The Sun Dance Changed My Life Sparknotes

Saul and Chayla: Transformative Journeys

In the world of Indigenous literature, various narratives explore the transformative power of cultural traditions on individuals' lives. Richard Wagamese's Indian Horse and Chayla Delorme Maracle's story "The Sun Dance Changed My Life" delve into the lives of characters who undergo profound changes through their engagement with Indigenous cultural practices. Through examining the experiences of Saul in "Indian Horse" and Chayla Delorme Maracle in "The Sun Dance Changed My Life" as well as their motivations, struggles, and the impact of their respective journeys, the author highlights the transformative power of Indigenous culture. Furthermore, in certain ways, such as striving for a sense of belonging,

Saul’s mental instability and loss of identity is revealed through his oblivious drinking. For instance, Saul shows how unaware he is of his identity and starts drinking as a result, as he says, “.... I discovered that being someone you are not often easier than living with the person you are. I became drunk with that” (Wagamese 181). Saul’s reflection is significant to his progression into substance abuse because it shows that without his identity, he lost the morals and principles he had. This turning point led Saul on a downward spiral of aggression and isolation. Similarly, Chayla displays the use of alcohol and drugs to conform to an identity. A primary example of this is when Chayla describes the reason the substance abuse began, “... It wasn’t something that came naturally. I forced myself to smoke it a few times to get used to it. I wanted to be able to smoke it around my Native friends. They weren’t straight-A-type kids. They were associated with gangs. That's when I started drinking alcohol too” (Maracle 76). Consequently, Chayla’s decisions prove that her addictions are not a real solution to her identity crisis—eventually, it just creates more distortion. With these examples in mind, it is clear that both Saul and Chayla strive for a sense of belonging. As both characters lose their moral compass, they do everything in their power to fit in, even if it is slowly destroying