Chapters
What does Manitou Gameeng mean?
Gods Lake
Which characters leave Gods Lake to honour Benjamin's life the proper way?
Saul's mother, father, aunt, and uncle.
Give some examples of themes that were explained in the seminar.
Grief and identity loss
What is the name of the residential school that Saul was taken to?
St. Jeromes Residential School
In chapter 10, on the fourth day of paddling, what happened to Naomi and Saul?
Naomi and Saul both fell asleep on the canoe, causing it to crash against a rock. This made them lose all of their important supplies (ie. food).
Briefly describe the author's writing style that was discussed in the seminar.
Richard Wagamese was very descriptive (ie. he describes the scenery in detail).
Why is the Indian Horse family the only ones that are able to stay in Gods Lake?
Saul's family passed away during their stay in Gods Lake, and their spirits still spoke from the trees.
Where is Grandmother Naomi and Saul heading before snowfall?
Down through the river to Minaki, where Minoose (Naomi's brother's son) is living.
What is one example of foreshadowing?
The death of both Saul's brother and grandmother.
Briefly explain how Saul's grandmother prepared Benjamin's body after his death.
Naomi took water from the lake, dipped cedar boughs in it, and washed Benjamin's body. She was singing in the tent as part of her ministrations.
Who greeted Saul and Lonnie when they arrived at St. Jerome Residential School?
Sister Ignacia and the Priest
Describe one of the art pieces discussed. (Name of the art piece, artist, and describe its relation to Indian Horse).
Art piece #1
Work: Where I Used to Love
Artist: Allen Sapp
Relation to Indian Horse: Has themes of displacement and loneliness due to colonization, which relates to the feelings that Saul felt on numerous occasions due to his parents' trauma.
Art piece #2
Work: Icewall
Artist: James Mishibinijima
Relation to Indian Horse: the individual laying in the cold can be related back to Saul's grandmother and how she passed away protecting Saul, the individual's body can be interpreted as being part of the land, which Naomi always taught others about the connected they have with the land.
What did the nuns and priests do to Saul and other children when he arrived?
They took away his traditional clothing, cut away his long and straight hair, and changed their names to more biblical ones. They were also bathed and scrubbed.
In chapter 10, what was Naomi's last gesture of sacrifice?
Naomi crouched down next to Saul and held him to keep him warm.
Describe the role, character, and significance of Saul in Indian Horse.
- Main character and narrator,
- Role: to retell the events of his life, represent the struggle and trauma of children that are undergoing the treatment of residential schools, shows how a child learns to navigate how to live after losing his family members.
- Dynamic character