Indian Horse Sparknotes

Imagine being taken from your family at the age of six. Being referred to as a number rather than a name. Receiving brutal and cruel punishments for speaking the only language you were taught. How would it impact your life? Unfortunately, this is the reality for millions of Canada's Indigenous population. The nation of Canada is known to the world for being a country of peace, love and equality. Individuals originating from different nationalities immigrate to Canada, in hopes to improve their standard of living and escape the horrors of their country. Moreover, Canadians have not always been as supportive and welcoming of new ethnicities populating Canadian territory as they portray themselves to be today. Indian Horse is known to be an insightful

novel that reveals the secrets of Canada’s past, as it shines light on the darkest chapter in Canadian history. Over the past couple of decades, the Canadian government has mistreated the Indigenous population and have only recently begun to accept full responsibility and sorrow for their actions.

Saul’s journey as a Canadian Aboriginal is a resemblance of what other innocent Aboriginal Canadians experience as a result of the government’s imperialistic policies. One of which being, The Indian Act of 1876, which purpose is to assimilate Indigenous youth into mainstream Canadian society through the Residential School system. Moreover, as Canadians continue to deal with the immensely troubling legacy of residential schooling, Indian Horse makes a prominent input to this ongoing process. Throughout the novel, the impacts of the cultural genocide that Indigenous people encounter through the Residential School system resembles a significant part of Canadian history. In addition, throughout the novel, racism is prevalent and in which signifies the discrimination that continues to exist in today’s society. Many Canadians participate in extracurricular activities, whereas Saul perceives Hockey as an escape for his abuse. Indian Horse, written by Richard Wagamese serves as a powerful novel which purpose is to educate the Canadian population on the darkest moments in Canadian history and where Canada currently stands as a

society.
Firstly, the Residential School system remains to be a huge stain on Canada’s history. As Canadians rejoice in their multiculturalism and openness to people from across the world, they have only recently started to engage with the horrifying impact of the abduction and cultural brutality of generations of Indigenous children. The Indian Act of 1876, is a Canadian policy of Indigenous assimilation which compels Indigenous parents under threat of prosecution to integrate their children into Residential Schools. As a nation, Canada is reminded by past actions that has prompted the weakening of the identity of Indigenous peoples. Residential schools has contributed to the annihilation of Indigenous culture which is to kill the Indian in the child by isolating them from the influence of their parents and assimilating them into mainstream Canadian society. Throughout the novel, Saul describes the horrific experiences he endures while residing at St. Jerome’s Indian Residential School as mentioned in the following quote:
I saw kids die of tuberculosis, influenza, pneumonia and broken hearts at St. Jerome’s. I saw young boys and girls die standing on their own two feet. I saw runaways carried back, frozen solid as boards. I saw wrists slashed and the cascade of blood on the bathroom floor
and, one time, a young boy impaled on the tines of a pitchfork that he’d shoved through himself. (Wagamese, 55)
The precise detail of this quote provides more clarity to the impact Residential Schools has on people and shows the injustice suffered by the First Nations. Likewise for Saul, and many others who are forced to attend Residential Schools, there are no words for the pain they experience because the words themselves were taken away. “That’s how I survived. When the tears threatened to erupt from me at night I vowed they would never hear me cry.” (Wagamese, 55) This quote states how although survival at the mission seems to be close to impossible, Saul is determined to remain strong and optimistic. Moreover, due to no longer being able to endure the torture and pain Indigenous youth suffers, they often resort to commiting suicide. Furthermore, Indigenous people have been and continue to be tormented and oppressed by the Canadian society and remain to live under discrimination resulting in cultural brutality. “When your innocence is stripped from you, when your people are denigrated… That is hell on earth, that sense of unworthiness. That’s what they inflicted on us.” (Wagamese, 81) The emotions present in this quote express the pain and anger Saul experiences as he is assimilated into living the Christian life. Likewise, the feelings Saul endures while at St. Jerome’s mission is identical to thousands of other Indigenous youth who are victims of the Residential School legacy. Therefore, the impacts of Residential Schools mentioned throughout the course of the novel is common to the experiences Indigenous communities encounter in Canada.
Secondly, Saul’s passion as a hockey player in numerous ways mirrors the journey of his life as an Aboriginal youth at a moment when racism against Indigenous culture has been and remains to be excessive throughout Canada.

