Indian Horse Wagamese Analysis

The 60s; a time most people remember to be full of partying, overrun with tacky Afros, stoned hippies, and cheap lava lamps. However, even in the happiest of times, no matter how peaceful the world seems, you can always count on a minority being mistreated. During the 60s, this was happening right here in Canada, specifically in Residential Schools. These institutions were designed to assimilate native children into Canadian society, but in reality, they more often than not became host to the mutilation of the native people's rights, all in the name of the gods that every man, woman, and child of Canada worshipped. Richard Wagamese's book, Indian Horse, focuses on this aspect of Canadian history. The story follows the life of Saul Indian Horse, an Ojibway child whose life became filled with tragedy and pain; he was constantly being stabbed in the back by the people he trusted most, all because he was born with a different skin color. However, who in this tragic life of his hurt him the most? Undoubtedly, Father Leboutilier caused Saul the most pain in his life; subjecting him to a variety of abuses. These actions caused a multitude of
A result of this corruption, Saul was no longer feeling inspired by hockey, which is shown here; "That was the end of any semblance of joy in the game for me" (Wagamese 167). This quote shows Saul losing the last shred of joy he could find in the game. It being torn away by the constant racism he faced on the ice. The significance of this is that hockey was Saul's paradise, the only mechanism he had to shield himself from reality, and from what The Father did to him. When Saul could no longer lose himself in the game, all he could think about when playing was The Father, and then he was no longer able to see a perfect game, but Father Leboutilier's