The article “In the remote communities of Northern Ontario, climate change has lit a fuse on reconciliation” was published on July 19, 2022, by Tom Kehoe. The author is a chair of LTL Group based in Thunder Bay and a member of the Metis Nation of Ontario. In the article, he describes the stringent living conditions of the First Nations communities and estimates the dangers of climate change for these remote areas. The author considers critical aspects of living in Pickle Lake. He speaks about the limited timing for the transportation of vital resources in a window of less than a month, the degree to which the nations face scarcity 12 months a year and points out that climate change can put communities in an even more vulnerable position (Kehoe, 2022). The author persuades the readers of the urgency to help First Nations. He uses rhetorical appeal and devices but fails to use verifiable sources to support his claims.
Kehoe (2022) persuades his audience using the rhetorical appeal of Ethos and Imagery rhetorical device which sets the tone for the entire text. Ethos is applied to generate an instant connection with the audience, making way for the subsequent description of the harsh circumstances remote communities face. In the introductory paragraphs, the author immerses the audience in a freezing place where even Google maps fail to show results. He uses Imagery by depicting a winter setting at a very desolate location: “Pickle Lake, Ont., is where the road ends, there is nowhere farther to drive” (Kehoe, 2022, para. 1). The intensive use of imagery throughout the article reinforces the emotional connection with the reader.
In paragraphs 4 and 5 Tom Kehoe illustrates how cargo with vital supplies of medical equipment, heavy machinery, building equipment, and vehicles gets ready to be transported on the tough ice roads. Further, in paragraph 13, the author portrays how infrastructure is inexorably eroding, which threatens the survival of First Nations people (Kehoe, 2022). In paragraphs 10 and 11 the Imagery is used to present the disadvantages remote communities face around the year.
Likewise, there is a tendency to use specific sentences to strengthen the emotional impact on the reader. Kehoe (2022) dramatizes and exaggerates the negative aspects of the situation: “Except for one month of the year” (para. 2), “This is truly no country for old men” (para. 5), “There are no do-overs” (para. 6), “The infrastructure itself is already more vulnerable” (para. 13), “Time is running out” (para. 19). The mentioned sentences remind the reader of the urgency of the discussed issue, while repetition and incitement of negativity encompass the emotional appeal.
Unfortunately, even though the author succeeds in introducing his opinion to the audience and evoking an empathetic response, Kehoe (2022) lacks verifiable sources to support his claims. If the reliability of the information is confirmed by first-hand experience, the author might be incurring in Hasty Generalization logical fallacy. Kehoe (2022) speaks of “dozens of remote First Nations” communities in paragraph 6, who are facing the extreme circumstances he describes. It is implied that this information comes from a first-hand source, primarily because any other author is cited, but it is hardly possible that Kehoe (2022) has first-hand information about life in all the mentioned communities. Further, if it is an appeal to the authority of the writer’s experience, mere pointing is not enough, and the reader needs more proof to be persuaded.
To justify the author, it is necessary to admit that he presents an unexpected point of view, and one could hardly find many authorities who can talk about the issue with confidence and show no bias. There is one reference to an external source, and it is found in paragraph 8 (Kehoe, 2022). Although it supports a specific claim, critical analysis shows that the reference article applies mainly to the area of Thunder Bay, Ontario, where the author lives, while the author talks about the Pickle Lake, Ontario location.
To conclude, Tom Kehoe created an immersive, emotionally appealing article, crafted with a fresh perspective and urging a call to action from the target audience. However, as compelling as it is, the article shows a deficiency in utilizing evidence from expert opinions and statistics to support the main idea. In the article, the use of Pathos as the primary mode of persuasion is abundant and fulfills the author’s intention. The application of Imagery rhetorical device helps generate a feeling of involvement and a more intense sense of urgency regarding the scarcity First Nations are facing.
Still, there is little use of supporting evidence, which could have increased the author’s credibility. There is one thing all the readers can agree on: being a change actor is not an easy calling. Nevertheless, the First Nations communities in Pickle Lake are only one decision away from a completely different environment. Responding to the author’s rhetoric, it is worth adding that the only battle lost is the one not fought, and the only absolute failure is giving up. First Nations people need our help right now, so the question is: what is our next move?
Reference
Kehoe, T. (2022). Opinion in the remote communities of Northern Ontario, climate change has lit a fuse on Reconciliation. CBC News. Web.