“Don’t you read the papers? I’m the Rampaging Redskin.” (Wagamese, 165) This quote indicates how the the Residential School system is starting to effect Saul’s mentality that he is inferior than the non-Indigenous population. In addition, the non-Indigenous population portray offensive racial slurs against the Aboriginal population. “Thirteen’s good for an Indian.” (Wagamese, 89) This quote states how society degraded Indians and consider them to be useless. Discrimination towards the Natives in Canada becomes the leading issue that Saul results into his tragic lifestyle. “We don’t eat with Indians.” (Wagamese, 133) This quote is a representation of the discrimination Saul is forced to endure and demonstrates the lack of education of non-Indigenous people. Consequently, the prevalence of racism in Indian Horse sets as a perfect example of the discrimination many Canadians are experiencing in today’s society.

Finally, Hockey offers Saul Indian Horse the feeling of salvation and freedom from the troubles he is experiencing, such as the death of his loved ones and physical beatings at the mission. “My salvation coming instead through wood and rubber and ice and the dream of

a
game. I would not feel lonely or afraid, deserted or abandoned, but connected to something far bigger than myself.” (Wagamese, 62) This quote demonstrates how Saul and millions of other
individuals throughout Canada find solace through participating in sports as a productive method to replenish their minds. Furthermore, the feeling of gliding onto the ice that Saul experiences when playing hockey is described as a feeling of freedom and happiness. “I stepped onto the ice and Saul Indian Horse, the abandoned Ojibway kid, clutched in the frozen arms of his dead grandmother, ceased to exist.” (Wagamese, 83) The quote implies how Saul seeks refuge from the cultural brutality occurring at St. Jerome’s through playing his favourite sport of Hockey. Furthermore, Hockey offers Saul a sense of salvation and assists him escape from the horrific conditions of the Residential School system. When playing Hockey, Saul feels as if he has purpose, no longer encumbered by depression or anxiety. For subtle moments, Saul is able to transform the tragedies of loneliness, abuse, and discrimination, and feel nothing but joy and freedom. “In the spirit of Hockey I believed I had found community, a shelter and a haven from everything bleak and ugly in the world.” (Wagamese, 90) This quote reveals how Hockey uplifts him, and takes him further than being identified as a victim. It serves as a safeguard for the frustration and the sadness he feels for what has been isolated from him, his family, his community and his life. Thus, Hockey provides Saul and many other Canadians the freedom and salvation from the struggles they are experiencing throughout their lives.
To conclude, Richard Wagamese’s Indian Horse serves as a powerful novel that acknowledges Canada’s darkest events in history that most individuals are not aware of, and
where Canada presently stands as a society. Throughout the course of the novel, the effects of the cultural brutality that Indigenous people encounter through the Residential School system
resembles an important aspect in Canadian history. Additionally, in Indian Horse discrimination is predominant in which signifies the racism that continues to prevail in Canadian society.
Furthermore, Saul receives salvation through playing Hockey which many teenagers his age can relate to. Although, Indian Horse is known to be a novel based on fiction, it shines light on the darkest chapter in Canadian history. Nonetheless, it is a resemblance of what innocent Aboriginal Canadians experience as a result of government’s imperialistic policies, for instance, The Indian Act of 1876 and the Residential School system. Moreover, although the cultural genocide of Indigenous communities consumed a huge part of Canadian history, Canada have only recently initiated to take responsibility and assist Indigenous people in the process of recovery and reconciliation.