One of the most dreadful memory of my life is the time that I transferred bus on east Hastings Street alone in midnight. I remembered how I tried to keep my distance from the people who were wandering around yelling incomprehensible words at me. Painted Tongue by Joseph Boyden revoked me to think about them in a way I egocentrically never had before. The protagonist, Painted Tongue, is a stereotypical homeless indigenous person striving from day to day living in urban Toronto. He exhibits all the negative stereotypes, being alcoholic, incomprehensible and mentally disturbed. Through the narrator’s perspective, several controversial issues are discussed in the course of the story, such as residential school, gentrification, and criminalization.
Through my research, I was surprised to find that the author Joseph Boyden is not of a significant aboriginal background. According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, Boyden is of Metis of Irish, Scots and Metis descent. Boyden grew up in Toronto and his father was a decorated medical officer in WWII. Unlike most Aboriginal story writers, Boyden grew up in the influence of a Catholic family and education. Perhaps his diverse background and lack of identification with a particular tribe, enables him to place more emphasizes on social issues instead of cultural ones in Painted Tongue.
Hi Carrie,
I like how you were able to refocus your perspective through this reading, I think that’s one of the ultimate goals of this class and I like to see how this post confirms that.
I would like to clarify that Joseph Boyden is in fact of a ~significant~ Aboriginal descent, given that he is one-third Anishanabe (or Metis) and I think it was his father’s contribution to WWII that has had the most impact on his writing. He has had significant time put into researching Aboriginal men in the second World War and has brought to light the hardships these men experienced during their time as soldiers. Not to say that your research is incorrect, but perhaps it is not clear enough on Boyden’s familial background.
Just a little food for thought!
Best,
Michelle
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for the nice comment!
Just out of curiosity though, where did you find Boyden to be one third Anishanabe (which is by the way not equivalent to Metis as the error on Wikipedia page suggested)? I also doubt a person could be one third of any ethnicity as everyone has two parents and the bloodline has to be dividable by two.
Also, the biography of Boydenon on my copy of Born With A Tooth does not mention he is of an aboriginal descent at all, which is very odd. I didn’t find much information confirming his familial background and I really appreciate you pointing out to me.
Have a nice week! Try to stay dry (if you are in Vancouver)! 🙂
Carrie G
Sorry about that! Maybe I had unreliable sources too? Also I mean’t to write one-fourth, sorry for the confusion!
It was really hard to find though, so I’m not surprised you didn’t find much information either.
Best,
Michelle 🙂