Canadian Studies
This is an independent project. Students are required to analyze the novel Indian Horse to assess how it depicts First Nations identity and the relationship between First Nations and Settler-Canadian society.
Length of Essay: 5-6 Pages.
The novel Indian Horse examines issues revolving around First Nations culture and identity, the effects of the Residential School system on Indigenous people, the importance of hockey as an escape from social trauma, and the racial and ethnic discriminatory practices that Indigenous people continue to face in Canada. Instructions: This assignment is NOT A SUMMARY of the novel. This essay is intended to sharpen your analytical capabilities. You must move beyond a simple description of the novel and into a deeper, critical appreciation of its content. This involves a more intricate analytical approach and a deeper critical analysis that goes beyond a simple overview of the Indian Horse plot. For this assignment, please answer ONE of the following questions. Make sure you indicate which question you intend to answer. 1) Assess the importance of Ojibway culture, ancestral lands, and First Nation families and communities on Sauls life. To what extent did he rely on these to cope with the trials and tribulations he faced in the novel? Provide examples from the text to support your argument. 2) Assess the role of hockey in Sauls life. Do we see hockey as a means for Saul to be included or excluded in Indigenous and Settler-Canadian society? How is hockey integrated with indigeneity in this novel and how is it represented in the greater Canadian society? Provide examples from the text to support your argument. 3) Saul faced racism and discrimination in and outside the hockey rink. How and why does this lead him to a rehab facility? How can you connect Sauls story to the story of Indigenous people in Canada? Provide examples from the text to support your argument. 4) Many of the chapters in this novel discuss topics other than Sauls experience in St. Gerome. How does Sauls lifelong journey tie back to his childhood experiences? Why was it necessary for Richard Wagamese to tell us this story? Provide examples from the text to support your argument. It is a good idea to bring in external sources to support your arguments, although this is not mandatory. Remember that a thesis is required for this assignment and must be adequately supported using examples from the novel. Citations must be used when you quote or paraphrase. Avoid the use of blockquotes. APA, MLA and Chicago are acceptable styles to use when citing the novel. Font: Size 12, Times New Roman. A work cited/references page is also required. The following list may assist you in writing your paper: Outlining a brief breakdown of the Residential School system in Canada. What was the purpose of this education system? (External sources may help here). Consider some of the long-term impacts that have emerged as a result of the Residential School system, in Sauls life, and the lives of other Indigenous people. Consider the importance of family and community in Sauls life. Consider the importance of Ojibway culture in the life of Saul Indian Horse. Consider the importance of Hockey in Sauls life. Does hockey help Saul cope with racism, discrimination and inequality? Consider the relationship that exists between Indigenous people and settler-Canadian society. Is hockey a bridge between a settler-Canadian society and Indigenous people? You will be graded on a clear and coherent thesis statement, your ability to answer your question clearly, and relevancy to the text. It will be easy for me to know whether you read the book or simply watched the movie. You must provide appropriate citations when you quote or paraphrase any information from the text. No blockquotes are allowed. You must include a bibliography at the end of your paper.
