Final Post

Final Post

Is there a message or main theme you see emerging?  What is it and how is it shown? Are there any other books you have read or movies you have seen that also have this same theme? Explain.

Throughout Indian Horse, Saul is subjected to various kinds of racism due to his Aboriginal heritage, and this is a major theme that the novel takes on. Racial prejudice is evident all throughout the story from the cultural assimilation at the St. Jerome's residential school, to the physical and verbal abuse from Saul's white opponents in the hockey rink.  Even when being praised in the newspaper, they still refer to Saul as a "crazy redskin" or some other racist name. One of the biggest incidents of racism in the book was when Saul was sitting in a Cafe with his teammates and they were confronted by a group of drunk white men who proclaimed that they "don't eat with Indians." (pg. 133).  When the boys refused to leave, the white men took them out into an ally one by one and proceeded to humiliate them into submission by beating them up and then urinating on them to assert their dominance. Fortunately, they had mercy on Saul since he was still at a young age, but it was clear that the white men had a strong disdain for the Indian boys. The theme of racism in this novel reminded me of another book I've read called "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" by John Boyne and the relationship between the Germans and the Jews. Even though this story is told through the eyes of an innocent boy named Bruno who is too young to fully understand what's going on in the world around him, the racial torment towards the Jewish people is still apparent. The cases of racial prejudice within both these novels were quite extreme, and there were definitely some similarities between Canadian residential schools and the Jewish concentration camps. Both places were constructed to exercise cultural assimilation, and while the residential schools didn't burn their residents like those at the concentration camps, they still had their own way of bringing unnecessary abuse and death to the students. The schools were designed to break students by depriving them of their cultural heritage and "When your innocence is stripped from you, when your people are denigrated, when the family you came from is denounced and your tribal ways and rituals are pronounced backward, primitive, savage, you come to see yourself as less than human." (pg. 88). All of these racial acts are motivated by how Saul is an Aboriginal Canadian living in a white-dominated society where the popular belief is that First Nations people are inferior due to their race. 

Write your opinion of a character's action or reaction to a situation in the book.  Do you think it was the appropriate course of action and would you have done the same? Why/Why not?

 One of Saul's major traits is his integrity, which is displayed in how he reacts to the comments and actions of his teammates, hockey fans, and players on opposing teams. Saul holds the sport of Hockey in high regard, and this is evident in how he rejects the idea of retaliating against players who attempt to pick a fight with him on the ice. Saul refuses to fight back because he believes that it will defeat the purpose of playing hockey for fun, and he knows he'll be penalized for it. Hockey is a game that Saul loves, and he wasn't about to allow it to be stolen from him, "There are times in this world when you have to look hard at yourself. The challenge you feel is the one that burns in your gut. I knew my team wanted me to buckle. They wanted me to bare my fights and fight. But I would not do that. I would not surrender my vision of the game. I would not let go of my dream of it, the freedom, the release it gave me, the joy the game gave me. it wasn't anybody else's game to take away from me." (143). I admired Saul's mental toughness and how he didn't allow anything to get to him whether it be the hard hits from opposing players or racist comments from hockey fans in the stands. This is why it was disappointing for me when Saul finally allowed all of those negative things to get into his head. All the racial torment that Saul was able to ignore finally got to him and the frustration and resentment it bestowed upon him destroyed his life's potential. His integrity is replaced by aggression and a bitter mindset that eventually gets him kicked out of the NHL and addicted to drinking. All in all, it's unfortunate how racism crushed Saul's spirit and transformed his successful hockey career into a battle with alcoholism.

"Halfway Post"

"Halfway" Post

Write down a passage that appeals to you and describe why?  Does it make more of an impact on your understanding of the book or does it make more of a personal impact? What significance does the passage have in the book? 

"At night in the dormitory, when all the other boys were asleep, I would get out of bed and stand in the aisle between the rows of cots, where the moonlight made the linoleum look like ice, and mimic the motion of stick-handling... Naturally, the force of my shot would take me to one knee. I would raise my arms in the hushed light of the dorm. My mouth would be open with glee and I would face the picture of Jesus hung there on the wall, my salvation coming instead through wood and rubber and ice and the dream of a game. I'd stand there, arms held high in triumph, and I would not feel lonely or afraid, deserted or abandoned, but connected to something far bigger than myself. Then I'd climb back into bed and sleep until the dawn woke me and I could walk back out to the rink again." (pg. 62)

After reading this passage from the book, it made me realize just how strong Saul's passion for hockey is. It created a powerful image in my mind and was one of the most impactful moments of the book for me. Through this passage, I felt Saul's joy for hockey and the pride it gives him. Visualizing Saul knelt there with his arms held high in triumph, I felt proud of him for finding his passion during a time when he is vulnerable and alone. He discovered his own salvation, rather than submitting to the one in the form of Jesus that was being forced on him at the residential school. By defying the beliefs of the school, Saul demonstrates just how determined he is to follow his own path. In fact, I believe Saul's passion for hockey saved his life. Without hockey to drive him forward, Saul would've soon become overwhelmed by the gruesome conditions and punishments in the school. This paired with the loss of his family probably would have been too much for Saul to handle, and he soon would have ended up taking his own life. Hockey provides Saul with a connection to something greater than himself, and it drives him to overcome the obstacles that he faces at school. This strong-willed boy has come so far already, but still has a long way to go... 

Identify and list examples of figurative language - metaphors, similes, symbolism, and so on - and explain what they mean or signify and how they add to the literary merit of the book.

There is a significant amount of figurative language that can be found throughout Indian Horse. Many of the similes and metaphors are linked with nature, and I believe that this is primarily due to how closely linked the Aboriginal culture is to nature and animals. For instance, at the end of his hockey team's scrimmage, Saul his accepted into the team huddle and then states, "We stood there like stallions home from the range." (pg. 71) This simile demonstrates how the boys were feeling after their practice. Stallions are powerful creatures that are filled with pride, and this shows just how strong and proud the hockey boys felt. This book also utilizes symbolism, and hockey is a significant symbol throughout the story. Saul's passion for hockey is what allows him to overcome his feelings of unease and being out of place at the school. Hockey symbolizes self-realization in this book, and it helps Saul to maintain the pride and self-worth that the school is attempting to steal from him.

Introductory Post

Indian Horse

By: Richard Wagamese

While battling alcoholism in a treatment centre surrounded by people that don't understand him, former hockey star Saul Indian Horse attempts to find some peace of mind through sharing the story of his life. While reliving his past as a Northern Ojibway, Saul realizes how his own life is influenced by everyday 'magic'.

• 221 Pages
• Douglas And McIntyre (2013) Ltd., Vancouver, BC, 2012. ISBN 978-1-55365-402-5

It took me a little while to choose a book for this novel study because I wanted to read one that felt special to me. Indian Horse stood out because recently I've been educating myself about Aboriginal People in Canada. I've always had this interest in their culture and what they've gone through in the past. When I came across this book, I thought what better way to learn about Canada's Aboriginal People than to experience their past through the perspective of one. By reading this novel, I hope to gain a greater understanding and appreciation for Canadian Aboriginals. This should be a great read.

Book Review: http://nationalpost.com/afterword/book-review-indian-horse-by-richard-wagamese