Introduction
Literary works have great power, which can draw readers’ attention to the most critical and disturbing problems. An example of such a work is a novel by Richard Wagamese called Indian Horse. This work touches on a relatively large number of topics, including unfulfilled dreams, the influence of alcohol on people’s lives, and family relationships.
However, the subject of cultural representation becomes the most prominent in the novel by Richard Wagamese. This aspect is manifested through the character of Saul Indian Horse’s grandmother. The study of how the author of a book called Indian Horses shows cultural characteristics and preservation of Indigenous identity through a character on a thematic level gives a better understanding of the value of preserving cultures in the modern world.
The Central Narrative
Before discussing the central issue of literary work, it is necessary to gain an understanding of what becomes the central narrative in the work. Hence, the author tells the story of Saul Indian Horse, a young Ojibwe boy in Canada. The narrative developed in the 20th century, at a time of particularly difficult challenges for indigenous people. The story’s main character manifests significant success in hockey and is very passionate about it. However, the obstacle for him becomes his past, which haunts him.
Despite the complexity and uniqueness of the story of the main character of the novel Indian Horse, special attention should be paid to the character of grandmother Saul Indian Horse. This is due to the fact that the author, through this member of the character’s family, presents readers with several topics that cause concern in the modern world.
The Central Topics
Cultural resilience, connection, support of traditions, and the preservation of indigenous identity can be singled out among their most prominent. These aspects are of critical importance for research and analysis. Research stated that “images of a tribal order irretrievably altered and of alienated Indian characters struggling to reconnect with the tribe after being immersed in the white man’s world is a recurrent feature of Native literature” (Miroux 198). Consequently, an increasing number of authors are paying attention to the need to spread awareness about the problem discussed in the novel.
Cultural Resilience
First of all, it is worth considering how the author of the novel presents the topic of cultural resilience through the character of grandmother Saul Indian Horse. This topic is particularly relevant, as more and more attention should be paid to preserving indigenous peoples and their cultural characteristics and traditions. The character of grandmother Saul Indian Horse is presented as a strong woman by nature who survived many hardships that fate gave her. She endured the hardships and struggles that were endorsed on Indigenous people during the colonial era (Guilty 94).
An example of this event was her stay in the residential school system, which caused severe harm to representatives of indigenous peoples. At the same time, this experience was incredibly traumatic for Naomi’s grandmother. The main character notes, “If there was ever a sign of an approaching stranger, our grandmother hurried my brother Benjamin and me off into the bush” (Wagamese 8). Despite this, she maintains her cultural identity by teaching her grandson their culture’s peculiarities and unique aspects.
Cultural Connections
The next aspect worth discussing when considering the characters represented in Grandma Saul’s character is the preservation of connection with traditions and indigenous culture. Hence, as already mentioned, despite the difficulties of life and attempts of colonialism to break the indigenous people, she continues to carry all the essential aspects of her people. Moreover, she constantly teaches and reminds her grandson about the importance of condoms.
In addition to cultural features, Grandma Naomi represents a connection to spirituality and wisdom. These aspects are manifested through her stories, teachings, and rituals, which she transmits to Saul early on. Thus, by representing the connection with culture and traditions in the character of Saul Indian Horse’s grandmother, the author draws attention to the value of communication in families, primarily indigenous peoples. This connection and the transfer of knowledge through family members is emphasized as the main necessity and value for preserving traditions and cultural aspects of Indigenous people’s lives in modern society.
Preservation of Identity
The last but no less critical symbol, represented through the character of Naomi’s grandmother, is the preservation of indigenous identity. Even though the woman survived all the hardships of the colonial regime and spent a long time in specialized residential schools, she was able to preserve the culture of her people. This is especially important to take into account when considering the historical situation of that time, which was the policy of the Canadian government aimed at limiting the role and influence of Indigenous languages, culture, and heritage (Wiese 54).
Saul’s grandmother has become an example of how strong a character can be in a person who truly loves, appreciates, and wants to preserve their culture and traditions. This aspect is particularly evident when considering Saul’s main character. Despite the difficulties that a young man faces in his life, he retains and remembers his cultural identity, which is manifested in all his actions.
Preservation of Culture
Through a special connection between a grandmother and a grandson, one can trace how preserving cultural characteristics and traditions is reflected in building relationships between people and healing trauma. Thus, the transfer of knowledge about family values and the basic postulates of the indigenous people contributed to the formation of a strong personality of the main character, which helped him overcome significant difficulties. At the same time, the generational trauma that runs through the generations of his family also affected him. Thus, the author tweets the lasting effect of culture and the difficulties associated with its unification on society.
Conclusion
In conclusion, studying such a character in Richard Wagamese’s novel as Naomi’s grandmother provides an opportunity to highlight several characters she represents. One of them is cultural resilience, which is valuable for preserving the unique features of indigenous peoples in modern society. A woman, despite the difficulties of her life and the colonial regime, could carry all the main valuable aspects of her people.
Moreover, the author shows the importance of such characteristics as connection and support of traditions and the preservation of indigenous identity through Saul’s grandmother. These aspects manifest themselves in the transfer of knowledge to the younger generation, which also emphasizes the importance of the family in this process. The study of topics that arise in the novel Indian Horse by author Richard Wagamese is essential for spreading awareness about the value and necessity of preserving indigenous cultures.
Works Cited
Guilt, Diaspora. “Chapter Five Guilt, Diaspora, and Colonial Domicide: Trauma in Richard Wagamese’s Indian Horse Mei-Chuen Wang.” Liminality of Justice in Trauma and Trauma Literature, 2023, p. 94.
Miroux, Franck. “Richard Wagemese’s Indian Horse: Stolen Memories and Recovered Histories.” ACTIO NOVA: Revista de Teoría de la Literatura y Literatura Comparada, vol. 3, 2019, pp. 194-230.
Wagamese, Richard. Indian Horse. Milkweed Editions, 2018.
Wiese, Doro. “Nighttime Invasions, Colonial Dispossession, and Indigenous Resilience in Richard Wagamese’s Indian Horse.” American, British and Canadian Studies, vol. 38, 2022, pp. 54-75.