Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese (2012)

The story of Saul Indian Horse, an Ojibwe, from child to man.

Book Review: Indian Horse is a book that hurts. It hurts the head and hurts the heart. Richard Wagamese (1955-2017) wrote a book that the reader is compelled to read, wants to read despite the pain. The life of Saul Indian Horse is a mirror for First Nations people in Canada. He sees the casualties in the battle to survive the deep forest, the divide between the old religion and the new, the horrors of the government residential schools, the lure of drink. The injustice of being the "other" in your own country. The saving grace for Saul, his only means of escape, is his love for ice hockey. A love that could only be had by a Canadian or by someone who had nothing else left to love. It's a story that needs to be told, that needs to provide witness. The writing can be quite simple and quite beautiful: "My mother seemed almost weightless by now. I was always surprised that she left footprints." Indian Horse is not directly autobiographical, though it certainly reads that way. Wagamese was a member of the Ojibwe (also known as Ojibway (as here) or Chippewa (in the States). The descriptions of ice hockey are exhilarating initially, but later pale somewhat as it begins to seem like a teen sports novel in which our young hero will surely save the day. In fairness, this makes the gut punch of the ending that much more visceral. Wagamese makes this an important novel, tying the Indian role in the hockey world to their role in Canadian society, for playing hockey will surely make one Canadian just as for earlier waves of immigrants playing baseball made one American. Wagamese tells a story in Indian Horse that is just as real today in Utah or South Dakota, and the horrors Wagamese describes still occur in residential schools for students with disabilities. A compelling read written well about an important subject. No matter how much it hurts.  [4★]