Childhood Trauma in Indian Horse Childhood experiences shape and foster a trajectory forward when predicated on stable and ethical values. Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese pivots around the collapse of childhood innocence that shatters Saul Indian Horse’s transition into adulthood. Through Saul’s narrative, Wagamese highlights the long-term impact of childhood trauma and the resilience required to cope with its aftermath. Saul Indian Horse’s narratology characterizes the repercussions of childhood trauma inflicted by the separation from his family, the residential school and his consequential coping mechanisms of hockey and alcohol. Separation from his family is the beginning of Saul's tragic journey. Saul is torn away from his grandmother’s …show more content…
Her embrace represents not only familial affection, but also the transmission of culture and spiritual strength. In this quote, “Naomi told me stories, kept me away from the adults when they were in the grips of the drink. She showed me how to skin the squirrels and woodchucks we could sometimes catch in those thin woods'' (Wagamese 14). Saul explains how Naomi would protect him from his alcoholic parents and show him their traditional practices. The imagery of skinning squirrels and woodchucks connects Saul to his lineage, it also connects him to the land. This protection and education forms an environment of belonging, which is ripped away when Saul is sent to the residential school. As Saul is thrown into an environment meant to destroy his indigenous identity, Naomi's lessons serve as reminders of a society where he truly belongs. The death of Naomi and the separation from his family lurks with him throughout his life. In this quote Saul reflects, "When he knelt down and cradled me in his arms, I felt no shame or fear. I only felt love. I wanted so much to be held and