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Spirituality And Traditions In Empire Of Wild And Monkey Beach

1320 Words6 Pages

Spirituality and Traditions in the Empire of Wild and Monkey Beach. The two novels discussed in class rely heavily on the indigenous culture as the setting for each plot. One source of tension in Monkey Beach is Lisa's "gift"—the ability to see prophetic visions and dreams, often seeing the little man, a tree spirit that appears as a warning sign before a tragic event happens. Lisa's "gift" is a burden from which she shies away from due to uncertainty of her powers and no control over the spirit. Her connection to the Hiasla culture is through her grandmother and Uncle Mick, who share their knowledge throughout the story. Meanwhile, Empire of Wild incorporates the Metis culture, setting the fantasy element of the modern-like rogarou, who embodies …show more content…

Ph.D. professors Cathy MacDonald and Audrey Steenbeek argued the impacts and effects of colonization and assimilation within historical, economic, and socio-political contexts to situate inequities in Indigenous people's lives. A prevalent example used to display the lasting historical effect of assimilation is Residential schools, where indigenous children "...faced inhumane living conditions caused by chronic under-funding and neglect" (MacDonald and Steenbeek). Characters that faced such conditions, Trudy and Mick, went on to deal with their traumas in different ways. Trudy consumed copious amounts of alcohol; At the same time, Mick became very passionate about Native rights as a member of AIM and resisted conforming to modern life. However, he endures constant nightmares, stating in a rage, "You cannot tell me what I fucking went through and what I did not" (Robinson 109). The mention of residential schools rightfully portrays the cultural significance of the forced genocide. The effect of assimilation contributes to the poor living conditions and mental state many indigenous people face because it alienates them from their "beliefs, languages, families, and identities" (MacDonald and Steenbeek). Joan, part of a newer generation, came in touch with her heritage through Mama-oo and Mick due to copious amounts of time spent with each of them, thus gaining cultural knowledge and learning traditional practices such as Oolichan fishing and mourning rituals. Mama-oo taught Joan many things and some medical practices she knew, noting, "All the people knew the old ways are gone. Anyone else is doing it in secret" (Robinson 154). Navigating the post-colonial world, especially for the newer generation, is difficult. Hence, the lack of knowledge challenges the protagonist while trying to connect with the

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