Reflection Paper: Stones and Switches
“Stones and Switches” is a Micmac novel that takes place during the Depression Era. It was written by Lorne Simon – a young native Canadian writer that perished in a car crash in 1994. The story takes us to a small village where Micmacs and white people live together, creating an odd mix of cultures and religions, where Christianity neighbors with native ancient rituals and traditions. The main hero of the novel, a young man, named Megwadesk, is plagued by misfortune following him around, and struggles against it as his perceptions of right and wrong are shifting between Christianity, spiritualism, and even atheism at a specific point in the story (Simon 112).
Many examples of native American literature offer great insights into their respective cultures. “Stones and Switches” is no different in that regard, as it offers a vivid description of Micmac life, traditions, and culture. It bears a resemblance to many native and ancient cultures around the world as it is based on a multitude of gods and spirits, shamanism, rituals, trinkets, and witchcraft. Since Micmacs do not have their own alphabet, their traditions are passed through the story, rather than writings.
This is illustrated in numerous ways. Megwadesk’s girlfriend and future wife, Mimi, is considered to be a healer in the village – she knows her peoples’ lore, traditions, and possesses knowledge of healing herbs too. She keeps amulets in their home – precious stones that are meant to protect the household from harm. The antagonist – Old Molly – is described as a witch, who seeks to destroy Megwadesk because Mimi refused to share secrets of her craft with her (Simon 23).
The village where Megwadesk lives is a very rural one, lacking many of the technological advancements of its age. The people here still live off the land, catching fish and hunting game. This is illustrated by descriptions of the population of the village – everyone in it is either a fisher, a hunter, or a gatherer. The women have very distinct roles in this society – they are housekeepers, mothers of children, and healers. Mimi and even Old Molly are both healers, even though the latter is also a witch. The elders are respected, considered to be carriers of knowledge and wisdom. The role of children is not the focus of the book. However, it is said that bastard children are frowned upon by the Church (Simon 70).
White people are not represented in this tale but are often mentioned in an unfavorable light – throwing stones at others, stealing land, and harassing the fishers (Simon 39). While the natives do not actively oppose colonialism, and even try to accept the invading culture, there is still plenty of friction between the nations. It is mentioned that two fishers beat up the warden for trying to confiscate their nets. Scoltch, who is Megwadesk’s friend, voices his disdain at white people invading their lands and enforcing their laws (Simon 40).
Megwadesk’s story is that of returning to his native roots, after facing the hardship brought upon him by “evil magic.” At first, he dismisses it as vaunted superstition, but as the nightmares turn worse, he has to rely on Mimi, his future wife, for help. Christianity offers little help in this situation and proves to be a superstition just like the rest. Only by returning to the roots, and rediscovering his own culture and language, does Megwadesk manage to defeat Old Molly and bring happiness back to his family (Simon 145).
Through offering vivid descriptions of day-to-day living, the story furthers a reader’s understanding of Micmac culture. I learned about their beliefs and traditions, as well as the names of their Gods. However, the story leaves certain questions unanswered. How did the white people come into contact with Micmacs? Why did they not exterminate them as they did with many Indian tribes in America? Did Micmacs actively fight against the invasion of their land? Answering these questions would complete the picture of Micmac history and their relationship with the rest of the world.