Traveling the Red Road

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Traveling the Red Road

• An Introduction to the Novel
• Keeper N Me
• by Richard Wagamese

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About the Author

• Richard Wagamese is an Ojibway whose early life
  bears some resemblance to that of Garnet Raven,
  the protagonist.
• He is a former columnist for the Calgary Herald.
• He currently lives in Ontario.

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About the Novel

• Winner 1995 Best Novel Award, Writers Guild of
  Alberta.
• The novel is set in White Dog, a native
  reservation.
• Some of the novel is set in Toronto.

4
About the Narrators

• Garnet Raven is the principal narrator of the
  novel.
• This is a story of his emotional journey of
  self-discovery and his search for his home.
• Text font is normal when he speaks.

• Keeper is the secondary narrator of the novel.
• He adds his perspective of the events surrounding
  Garnets journey.
• Provides both comic relief and spiritual insight.
• Text is in italics when he speaks.

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THEME Internalized Oppression

• Internalized oppression is taking on and
  believing the stereotypes and lies that are told
  about you and the people in your group.
• It is an involuntary reaction to racism.

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THEME Internalized Oppression

• It is believing that you or others in your group
  are less than the dominant group.
• All people targeted for mistreatment and
  discrimination to some degree internalize the
  oppression.

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A Dark Chapter in Canadian History

• In 1928, a government official predicted Canada
  would end its "Indian problem" within two
  generations.
• This began with Church-run, government-funded
  residential schools for native children which
  were supposed to prepare them for life in white
  society.

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Residential Schools

• Government and churches established residential
  schools with the assumption that aboriginal
  culture was unable to adapt to a rapidly
  modernizing Canadian society. Without
  intervention, they felt native people would be
  left behind. Children were much easier to mould
  than adults, but it had to be done outside the
  family and the influence of the wigwam.
  Residential schools, where students lived far
  from home for most of the year, were the answer.

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A People Without a Language

• School administrators recognized that language
  was linked with culture. If native children were
  to be assimilated into Canadian society, they
  must learn English. Of these children, the
  Department of Indian Affairs wrote in its 1895
  report So long as he keeps his native tongue,
  so long will he remain a community apart.

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A History of Abuse

• Many schools punished children for speaking an
  aboriginal language.
• Students were subject to all kinds of abuse in
  residential schools. Emotional abuse, such as
  denigrating a students native heritage, was
  common. Many survivors of both sexes have also
  reported physical and sexual abuse.
• Even when abuse wasnt present, the living
  conditions often bordered on neglect poor
  nutrition, inadequate clothing, cold buildings
  and heavy physical labour.

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A History of Abuse

• In many schools, students were referred to by
  numbers instead of their names.
• Boys hair was cut short a confusing experience
  for those who came from cultures where shorn hair
  was a sign of mourning.

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The Road to Healing

• Reserves have responded to the problems of young
  people by helping native youth gain a sense of
  identity.
• Traditional practices such as smudging (in which
  a person is bathed in smoke from burning sage
  or sweetgrass), sweat lodges (heated tents where
  participants have visions and rid themselves of
  impurities), and language learning have all been
  used to combat the hopelessness and grief that
  can lead to suicide.

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Relation to Keeper N Me

• Garnet is taken away from his family by
  Childrens Aid and placed into foster care simply
  because people did not understand Native
  traditions and their concept of the extended
  family.
• Garnet ultimately becomes a victim of racism and
  internalized oppression.
• He spends many years away from his family and
  culture and loses his identity.

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Native Spirituality

• Belief in the seven teachings
• Honesty
• Humility
• Truth
• Wisdom
• Love
• Respect
• Bravery

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Prayer Carrier The Eagle

• The eagle has great significance for the
  Anishinabe people when it comes to healing
  ceremonies and ceremonies honouring and
  respecting other people.

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Circle of Life The Drum

• Made of wood and hide, both natural materials,
  representing honesty and sharing.
• Described as the heartbeat of the people.
• Sacred object.

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Smudging Plants to Purify

• TOBACCO
• Used for cleansing and healing.
• Represents the honesty that they carry in their
  hearts when words are spoken between two people
  or to the spirit world.
• Tobacco travels ahead of words so that honesty
  will be received in a kind respectful way.

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Smudging Plants to Purify

• SAGE
• Burned as protection agains malevolent energies.
• A purifier that draws away negative energies that
  affect the aura, body, and soul.

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Smudging Plants to Purify

• SWEETGRASS
• Believed to carry the deep wisdom of the earth.
• Used to call the good spirits for blessing.
• CEDAR
• Has similar healing properties as sage.

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Relation to Keeper N Me

• Through Keepers spiritual teachings, Garnet
  learns about himself and his culture.
• Garnet finds self-fulfillment through these
  ceremonies and finally experiences a sense of
  belonging.

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Your Novel Assignment

• Essay Critiques
• Critiques of four essays relating to native
  issues.
• Research Journal
• Double entry journal format involving discussion
  of significant passages.
• Personal Journal
• Your own spiritual journey.

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Goals of this Unit

• To make you more culturally aware and sensitive
  to native issues.
• To foster an awareness and appreciation for
  native culture and spirituality.
• To create greater self-awareness through Garnets
  experiences.

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Enjoy your journey!