Indian Horse Quiz #1 Flashcards
1
Q
Characters
Saul Indian Horse
A
- The narrator, telling his story from the New Dawn Centre
- Ojibway (Fish Clan)
- Has a gift for seeing things
- Suffers greatly from family loss
- Hockey became his escape and talent
- At St. Jerome’s he is referred to as “Zhaunagush” refers to white men because he can speak and read English
2
Q
Characters
Naomi
A
- Saul’s grandmother
- Strong, wise, connected to tradition
- Protects Saul, teaches him their language
- Tries to save his brother Benjamin at God’s Lake
- Sacrifices her life to save Saul
3
Q
Characters
Benjamin
A
- Saul’s older brother
- Taken to residential school, escapes, but returns sick with tuberculosis and traumatized
- His death at God’s Lake deeply affects Saul
- Shows the deadly impact of the schools
4
Q
Characters
Rachel
A
- Saul’s sister
- Taken to Residential Schools
5
Q
Characters
Mary and John Indian Horse
A
- Saul’s parents
- Devastated by losing their children, they turn to alcohol
- Mary clashes with Naomi over traditions
- Shows the intergenerational trauma of residential schools.
- 3 reasons: alcohol, shame, can’t find him
6
Q
Characters
Shabogeesick
A
- Saul’s great-grandfather
- Introduced a horse to the Ojibway after bringing it back from another area
- Also warned that its presence signaled that a great change would come
7
Q
Characters
Solomon
A
- Saul’s grandfather
8
Q
Characters
Sister Ignacia
A
- Cruel nun enforcing assimilation (“remove the Indian”)
9
Q
Characters
Father Quinney
A
- Head priest, represents the school’s authority
- Later allows Saul to leave
10
Q
Characters
Father Gaston Leboutilier
A
- A younger priest whose initial friendliness contrasts with the harshness of other staff
- He introduces hockey, recognizes Saul’s prodigious talent, acts as a mentor and protector within the school
- Provides Saul with access to the game and a measure of solace
11
Q
Characters
Lenny Mink
A
- Child who passed away and who was never spoken about again
- Probably buried in an unmarked grave
12
Q
Characters
Lonnie/Aaron Rabbit
A
- The first person Saul meets in Residential Schools
- Forced to change his name to Aaron
13
Q
Characters
Fred Kelly
A
- Coach of the Indigenous team, the Moose
- Takes Saul out of St. Jerome’s and becomes his guardian
- Represents resilience and community
The Kellys and the Moose team become Saul’s chosen family, offering support and belonging
14
Q
Characters
Martha Kelly
A
- Fred’s wife, also a St. Jerome’s survivor
- Provides caring home
The Kellys and the Moose team become Saul’s chosen family, offering support and belonging
15
Q
Characters
Virgil Kelly
A
- Fred and Martha’s son, Moose captain
- Becomes Saul’s close friend and teammate
The Kellys and the Moose team become Saul’s chosen family, offering support and belonging
16
Q
Plot Summary
Chapters 1-10: Before St. Jerome’s
A
- Saul grows up Ojibway, hiding from authorities who take his siblings.
- His parents turn to alcohol.
- Naomi leads them to God’s Lake to heal Benjamin, who escaped the residential school but was sick.
- Benjamin dies, the family splits, and Mary takes the others, abandoning Saul and Naomi.
- Naomi dies saving Saul from the cold near Minaki.
- Saul is found and taken away.
17
Q
Plot Summary
Chapters 11-14: At St. Jerome’s
A
- Saul arrives at the brutal residential school designed to erase Indigenous culture.
- He witnesses violence, death, and despair (including suicide and “Iron Sister” use).
- He learns to numb himself emotionally to survive.
18
Q
Plot Summary
Chapters 15-20: Discovering Hockey
A
- Father Leboutillier arrives and starts a hockey team.
- Saul is captivated and teaches himself to play while cleaning the ice.
- Leboutilier recognizes his talent and puts him on the team.
