By using metaphor and simile, Joe conveys the assimilation and conformity imposed upon Indigenous children in the residential school system, emphasizing the effects of cultural suppression and the longing to reclaim one's authentic voice and
At St. Jerome’s Indian Residential School, Saul see’s the lonely world, which crams on him like a black hole with no light, however creates a determination for him to stay strong. As he is expeditiously thrown in to the vast world of a different religion he quickly realizes, “They called it a school, but it was never that” (79) … “There were no grades or examinations. The only test was our ability to endure” (79). The emotions and perspectives present in each quote signify the feelings of Saul towards the school and define the school to be unnerving and painful for the Indians living there, however they also show that Saul knows his expectations and is strong enough to tolerate the torture.
The two main goals of the residential school system and government jurisdictions were to separate and isolate children from the influence of their homes, families, customs, and cultures as well as assimilate them into the dominant culture. The concept of trauma is emphasized in each chapter in Richard Wagamese's book Indian Horse. The work skillfully conveys this dilemma through the use of literary devices like vivid imagery, symbolism, and narrative structure. Wagamese's descriptions of the novel's horrifying incidents fully immerse the reader in Saul's dreadful encounters, demonstrating the ability of visuals to arouse strong feelings. The illustration of the hockey rink and the residential school as representations of both individual and
Without documentation, the assaults and abuse committed by Father Mackey, the initial administrator of Shubenacadie Residential School, would have gone unnoticed and unacknowledged. It was only through the recording and documenting of his actions that the truth was revealed. By uncovering his actions and motivations, Benjamin's novel sheds new light on the residential school system and offers a fresh perspective on a long-standing issue. His writing raises important questions about accountability and the need for systemic change. The eye-opening accounts presented in this novel serve as a powerful reminder of the atrocities committed against Indigenous children and the ongoing impact
The book depicts the heartbreaking incidents of the main character, Saul Indian Horse, and the children around him who suffer cultural, mental, and physical abuse at the hands of the government-run schools. The cultural abuse that Indigenous children endured in residential schools is one of the most devastating aspects of residential schools’ destruction. In these schools, children are treated like clay, where the priests and nuns “work to remove the Indian from [the] children” (Wagamese 46-47). This cultural erasure is a form of colonization, where the dominant group seeks to assimilate the minority group into their culture, often at the expense of the minority group's cultural identity.
Indigenous people across Canada have been suppressed by the government, system, and settlers still to this day. The residential school system was a system of boarding schools that were established by the Canadian government and administered by various churches to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture. Many of these children suffered physical, sexual, and emotional abuse from school staff. Even though residential schools have been abolished they can still affect indigenous people today. The book “Indian Horse” clearly represents the intergenerational trauma of Indigenous communities in Canada.
The establishment of residential schools marks a dark chapter in Canadian history. The residential school system was a nationwide network of boarding schools with the purpose of destroying the Indigenous identity and assimilating children into the dominant European-Canadian culture. The schools were known for their harsh environments, abuse, and mistreatment, which led to generational trauma and long-lasting effects. Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese, narrates the life story of Saul Indian Horse, a young Ojibwe boy whose identity is stripped away and who is taken from his family to attend one of these schools. The book examines Saul’s journey, from his traumatic school experiences to his love for hockey.
The TRC’s “The History” author appeals to logos through the use quantitative findings. The use of logical evidence from the collection of testimonials made by former residential school students is an effective way to aid the persuasion of a reader. Throughout “The History”, the author describes the memories of known First Nations peoples Frederic Ernest Koe, Marlene Kayseas, Lily Bruce and many others. In addition, the author quotes Vitaline Elsie Jenner’s use of ‘kaya nakasin’ (TRC, 2015, p.38) in describing her experience with residential school. The author’s example that contains the use native language reaffirms his credibility and detailed knowledge of the
Unveiling the Untold Stories of Survival: A Review of Five Little Indians by Michelle Good By: Rylee MacKenzie #220168 68:152 Introduction to Native Studies II Professor Maud March, 14th 2024 The book Five Little Indians, written by author, Michelle Good, is a heart-wrenching and moving novel that sheds light on the lives of five Indigenous children who were forced to experience the horrors and hardships of the Canadian residential school system. Residential schools were government-sponsored institutions established in the late 19th century and were run until the late 20th century, with the intention of assimilating Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian cultures and practices. Five Little Indians (First Edition) is a fiction novel
Four Corners uses a myriad of varying persuasive techniques and film techniques to illustrate the mistreatment of detainees in Darwin’s youth detention centre, Don Dale. Four Corners is a well-known well respected current affairs television show, albeit they have expanded their programs to the internet for easier access. They are known for their high-quality professional journalism and film techniques and have won multiple awards to support this. The documentary Australia’s Shame is a perfect example of the diversity of their extensive use of persuasive techniques and film techniques. These techniques were used to convince the viewers to sympathise with the detainees.
They were stripped away from their traditional and ordinary lives and introduced to the “oppressors’” way of life. If they stepped out of line and attempted to retain their previous lifestyle, they were physically abused through a system that wanted to spend as less money as possible to “kill the Indian, save the man.” It was this trauma that they went through as children that they reflect on their own children as they grew accustomed to it. It was this that many Navajo families of the reservation have a sense of fear to teach the younger generation the culture and language they were forced to grow apart from. The result and impact of the boarding school system can still be seen
The nature of these boarding schools was to assimilate young Native Americans into American culture, doing away with any “savageness” that they’re supposedly predisposed to have. As Bonnin remembers the first night of her stay at the school, she says “I was tucked into bed with one of the tall girls, because she talked to me in my mother tongue and seemed to soothe me” (Bonnin 325). Even at the beginning of such a traumatic journey, the author is signaling to the audience the conditioning that she was already under. Bonnin instinctively sought out something familiar, a girl who merely spoke in the same “tongue” as her. There are already so few things that she has in her immediate surroundings that help her identify who and what she is, that she must cling to the simple familiarities to bring any semblance of comfort.
Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe was an important influence in the literature community. He was one of the forefathers of the short story and detective fiction in America. Varying from “The Raven” to The Cask of Amontillado,” there is something attractive about the twisted narratives he created that draw those to his writings. He was a compellingly tragic man with a background as haunting as his stories. To read his work is to, essentially, view the life he led.
Neither were the parents allowed to visit their children so the time the kids were finally able to go back with their family they started to become practically like strangers to each other because they knew very little about each other especially since many of the children were younger and had spent most of their lives in these school. The lack of communication between the Native American parents and children was another reason many parents weren’t aware of the trauma the kids were suffering in the homes. The kids were so affected they remember that even at night when they were left alone to sleep they were all so quiet and no one talked about what was happening to them. The native children didn’t have normal childhoods they didn’t play or interact with each other this alone shows how affected they were with the boarding
