Native Americans have always been discriminated against and harassed. The unemployment rate among the indigenous population is much higher than among American citizens. The well-known reservations, assimilation programs in schools and colleges, and other forms of persecution caused a serious deterioration in the indigenous people’s quality of life and morale. The novel Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese discusses the fate of one of the sufferings from the stigmatization of a young man. The novel touches on three major themes: the importance of family traditions, cultural genocide, and trauma resulting from abuse, which can lead to significant addiction problems.
Throughout the novel, the author emphasizes the importance of family traditions. One of the significant examples is when the question of funerals was raised. Naomi was unable to bury the dead person according to the ingenious traditions of the Ojibway. Such a situation shows the complete discrimination of the cultural minority, which affects people’s self-identification. Another important aspect of traditions and family kinship is shown when Naomi, without any hesitation, strives to find her nephew, being sure that he can help her and Saul. Thus, by implementing such events, the author shows that the connections between family members are unconditional for the representatives of Ojibways.
The second theme is cultural genocide, which is especially highlighted in the narration of the example of Saul. The humiliation experienced in the residential school is primarily based on the differences in the cultural perception of the surrounding world. Another example of genocide is the prohibition from being part of the hockey team due to Saul’s religious and cultural inheritance. A young man’s life was destroyed because such stigmatization occurred to him. Therefore, the cruel discrimination resulting in significant problems with self-identification is considered cultural genocide.
The horrifying attitude to Saul resulted in the occurrence of alcohol addiction. Being unable to get any joy in life, Saul tried to calm down his sorrow using alcohol. As a result of his mental issues, which he can not bear, he drinks himself into a seizure and ends up in the hospital. Only by accepting the horrors he experienced at school and feeling a connection with his family does Saul connect his life with hockey again. Only through finding the support of his family and understanding the moral issue resulting from alcoholism does the character obtain freedom by striving for a different everyday life.
Therefore, the novel addressed three major themes related to cultural stigmatization, genocide, and the addiction caused by moral struggles. Discrimination causes significant problems with self-acceptance. The culture-centered bullying causes mental issues, which in adulthood causes lower resilience to habits. Therefore, various cases of abuse can lead to the emotional breakdown of the person and addiction to substances or alcohol (as in the novel). The fight against addictions should be started by minimizing emotionally adverse living conditions, including cultural discrimination. The effects of some addiction-eliminating organizations can be in vain if no other regulations limit the stigmatization. Moreover, the government should also sponsor psychological help for people mentally suffering from abuse, discrimination, or addiction.