It’s been a while since my last post, but a recent book has made me feel the need to renew my writing here. This book is Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese, published in 2012 before the author’s death in 2017. Aside from his brilliant writing, Wagamese’s work feels special to me because he was writing from my hometown in Kamloops, BC. I knew several people that were close to him, and after hearing stories about him and reading this book I truly feel like his writing offers a glimpse into his soul.
Like with other books on this blog, I can’t begin to understand the pain that is portrayed in this novel. The evils that indigenous people endured during the residential school system, and continue to endure from settler colonialism today, are undeniable. The residential school in Kamloops was one of the latest to close its doors in Canada and operated until 1978. Today the harrowing building stands a symbol of the trauma and resilience of the people who attended it, and the generational trauma it’s caused. From some of the stories I’ve heard of this place, I believe that some of the things Wagamese wrote about in this novel were things that happened at this school. It’s horrifying to think about the fact that such things could have happened so close to where I call home. But this is a truth that I feel many of us need to confront.
Indian Horse is a heartbreaking story of an Indigenous boy, Saul, and his life before, during, and after being placed in a residential school in Ontario. Saul is separated from his family at a young age and taken into the school, where he survives physical and mental abuse by devoting his time to learning and excelling at hockey. His talent and hard-earned skill for the game offers him an escape route from the school. He takes this opportunity, and plays with different organizations, starting on an indigenous team and proving his quality enough to earn interest from professional organizations.
The story is one of indigenous solidarity, colonial violence, and mental health struggle. It’s the type of story that one reads with tears in their eyes throughout. I found myself almost unable to turn the page (but also unable to stop reading) because I knew that my worst fear for the character would be confirmed in the next few paragraphs.
The book isn’t exactly a secret around BC, having won awards like the Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature and competing for the title in the 2013 edition of Canada Reads. There is also a film that was released in 2017.
I won’t lie and say that this book was easy to read. What I will say is that I believe Wagamese’s writing should be in every BC high school English curriculum. Truly powerful art often comes from intense struggle, and Indian Horse is a significant example of this.
Rory Reads 