Sciences Participating with Arts & Culture in Education

Facing the Reality of Colonization and Assimilation

Illustrated by Daniela Burlea

Many sources of literature have depicted the difficulties of post-colonialism among aboriginal people. Medicine River by Thomas King, The Rez Sister by Tomson Highway, and Black Elks Speaks by John G. Neihardt; all portray the lasting grief and trauma post-colonialism evokes within the aboriginal community. Each of these books illustrate the devastating reality of the prevalence of white assimilation amongst aboriginals. Additionally, the novels depict the less than ideal living conditions of the reserves. Although many negatives came with Post-colonialism, a strong sense of brotherhood and family is felt throughout each of these stories.

Firstly, Medicine River approaches the subject of the post-colonialist assimilation of native communities in an interesting way. The protagonist, Will, is half white and half native.   The fact that Will’s father is a white bull rider from Calgary already explains the dynamic between native women and white men post-colonization. Although marriage between Europeans and natives became a lot more common, it was not necessarily accepted. Will and his brother James were not recognized as Indians in the community due to the fact that their father was white. Their father writes in a letter to their mother “Sorry you had to leave the reserve but Calgary’s a better place for a swell girl like you. Stupid rule, anyway. I’d send some money, but I’m short right now got to save up for a new saddle […]”(5) Their mother virtually sacrificed her native rights and community by marrying their father.  This is essentially the heritage of European dominance over the live aboriginals. Similarly in The Rez Sisters, many of the sisters comment on Annie’s relationship with a Jewish musician. Annie says “Fritz buys me jeans and things. I’m gonna be one of them Jewish princesses.” Emily replies “What’s wrong with being an Indian princess?” Annie says “Aw these white guys. They’re nicer to their women. Not like Indian guys, drink all you money, and leave you flat on your ass.”(86)  Annie fails to see the consequences of post-colonialism and assumes she will be more successful and live a better life if she ends up with a white man. However, both of these novels express the ideologies imposed on the Aboriginal characters. Such as white men being seen as saviours which is a result of years of institutional and systemic marginalization. Additionally, in Medicine River Bertha is looking for her ideal partner on an online dating service. She explains “Got nothing to do with my looks. Just tired of what’s available around here. […] Whites are okay. Should have his own job and not be married. I’d like someone tall so I can wear heels when we go out, but short is okay too.”(142)  Bertha is another victim of assimilation due to colonialism, which is leading her to believe she cannot find an Indian man on the reserve with all of the traits she is looking for. Post-colonialism succeeds in assimilating each of these characters seeing as their depictions of a desirable man is a white man.

Moreover, the consequences of colonialism not only included assimilation but a terrible wave of poverty that continues to ravage native communities. Many reserves have dreadful living conditions. Black Elks Speaks provides a precedent for the extensive atrocities that were born from colonialism. Black Elk describes the circumstances they had to endure during colonialism “Nothing would grow that the people had planted, and the Wasichus (white people) had been sending less cattle and other food than ever before. The Wasichus had slaughtered all the bison and shut us up in pens. It looked as though we might all starve to death. We could not eat lies and there was nothing we could do.  And now Wasichus had made another treaty to take away from us about half the land we had left our people did not want this treaty either but Three Stars came and made the treaty just the same.”(144) Black Elk really translates the brutality that comes with colonialism. That same brutality is extended in the later chapters of The Rez Sisters and Medicine River, as well. All the women in The Rez Sisters are living in poverty and do not have access to basic necessities, such as working toilets or even paved roads. Pelajia explains; “Years now that old chief’s been making speeches about getting paved roads “for my people” and still we got dirt roads all over.”(7) Likewise in Medicine River, the living conditions are not ideal considering Will, James and their mother are exiled from the reserve simply for being partially white. Will and James are then re-integrated into a world of discomfort that is supposed to feel like home to them.

Finally, despite the many negative results of colonialism, the aboriginals have preserved their strong sense of community. In all three novels, there is a compelling value of Brotherhood/Sisterhood. Medicine River represents the reserves strong community through basketball and many other aspects. Will elaborates, “Helping was Harlen’s specialty. He was like a spider on a web. Every so often, someone would come along and tear off a piece of the web or poke a hole in it, and Harlen would come scuttling along and throw out filament after filament until the damage was repaired.” (26) Medicine River had a close and intimate neighborhood that held each other together, and helped one another despite their many differences. Equally, theirs is an obvious delegation of sisterhood in The Rez Sisters. Although the women experience several conflicts among each other.  More interestingly, in Black Elk Speaks, the integration of brotherhood is encouraged at an earlier age. Black elk explains “but all the boys from 5 or 6 years up were playing war. The little boys would gather together from the different hands of the tribe and fight each other with mud balls […]”(10)

To conclude, Medicine River, The Rez sisters and Black Elk Speaks have all illustrated a profound portrayal of the damage colonialism has caused. Medicine River explores a modern approach to native issues, such as European assimilation tactics still lingering within community.  The novel also elaborates on their difficult living conditions and their powerful sense of brotherhood. The Rez sisters and Black elk speaks also dive deep into these problems and circumstances within aboriginal communities. The amount of damage colonialism has caused these groups is immeasurable. Nevertheless, native people continue to seek reparations.