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Theme Of Resilience In Identity Formation

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The Significance of Resilience in Identity Formation Identity is established by the culmination of the experiences and routes a person takes throughout their life. For the Indigenous peoples, they commonly overcome challenges to develop their identity. Through the stories written by Wab Kinew and Melanie Mununggur-Williams, they shed light on the nationwide and individual life defining events from different perspectives. Each story describes the process of identity formation from learning and adaptation over certain experiences. While the artistic works of “500 Years In 2 Minutes” by Kinew and the “I Run” poem by Mununggur-Williams vary through their perspective used to convey identity, both reveal that Indigenous identity is shaped by negative …show more content…

Particularly, Wab Kinew uses an investigative perspective to consider why certain events that shape Indigenous identity occurred. During his story, he expresses that “our parents and grandparents were molested in schools designed to kill the Indian in the child, so where did all of that go wrong?” (Kinew 1:43-1:51). Kinew highlights the life changing events which the government performed in the past and urges investigation into the cause of those events. Through this perspective, he questions and learns from historical events to build a future where the Indigenous are equal alongside other groups of people. As a result, resilience is reflected because of his mindset that the future should not repeat the past. If Kinew did not pursue this perspective, the past would adversely affect the future as there is a lack of information on what went wrong. Kinew’s viewpoint provides growth and improvement from history which exhibits the resilient identity of the Indigenous peoples. In contrast, Melanie Mununggur-Williams communicates the poem from an emotive and sensitive perspective to reflect on her experiences. Mununggur-Williams explains that when her own “life attacks from all angles like [she is] a paper bag in a thunderstorm, …show more content…

Within “500 Years In 2 Minutes”, Kinew explores the idea that the Indigenous peoples were ignored and treated poorly resulting in a resilient identity. Kinew expresses that “[the Indigenous peoples] had a reservation at a much smaller table out the back near the garbage cans…At [their] table, a total lack of benevolence. [They] got the plague, a plague of whiskey, and [their] parents and grandparents were molested” (Kinew 1:25-1:45). Kinew recalls that the Indigenous peoples were treated harshly through inhumane acts despite accommodating those who came to their land. They lacked the ability to make decisions for Canada as they were assimilated, silenced, and taken advantage of. Despite these hardships, the Indigenous peoples develop resilience by overcoming the government's mistreatment through prioritizing maintaining their core cultural values. Without this resilience, the culture or lives of the Indigenous peoples today would be ruined. The difficult past events strengthen their identity to continue their unique culture or traditions. Likewise, “I Run” by Melanie Mununggurr-Williams reveals that cruel environments and experiences support her identity to be further resilient. Mununggurr-Williams expresses that “problems find [her], they [chase her] down the way white authorities chase down brown skin babies, hold [her]

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