Richard Wagamese’ Indian Horse was a Canada Reads Contender. Until then I like most had never heard of him. This book as much as any shows him to be a very readable author and exponent of his aboriginal culture.
Franklin Starlight has been raised by his grandfather wise in the old ways. He knows how to live off the land: hunt, make camp, find food, take care of himself.
His father Eldon is a town Indian who has lived by white man’s ways, an alcoholic, who is dying of cirrhosis of the liver. Although never a presence in his son’s life they make this last journey together to fulfil a dying man’s wish for a traditional burial. His father also wishes to tell his son his life story.
Frank was raised seemingly by his maternal grandfather who worked 80 acres of farmland. No mention is made of his Mother, did she die in childbirth?
I like this story but on the face of it a boy packs his dying father into the wilderness on a horse like so much baggage and buries him there after feeding him unknown tribal medicine. This may have been what the man wanted but I shudder to think how it would look in the eyes of the law.
Franklin Starlight has been raised by his grandfather wise in the old ways. He knows how to live off the land: hunt, make camp, find food, take care of himself.
His father Eldon is a town Indian who has lived by white man’s ways, an alcoholic, who is dying of cirrhosis of the liver. Although never a presence in his son’s life they make this last journey together to fulfil a dying man’s wish for a traditional burial. His father also wishes to tell his son his life story.
Frank was raised seemingly by his maternal grandfather who worked 80 acres of farmland. No mention is made of his Mother, did she die in childbirth?
I like this story but on the face of it a boy packs his dying father into the wilderness on a horse like so much baggage and buries him there after feeding him unknown tribal medicine. This may have been what the man wanted but I shudder to think how it would look in the eyes of the law.
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