By Richard Wagamese
5 Stars
The Indian Horse is a powerful and emotional novel that portrays the story of Saul Indian Horse, an Ojibwe boy whose life is based off of trauma, resilience and the search for identity. The story starts off with Saul's childhood, where he was taken away from his family and was placed in a residential school like other Indigenous kids in Canada. During his time at the residential school, Saul found a discovery and passion for hockey. Hockey becomes more than just a game for Saul; it was a way for him to escape the cruel and strict rules and form a way of escape, healing and self-expression.
After teaching himself the basics at the residential school, he eventually joins the school's hockey team, the Moose. His skill quickly stands out, and he ranks up, getting invited to play on more competitive teams outside of school. As he improves and ranks up from his hockey career, he is known for his incredible ability to read the game and control the puck, which earns the attention of coaches, fans and scouts. However, even when his talent grows, Saul faces a tremendous amount of racism from opposing teams, spectators, and even some of his own teammates.
Overall, this story is very well written and important if you would like to further educate yourself on topics such as identity, residential schools, and Indigenous struggles. I really enjoyed reading this book as it revealed so many personal aspects from just one character alone. One of my favourite characters was Father Leboutillier, he was the priest at the residential school that Saul went to and was ultimately the reason why Saul was able to live out his dreams. He saw potential and shaped his early identity as a hockey player. Even after his character becomes complicated, his impact on Saul's life adds depth to the story.
Reviewed by Fatima
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