Indian Horse
Another portion of the ENG 3UI course focuses on a novel study in relation to human rights, this semester's novel being the true story of Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese. The novel focuses on the lifetime of struggles young Ojibway Saul Indian Horse suffers through in the territories of Northern Ontario. Every moment of his life is affected by the impact of St. Jerome's, the local catholic residential school. Saul's grandmother is the only adult free from the plague of the 'evil spirits'. After witnessing the mentally, physically, and sexually abusive ways of St. Jerome's in first person, Saul is left a victim to alcoholism. The novel does an amazing job educating the readers on the absolute terrors of residential schools and how such trauma deeply affects a person.
Thus, my assignments in relation to the novel:
Thus, my assignments in relation to the novel:
SAUL AND NAOMI |
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Growing up in Northern Ontario in the 1950's, Saul Indian Horse was an indirect victim of the horrors of St. Jerome's Residential School. With his mother an empty shell due to alcoholism, Saul and his brother, Benjamin, were left without a strong maternal figure. Naomi, their grandmother and the only sober adult, seemed to be the only one still fully connected to the native way of life, and stepped up to take the lost role of a maternal figure. She taught Saul and Benjamin the traditions, how to hunt, how to harvest food and hull rice, and many other important survival skills. Other than Benjamin, Naomi was the only person Saul could connect to.
After Benjamin is taken by the Zhaunagash (white men) and returns home only to die from Tuberculosis, Saul's parents make the decision to return to the mainland to bury their son. They do not return. Naomi makes the difficult decision to keep moving forward on their journey to the possibility-filled town of Minaki. Naomi takes care of Saul the absolute best she can as she tries to provide the best life for him. They travel through the worst of temperatures in the darkest gleam of winter; she gives him the little food and water they find and tells him stories while still teaching the ways of their native life. Unfortunately, when the canoe splits and the two of them are submerged into the beyond-freezing river, Naomi falls victim to hypothermia in her sleep. Her last moments are spent with Saul - just as Saul's earliest memories were made.
After Benjamin is taken by the Zhaunagash (white men) and returns home only to die from Tuberculosis, Saul's parents make the decision to return to the mainland to bury their son. They do not return. Naomi makes the difficult decision to keep moving forward on their journey to the possibility-filled town of Minaki. Naomi takes care of Saul the absolute best she can as she tries to provide the best life for him. They travel through the worst of temperatures in the darkest gleam of winter; she gives him the little food and water they find and tells him stories while still teaching the ways of their native life. Unfortunately, when the canoe splits and the two of them are submerged into the beyond-freezing river, Naomi falls victim to hypothermia in her sleep. Her last moments are spent with Saul - just as Saul's earliest memories were made.
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^ http://www.omdc.on.ca/celebrate_ontario
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“The face of the cliff had collapsed, and the camp was gone. Vanished. Even the trees had been scraped away and the beach was strewn with boulders. The chalky smell of rock dust brought tears to my eyes and I stood there weeping, my shoulders shaking at the thought of all those people buried under all that stone.
”Saul,” I heard behind me.
I turned and my grandmother was standing there with her arms spread open. I fell into them and cried into her bosom.”
”Saul,” I heard behind me.
I turned and my grandmother was standing there with her arms spread open. I fell into them and cried into her bosom.”
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(Wagamese 24)
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Of the many quotes shared between Naomi and Saul in the novel, I would argue that this is the strongest, and best displays the depth of their bond. Not only do the two of them share a maternal bond, but they also share a gift - the gift of Vision. Saul and Naomi have the ability to see beyond their eyes, communicate with the earth to know things other people wouldn't. Whether it's just where the tracks lay on their way to Gods Lake, the land of their ancestors, or being able to subconsciously see things of the past, this gift gives Saul and Naomi an unbreakable bond. In fact, this quote shows the first major happening of his gift.
A few days after Saul and his family reach Gods Lake, Saul is pulled deeper into the land by the loud ancestral voices beyond his skull. He sees a vision, a memory of his family from centuries ago, and is quick to see their fate. A memory with such pain, hurt, and emotion could only be understood by those who share the Vision, and thus, Saul finds the one person who can possibly know how he feels.
As well, this is one of the first instances in the book where Saul cries. Despite watching his mother drink herself away to an empty shell and watching Benjamin get torn away by the Zhaunagash, Saul only lets his emotions show during this scene. It displays how close Saul is to Naomi to be able to break down completely and let his vulnerabilities reveal themselves. After all, she is the closest maternal figure that he has to a loving mother.
A few days after Saul and his family reach Gods Lake, Saul is pulled deeper into the land by the loud ancestral voices beyond his skull. He sees a vision, a memory of his family from centuries ago, and is quick to see their fate. A memory with such pain, hurt, and emotion could only be understood by those who share the Vision, and thus, Saul finds the one person who can possibly know how he feels.
As well, this is one of the first instances in the book where Saul cries. Despite watching his mother drink herself away to an empty shell and watching Benjamin get torn away by the Zhaunagash, Saul only lets his emotions show during this scene. It displays how close Saul is to Naomi to be able to break down completely and let his vulnerabilities reveal themselves. After all, she is the closest maternal figure that he has to a loving mother.
The moment I saw this image, I knew it was the perfect representation of the relationship between Saul and Naomi. Not only does it capture the love and comfort of their relationship, but also the protection that Naomi provides for Saul. The mother wolf cradling her young symbolizes the maternal bond that Naomi supplies, and the leaves wrapping around the back of the wolf represents their connection in terms of the Vision, of which comes from nature.
The flowers are the beauty and potential that blooms from their relationship, whether that be the good future Naomi strived to provide for Saul in Minaki or the teamwork that strengthens them on their journey. As well, the flowers are a symbol of the beauty and uniqueness of the gift they share, and the growth of Saul as a young boy. Saul cannot settle his roots and grow the flowers of native life without Naomi. |
Design Elements
The background of this webpage is a symbol of the fog Saul had to push through his whole life, whether that be the abuse he suffered, the constant racism, or the alcoholism he eventually overcomes. The dead trees represent possibility - they are dead now, but will have the opportunity to regrow in the spring, with new leaves and bright colours. At the end of the novel, Saul has his spring - he gets back into hockey, revisits old memories and finally finds his place in life.
As well, the colour of the text is a representation of the brightness that shined from Naomi in her native ways. While St. Jerome's had completely ruined everyone else in his family, it did not reach past the strength and brightness of Naomi's being. She is the light that guides Saul when no one else will.
As well, the colour of the text is a representation of the brightness that shined from Naomi in her native ways. While St. Jerome's had completely ruined everyone else in his family, it did not reach past the strength and brightness of Naomi's being. She is the light that guides Saul when no one else will.