Khabrish 1

Salam Khabrish

Mr. David

ENG4U

May 15 2023

Persuasive Essay: Indian Horse

Indian Horse, a novel by Richard Wagamese, is a good representation of the suffering

of indigenous Canadians. Saul Indian Horse, a young Indigenous kid who is abducted from

his family and sent to attend a Catholic residential school, is the protagonist of the story. He

encounters bigotry and prejudice there, both on and off the ice, but develops an aptitude for

ice hockey that serves as his means of escape. The novel analyzes the ways in which the

residential school system, along with other systems, has marginalized, oppressed, and

prejudiced Indigenous peoples. By concentrating on the long-lasting repercussions of

imperialism and the residential school system, Indian Horse demonstrates the pervasive

racism and discrimination that Indigenous peoples have experienced in Canada via the

narrative of Saul Indian Horse. The novel demands that both Indigenous and non-Indigenous

peoples acknowledge these injustices and commit to racial harmony. Saul “Indian Horse”

provides a window into the catastrophic impact of racism and prejudice on Indigenous people

in Canada, and the book highlights the significance of these two, discrimination and

prejudice. The book also emphasizes the persistent legacy of systematic oppression and the

pressing need for justice and reconciliation via Saul's path of self-discovery and healing.

Racism is the deliberate oppression, prejudice, and discrimination of people or groups

against them because of their race, ethnicity, or cultural heritage. The hardships of indigenous

peoples in Canada and the bigotry they encountered are shown in Indian Horse. Saul Indian

Horse and other Indigenous characters experience racism in a variety of ways throughout the

novel, including disparaging language, physical abuse, and cultural erasure. When he is told
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that he is "Nothing but a dirty Indian,"( Wagamese, Richard. Indian Horse. Douglas &

McIntyre, 2012, p. 13. ) it served as an example of how opponents and supporters taunt Saul

with racial slurs when he plays hockey). In addition, Saul and other indigenous children are

also forbidden from using their native tongues or engaging in their culture while they are

compelled to attend the residential school. The school's objective is to incorporate Indigenous

students into Canadian white culture, and it is obvious when Saul is told to "Speak English!”

and that he is “In Canada now, and (he’ll) speak English like a Canadian!" (Wagamese,

Richard. Indian Horse. Douglas & McIntyre, 2012, p. 105) . These instances highlight the

continued need for knowledge, education, and reconciliation, as well as the widespread and

damaging impacts of racism on indigenous peoples in Canada. To highlight the past and

present persecution of Indigenous peoples in Canada, the novel Indian Horse depicts racism.

Indigenous populations and communities have suffered greatly as a result of racism, which

has been a chronic problem throughout Canadian history. the novel shows that the character

saul and his community also went through a lot of racism and prejudice throughout the story

and indigenous people in canada, for instance getting to accept to go to school that

discriminate them and been racist to them and also have to deal with it in work area and in

the future. Through Saul's narrative, the novel promotes awareness of the detrimental effects

of racism and prejudice on indigenous people and communities as well as the necessity of

continued work toward reconciliation, healing, and justice. It also emphasizes indigenous

peoples' tenacity and fortitude in the face of hardship and the value of conserving and

honoring Indigenous customs and traditions. The novel Indian Horse examines racism and

the impact it has on Indigenous peoples in Canada. This installment shows the mistreatment

of Indigenous peoples throughout history and in the present, as well as the need for constant

efforts towards achieving regeneration, equity, and forgiveness.

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Certainly, Indian Horse tells the tale of the discrimination and institutional racism that

Indigenous peoples have endured throughout history in Canada. It demonstrates how racism

may manifest itself in more covert ways as well, such as cultural marginalization and erasure,

in addition to overt acts of violence. Saul, for instance, loses his indigenous identity and

culture when he is sent to the residential school. He is compelled to change his appearance,

talk solely in English, and give up his old habits. Given that indigenous children were

forcibly pushed to adapt to white Canadian society, this amounts to a type of cultural

genocide. The novel further demonstrates how Indigenous people may internalize racism and

prejudice. As he tries to balance his love of hockey, his desire to succeed in a sport where

white people predominate, and his Indigenous ancestry, Saul struggles with his own sense of

identity and belonging. One example of prejudice in the story is when non-Indigenous people

use racial remarks and violence against Saul and other Indigenous characters. They are also

subjected to discrimination in sectors such as education, housing, and work. Saul, for

instance, got removed from his family and placed in a residential school, where he was

punished for speaking his mother tongue and was forced to acquire and follow the Western

Culture and its beliefs. In the novel, the topic of culture bias is a type of prejudice. The non

indigenous people repeatedly characterized Saul and other indigenous characters as being

“Savage” and beneath them. Their own cultural customs and their beliefs were frequently

disparaged or neglected in a favor of the Western norms of behavior and culture. The novel

also examines how institutional oppression may cause indigenous people to develop

unconscious prejudice. Saul struggles with his own sense of identity and belonging as a result

of his trauma. He struggles to reconcile his native American background with the western

civilization and way of life he was born into, and he feels estranged from his own language.

Overall, Indian Horse highlights the significance of increased awareness, education, and
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reconciliation efforts in order to address the widespread and destructive effects of racism and

discrimination on Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Overall, Indian Horse is a compelling examination of the impact of racial

discrimination on indigenous peoples. It raises awareness of the racism that Indigenous

peoples have faced and continue to face across the country, as well as the negative

psychological impacts that racism may have. The tale encourages readers to evaluate their

own prejudices and biases in order to create a more inclusive and equitable society. Another

thing is that it demonstrates the need of confronting and addressing racism in order to achieve

healing and reconciliation by bringing to light the ongoing struggle that indigenous peoples in

Canada face.

Work cited

Wagamese, Richard. Indian Horse: A Novel. 2012.

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