Saul is found by the authorities and is taken to St. Jerome’s Indian Residential School in White River. At St. Jerome’s, headed by Father Quinney and Sister Ignacia, Saul witnesses daily abuse of the children; some die, commit suicide, or are traumatized. How did residential school impact Saul Indian Horse? Read more…
“Hockey is like the universe, Saul,” he said one day. “When you stand in the dark and look up at it, you see the placid fire of stars. But if we were right in the heart of it, we’d see chaos. How does Saul learn to play hockey? The way Read more…
Family and Tradition. Richard Wagamese’s Indian Horse takes its title from the protagonist Saul Indian Horse’s family name, so it’s no surprise that family (and the traditions that families preserve) is one of the book’s central themes. Is hockey a theme in Indian Horse? Set in Northern Ontario in the Read more…
Eagle feathers are believed to carry strong medicine and guide the mind, body and spirit towards courage, strength, and hope. Traditionally, Native American warriors were awarded an eagle feather for notable bravery (like fighting a bear) or battle victory. What does eagle symbolize in Indian horse? The Eagle (Migizi) is Read more…
Again and again, Wagamese uses hockey as a symbol for Saul’s life more generally. In Canada in the mid-twentieth century, hockey is viewed by many as a “white person’s game,” and therefore Saul’s love of hockey is symbolic of how different his life is from the lives of his ancestors. Read more…
The youngest son of Fred Kelly and Martha Kelly, Virgil is Saul Indian Horse’s closest friend in the novel. What is Virgil to Saul? To begin with, Virgil is Saul Indian Horse’s dearest companion in the novel. When Saul meets him, he empowers Saul to play on the hockey team, Read more…
The Canadian horse is known for its great strength and endurance, resilience, intelligence and good temper. Threatened with extinction in the late 19th century, efforts were made in the late 1800s and throughout the 20th century to preserve the distinctive Canadian horse. What is the most important symbol in Canada? Read more…
Before horses came to the Plains, Native hunters pursued large herds on foot, but it was dangerous, difficult work with low odds of success. One technique was to startle and chase an animal toward a cliff or dropoff called a “buffalo jump.” Once wounded, the buffalo was easier to kill. Read more…
How was the introduction of new animals, like the pig and horse, revolutionary for the Americas? They provided new food sources and modes of transportation. What impact did the introduction of New World plants have on Eurasia? New food and fiber crops were introduced to Eurasia and Africa, improving diets Read more…
The horse became a vital component of everyday life for the community. From small hunting-gathering groups they combined forces to obtain big game from distant places, since with the horse they could transport larger items over long distances. What is the most important animal to the Ute tribe? The Utes Read more…