The voices of Indigenous children are unheard and purposely ignored. This is portrayed through the literature of Birdie by Tracey Lindberg and Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese. Despite receiving apologies from Prime Ministers Stephen Harper and Justin Trudeau, the government system to protect First Nations families appears to have detrimental effects on the native children. This is proven by young children turning to drugs in order to satisfy their growing pain, by family members who abuse their kids because of alcohol addictions, and the increasing discriminatory behaviour by surrounding communities. To begin with, young children are turning to drugs in order to satisfy their growing pain.
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.
Evan Davies Monkey Beach January 14 English 12 Ms. Neilson Throughout the novel "Monkey Beach," author Eden Robinson tells the story of a young Haisla woman named Lisamarie as she navigates the aftermath of several traumatic experiences in her Indigenous community of Kitamaat. Lisamarie's coping mechanisms and journey to find closure in dealing with her traumatic experiences demonstrate realistic responses to trauma that are faced by Indigenous communities across Canada, as well as the importance of reconciliation in finding closure in real-world Canadian Indigenous communities through healthy coping mechanisms. Through Lisamarie's coping mechanisms, Robinson highlights the realistic ways in which Indigenous communities respond to trauma,
In her novel Monkey Beach, Eden Robinson initiates a literary and political discourse about the status of First Nations peoples in contemporary British Columbia. Her depiction of a Haisla family living in present-day Kitamaat exposes the diffi culties faced by First Nations bands in preserving their traditions, values, and social mores under the dominating infl uence of Canada’s West Coast society, which, for the purposes of this paper, is identifi ed as the collective acceptance of Euro-Canadian history and belief systems. Robinson frames these political concerns in a coming-of-age narrative that follows the Illumine: Journal of the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society Graduate Students Association, Vol. 10, No. 1, 2011 37 Ephemeral
Throughout history, there have been many literary studies that focused on the culture and traditions of Native Americans. Native writers have worked painstakingly on tribal histories, and their works have made us realize that we have not learned the full story of the Native American tribes. Deborah Miranda has written a collective tribal memoir, “Bad Indians”, drawing on ancestral memory that revealed aspects of an indigenous worldview and contributed to update our understanding of the mission system, settler colonialism and histories of American Indians about how they underwent cruel violence and exploitation. Her memoir successfully addressed past grievances of colonialism and also recognized and honored indigenous knowledge and identity.
Within the narrative, the author shows the significance of preserving one's Indigenous heritage while simultaneously embracing the transformative power of change. These dynamics are brought to life, showcasing the challenges and conflicts in these relationships. In one scene, the characters express their exasperation, with one remarking, “‘He’s such a tool.’ ‘Yeah. There’s always one in the family.’”
Monkey Beach is an adaptation of “Queen of the North,” both written by Eden Robinson. The texts both touch on the theme of intergenerational trauma within Indigenous communities. Through the lens of different main characters, however, Monkey Beach approaches the topic differently through its portrayal of the transmission of trauma. In “Queen of the North,” the transmission of intergenerational trauma is most clearly seen through Josh reenacting trauma onto Adelaine. In contrast, as a novel, Monkey Beach offers a more nuanced depiction of the methods of intergenerational trauma transmission, such as the loss of Lisamarie's cultural identity.
Critical Summary #3: First Nations Perspectives In Chapter eight of Byron Williston’s Environmental Ethics for Canadians First Nation’s perspectives are explored. The case study titled “Language, Land and the Residential Schools” begins by speaking of a public apology from former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He apologizes for the treatment of “Indians” in “Indian Residential Schools”. He highlights the initial agenda of these schools as he says that the “school system [was] to remove and isolate [Aboriginal] children from the influence of their homes, families, traditions and cultures, and to assimilate them[…]” (Williston 244).
The voices of Indigenous children are unheard and purposely ignored. This is portrayed through the literature of Birdie by Tracey Lindberg and Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese. Despite both apologies from Stephen Harper and Justin Trudeau, the government system to protect First Nations children appears to have detrimental effects on the life of a child. This is proven by young children turning to drugs in order to satisfy their growing pain, family members who abuse their children because they consume high amounts of alcohol, which has a negative impact on the child, and discriminatory behaviour by surrounding communities. To begin with, young children turning to drugs in order to satisfy their growing pain.
Eden Robinson’s Monkey beach is set in the small, coastal village of Kitamaat in western B.C., home to the province’s Haisla community. Robinson’s characterization of a Haisla family living in present day Kitamaat exposes the challenges that are faced by the Aboriginal people conserving their traditions, values and social mores under the dominating influence of Canada’s West Cost society. She frames these concerns by following the struggles of Lisamarie (Lisa) Hill as she reconciles the ideologies of her modern Canadian upbringing with the often-discordant beliefs of her First Nation heritage, which becomes more complicated by the experience of the supernatural appearances that only Lisa can see. Lisa’s relationship with the spirit world allows her to transgress the history of abuse and reconnect with her heritage, however, she must struggle with North American ideologies which consider the supernatural as flawed. With the help of Ma-ma-oo (Lisa’s grandmother) she begins to gain control within the spirt world, thus re-connecting with her heritage.
In Michelle Good's “Five Little Indians” the harrowing journeys of Kenny, Lucy, Maisie, Howie, and Clara through Canada's residential school system and their subsequent struggles reveal the profound impact of trauma, discrimination, and societal injustices. Set in the 1960s, the novel searches into the protagonists' relentless battles for identity and sovereignty amidst racism and discrimination. Through their stories, Good explores the myth of progress, highlighting the lasting harmful effects of colonization. This essay examines how the unattainable sovereignty and identity of characters like Kenny, Maisie, and Lily, the portrayal of Indigenous individuals in the 1960s, and the persistent societal injustices they endure, collectively illustrate
Indigenous Canadians have four times the risk of experiencing severe trauma than other Canadians (“Indigenous People”). The story Indian Horse explores various traumatising circumstances Indigenous people face and examines their effects. In Richard Wagamese’s novel, Saul’s inability to escape the difficulties of his past demonstrates that unprocessed trauma can derail one’s life. Throughout early childhood, his family life exposes him to mental illness and loss. Later, he represses the atrocities of residential school, building inner conflict and self hatred.
Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson stands out as an exceptional piece of fiction, which provides readers with a closer look at the Haisla people, raises awareness on the victims of residential schools, educates those who are uneducated on the concept of indigenous culture, promotes empathy and even highlights the importance of preserving cultural knowledge. This is such a dramatic, passionate story that any literate Canadian would benefit from reading. These aspects make Monkey Beach an important novel with which Canadians can familiarize themselves to create a society that is educated on the backgrounds of all types of cultures. Firstly, Monkey Beach provides a cultural tour that will be very important to many Canadians since they may not be conversant
Dolphus Jumbo, chief of the Dehcho community of Trout Lake and a survivor of residential schooling, discusses the challenges of balancing tradition and modernity within Indigenous communities. It is the character of Dolphus Jumbo that reveals the unintended
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.