- Saul faces racism in his first game but scores.
19
Q
Plot Summary
Chapters 21-24: Trauma and Escape
A
- Saul describes the horrific sexual abuse by priests and nuns.
- He briefly plays for a town team but is kicked off due to racism (“They think it’s their game”).
- Fred Kelly, coach of the Indigenous team (the Moose), offers to take Saul from St. Jerome’s.
- Father Quinney gives Saul the choice, and he accepts.
20
Q
Plot Summary
Chapters 25-27: Joining The Moose
A
- Saul moves in with the Kelly family in Manitouwadge (means “Cave of the Great Spirit” in Ojibway).
- He joins the Moose, quickly impressing them with his skill (“I was a Moose”).
- He finds community, friendship (especially with Virgil), and a sense of purpose.
21
Q
Thematic Analysis
Cultural Identity & Land
A
- Saul’s early life is tied to Ojibway traditions and the land (God’s Lake).
- St. Jerome’s tries to destroy this connection.
- Losing the land is losing part of his identity.
22
Q
Thematic Analysis
Residential School Trauma
A
- St. Jerome’s is shown as a place of systematic abuse (physical, emotional, sexual, cultural) aimed at cultural genocide.
- It dehumanizes children and causes lasting trauma.
23
Q
Thematic Analysis
Loss and Grief
A
- Saul loses his siblings, parents (to alcohol), Benjamin, Naomi, his culture, language, and innocence.
24
Q
Thematic Analysis
Resilience and Survival
A
- Despite trauma, characters show strength (Naomi).
- Saul survives by numbing himself and finding refuge in hockey.
- Joining the Moose offers a path to survival and community.
25
# Thematic Analysis
Family and Community
- Saul's birth family is broken by trauma.
- The Kellys and the Moose become his chosen family, offering support and belonging.
26
# Significance of hockey for Saul
What is the significance of hockey for Saul?
- Escape
- Identity
- Community
- Racism
27
# Significance of hockey for Saul
Escape
- It's a sanctuary from the horrors of St. Jerome's
- Offers freedom and connection.
28
# Significance of hockey for Saul
Identity
- His natural talent connects to his **seer ability**
- Playing gives him **purpose and belonging** ("I was a Moose")
29
# Significance of hockey for Saul
Community
- Joining the Moose provides camaraderie and shared Indigenous identity.
30
# Significance of hockey for Saul
Racism
- Early experiences show hockey is also a place of prejudice ("They think it's their game")
- Foreshadows future struggles.
31
# Key Quotations - what is the simplified significance?
"Our medicine people would call me a seer... the loss of that gift has been my greatest sorrow." (Ch.1)
Saul's early identity and sense of loss.
32
# Key Quotations - what is the simplified significance?
"...wondered if the spirit... of Gods Lake would look upon us with pity..." (Ch.5)
Hope and connection to ancestral land.
33
# Key Quotations - what is the simplified significance?
"...the camp was gone... weeping... at the thought of those people buried..." (Ch. 6)
Traumatic vision, foreshadowing loss.
34
# Key Quotations - what is the simplified significance?
"At St. Jerome's we work to remove the Indian from our children..." (Ch.11)
The school's explicit goal of cultural destruction.
35
# Key Quotations - what is the simplified significance?
"‘They don’t hate you Saul. They think it's their game.’” (Ch.23)
Father Leboutilier explaining the racism Saul faces in hockey.
36
# Key Quotations - what is the simplified significance?
“Do you want to go, Saul? Will you pay heed to what the Kellys ask of you?”
"I'd never been offered a choice before. ‘All right,’ I said. ‘I'll go.’” (Ch.24)
Father Leboutilier asks Saul, This is a pivotal moment where Saul is given a chance for a different future. Saul chooses to leave St. Jerome's with Fred Kelly.
37
# Key Quotations - what is the simplified significance?
"I stripped off my jersey... I was a Moose." (Ch.25)
Finding identity and belonging with the team.
