitation, surpassing the limited impact of similar stylistic elements of Rice’s essay which primarily focuses on personal experiences and lacks the exploration of broader societal issues.
In Lee Maracles’s interview with Context: Beyond the Headlines, Maracle explains the healing properties of literature and how expression through poetry has helped her advocate for Indigenous people. The medicinal properties of literature are a sacred belief of the Stó:lō peoples. The power of poetry helps relieve the chronic wounding created by the colonizers. Maracle begins by addressing how the movement of colonialism caused irreversible intergenerational trauma among the Indigenous communities. She shames the Canadian government because none of the real people who evoked the damage had ever faced confrontation.
By portraying indigenous characters in a nuanced and realistic manner, he challenges preconceived notions, enabling readers to recognize the inherent humanity we all share. Through his storytelling, he hopes to break down barriers and facilitate a better understanding of indigenous experiences, histories, and perspectives, thereby contributing to Canada's ongoing discussion of reconciliation and healing between indigenous and non-indigenous
As in life, throughout Louise Erdrich’s novel, Tracks, the Anishinaabe people suffer myriad violations inflicted upon them by the brutality inherent in settler colonialism: forced relocation to ever-shrinking land, environmental annihilation, depletion of life-sustaining fauna, rampant disease, taxation, bureaucracy, residential schools, false and racist narratives, the Catholic church, alcoholism, and so on. Hence, to suggest the book’s characters operate within a framework of trauma is an understatement. Amid the evolving disaster, although narrators Nanapush and Pauline Puyat often occupy the same spaces and share some characteristics, such as being talkative, sexual, and prone to visions, they perceive their worlds through disparate lenses, and develop along divergent trajectories. While Nanapush is nurturing, community driven, and generally life-affirming, Pauline is self-serving, opportunistic, and energized by death and violence. Whereas Pauline is the face of assimilation,
“If we want to live at peace with ourselves, we need to tell our stories” (3). In Richard Wagamese’s novel, “Indian Horse”, a man named Saul Indian Horse is introduced and he tells his story. He faces a lot of hardships on his journey, including racism, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. He is exposed to violence multiple times. Saul’s experiences help readers understand what it is like as an Indigenous person growing up in Canada.
What do leaders mean to you? The Anishinaabe community is barely surviving, a harsh winter threatening their lives. No power, no food, no resources, and no communication with the outside world. In Waubgeshig Rice’s novel Moon of the Crusted Snow, leadership is the only thing leading to their survival. The whole community shares a common goal.
“By a mix of design and accident, the newcomers triggered a cascade of processes that alienated the land, literally and figuratively, from its indigenous people.” (Taylor, American Colonies,
Tracey Lindberg’s novel Birdie is narratively constructed in a contorting and poetic manner yet illustrates the seriousness of violence experience by Indigenous females. The novel is about a young Cree woman Bernice Meetoos (Birdie) recalling her devasting past and visionary journey to places she has lived and the search for home and family. Lindberg captures Bernice’s internal therapeutic journey to recover from childhood traumas of incest, sexual abuse, and social dysfunctions. She also presents Bernice’s self-determination to achieve a standard of good health and well-being. The narrative presents Bernice for the most part lying in bed and reflecting on her dark life in the form of dreams.
The indigenous people are literally crashing into the buildings produced by the colonizing culture, “Look out! Bob shouts. There are Indians flying into the skyscrapers and falling on the sidewalk.” (King 63) and it adequately represents the lack of adaptability of the Native Canadians. Thomas King taps again into the effects of colonialism and notions the indigenous people as uneducated and an untamed species.
Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese and Sufferance by Thomas King are two novels that tell stories about the Indigenous experience in Canada. Both books deal with similar themes that are developed through the use of key literary elements such as the concept of trauma and its lasting effects on individuals and communities, Identity, Cultural Heritage, Healing, Racism, and Discrimination, both novels approach these themes in different ways. Firstly in both Indian Horse and Sufferance one of the main topics is identity and the theme of struggling with fitting in society. Both books explore the notion of what it means to be Indigenous in a settler colonial society.
Losing one’s cultural knowledge, and therefore the reality of their culture, allows others to have control over their collective and individual consciousness as well as their destiny. In this case, it is clear that the United States government has had the dominant relationship over the Native
The book allows the reader to truly understand what Indigenous people went through in Canada’s past by looking at assimilation as a war and not just some event in history. Soldiers battled for their life on the front
By doing this, colonial Canadians assumed that aboriginal cultural and spiritual beliefs were invalid in relation to European beliefs (244). The problem with ridding the First Nations Peoples of their languages, as Williston points out is to “deprive them of the sense of place that has defined them for thousands of years” (245). The private schooling system was an attack on First Nations identities, and their identity is rooted in “a respect for nature and its processes” (245).