The Influence Of Groups In Indian Horse By Richard Wagamese

As socialization's effects are inevitable, we are constantly influenced by groups. However, regardless of the groups we are influenced by, the one concept that is absolute is our reliance on the sense of togetherness that seldom dissolves. The concept is explored in the novel Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese and the short story "Borders" by Thomas King, both of which emphasize characters who have been influenced by cultural assimilation. Indian Horse is a journey of Saul Indian Horse, a young Indigenous child who lost their family due to assimilation and was forced to attend a residential school. “Borders” is a journey of a Blackfoot mother who desires to visit her daughter in Salt Lake City, separated from her Blackfoot background; both emphasizing

The school, mentioned in Indian Horse, is symbolic of an influence that negatively impacts one's socialization. This is evident in Saul's grandmother, Naomi's dialogue with the aunt and mother of Saul, in which they disagree over cultural viewpoints, with Naomi asserting “That school gave you words that do not apply to us” (Wagamese 26), in response to the catholic values spouted by the aunt and mother as they were subjected to a catholic belief system influenced by “that school”. The negative impacts of "that school", a reference to the residential school they had attended, came regarding when the majority of the family chose to canoe to a priest for the burial of Saul's brother, abandoning Saul and his grandmother. The abandonment of Saul and his grandmother had weakened them as they lack the physical resolve required to survive dangerous weathers, as determined by the grandmother's death later in the story. The death emphasizes the value of togetherness since it would have been avoided had the family prioritized the value of their relationships rather than their cultural disagreements. Comparatively, King's recurring mention of Salt Lake City in "Borders" establishes its symbolic value as a detrimental influence to one's socialization which is seen through the character Laetitia, the narrator's sister. This is clarified by the narrator's recount of Laetitia's remarks, who said that "She was going to Salt Lake City, that life around here was too boring" (King 6). Laetitia's actions were influenced by the dominant Western culture, which led her to lose connections with her Blackfoot relatives who resided on a reserve, exemplifying cultural assimilation. Laetitia later contemplates returning to the reserve, as the narrator mentions "Laetitia said she was thinking about