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Part 1:   LIFE AS AN OJIBWAY / ST. JEROME’S INDIAN RES SCHOOL 

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Part 1:   LIFE AS AN OJIBWAY / ST. JEROME’S INDIAN RES SCHOOL 

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Part 1 of the story in 'Indian Horse' by Richard Wagamese is a recount of Saul childhood as an Ojibway child who experienced abuse in St. Jerome's Indian Residential School. Saul and his family live typical lives in Northern Ontario, until his brother Benjamin is sent away to a residential school. But then Benjamin comes home after his brief and tragic return, only to die. Eventually, Saul is captured and brought to St. Jerome's, where he suffers extreme physical punishment in order to be stripped of his Indian nature .It is there that Saul takes on a newfound love for the sport of hockey, becoming his release from trials and tribulations in which he finds himself. He is recognized for his ability and therefore finds purpose as he ceases to suffer, if only briefly. Part of it is the solace that hockey offers, but the residential school is always there in spirit, which haunts him still. Section 1, which displays the horrors of residential schooling on Indigenous kids and also just how hockey provides Saul with solace.

“When they lay gasping on the grass, it was ourselves we saw fighting for air. We were Indian kids and all we had was the smell of those fish on our hands. We fell asleep that night with our noses pressed to our hands and as the days went by and the smell of those suckers faded, there wasn’t a one of us that didn’t cry for the loss of the life we’d known before. When the dozen of us cried in the chapel, the nuns smiled, believing it was the promise of their god that touched us. But we all walked out of there with our hands to our faces. Breathing in. Breathing in.” (Page 34)

This quote reflects the deep loss and separation that Saul and the other Indigenous children at St. Jerome's Indian Residential School felt, making it the finest representation of Part 1 of "Indian Horse". In the harsh setting of the residential school, their ties to their traditional way of life diminishing and the scent of fish represents this. The children's battle to breathe is a reflection of their battle to preserve their individuality and soul. The nuns perceive their sobbing as a holy awakening, but it actually represents their profound regret over the life they have lost.

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Part 2:  ST. JEROME’S INDIAN RES SCHOOL /  KELLY FAMILY 

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Part 2:  ST. JEROME’S INDIAN RES SCHOOL /  KELLY FAMILY 

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In "Indian Horse," Part 2, Saul is still facing mistreatment and unfavourable circumstances in St. Jerome's Indian Residential School. Father Leboutilier helps Sauls  skill for hockey, which ends up becoming an important means of escape for him. Due to Saul's talent on the ice, Fred Kelly takes notice of him and moves him out of the residential school to live with his family. The Ojibway Kelly family fosters a kind and understanding environment. Saul thrives while under their care, improving his hockey talents and gaining a sense of security and belonging that he did not have at the residential school.Saul also says his goodbyes to Father Leboutilier at the end of part 2.

“I sat with the Father’s hand on my back, listening to the excited chatter of the team as they recreated the game. The game loves you, he’d said, and right there, right then, I loved it back.” (Page 47)

I think this quote  demonstrates how hockey can change a person's life, represents the finest of Part 2. It gives him a unique feeling of approval and love as well as a necessary emotional release. Saul finds comfort and a brief escape from the sadness  he experiences through the game. This deep love for hockey serves as a special place of his identity and strength.

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Part 3:  KELLY FAMILY / MOOSE HOCKEY TEAM 

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Part 3:  KELLY FAMILY / MOOSE HOCKEY TEAM 

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When Saul moves out of St. Jerome's residential school and into the Kelly household in Part 3 of "Indian Horse," his life takes a dramatic turn. Saul is welcomed into the Kellys' house and introduced to the Moose, a local Indigenous hockey club, by the kind and encouraging family. Saul's ice hockey skills blossom under Fred Kelly's guidance, and he shines as a top player very soon.Saul feels a great feeling of belonging and pride in his background when he plays with the Moose. Saul's colleagues' friendship and similar cultural backgrounds offer him a positive atmosphere in which he can grow both mentally and physically. Saul develops confidence and starts to recover from his prior trauma as he succeeds at hockey.But as the Moose become more well-known and begin to play against teams that are not Native American, Saul encounters more discrimination and hatred. The intolerance and dislike he experiences frequently overshadows the enjoyment he derives from the game. Saul is a member of the squad because of his talent and dedication, which are evident despite these difficulties.

"It will be tough, Saul," Fred Kelly said. "A working life is made easier by a home. People. Noise. Distraction. They fill you when you're tired and depleted." (Page 177)

The quote from "Indian Horse"  Part 3 is significant because it captures the value of connections and support systems in overcoming obstacles in life. Saul is getting ready for adulthood and the challenges he will encounter while pursuing his hockey career thanks to Fred Kelly. Fred is underlining the critical role that a caring environment has in developing emotional and mental resilience by stressing the need of a house full of people, noise, and distractions.

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Part 4:  SAUL’S DECLINE / SAUL’S SALVATION

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Part 4:  SAUL’S DECLINE / SAUL’S SALVATION

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In "Indian Horse," Part 4, Saul's early hockey success and happiness fade as he deals with continued hatred and the pain of his past. As a result, Saul has an emotional and psychological downturn, growing more and more alone and resorting to alcohol as a way to cope. His hockey career collapses, and he falls into desperation and addiction. But throughout  Saul starts to look for a way out of his pain throughout this conflict. With the help of mentors and friends, he faces his traumatic history and embarks on the healing process. He makes an effort to comprehend the effects of his experiences, regain his identity, and rediscover what it is to be himself.

“I discovered that being someone you are not is often easier than living with the person you are.” (page 180)

This quote is meaningful in Part 4 of "Indian Horse" because it captures the profound internal struggle Saul experiences as he navigates his identity and the trauma of his past. Throughout his journey, Saul grapples with the pain and scars left by the residential school system and the pervasive racism he faces as an Indigenous hockey player.

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Richard Wagamese has said that Indian Horse “…was a story clamoring to be told in a way that was empowering – that was not preachy, threatening or guilt inducing.” Do you feel Indian Horse is, in fact, a story told in a way that is empowering and not preachy, threatening or guilt inducing? Why or why not?