This is my next blog post for this semester.

So as I have said in my previous one I have read the book ”Three Day Road” by author Joseph Boyden and I thought that overall it was a very engaging and tense novel with something significant and suspenseful occurring in almost every chapter. All of this topped off with a tear jerking conclusion that finishes both Niska’s and Xavier’s story. This is also the book we are going to use as a class for our close reading assignment. I have not really thought of a specific passage yet but if I were to do one it would perhaps be the scene where Niska escapes from the residential school or even the moment where Elijah basked in the murder of several enemy troops. Even better I might also consider writing about the part where Niska seduces the Frenchman. I know I have to select one, but there is so many of them.

The Annual Women’s March which was where many came to honor the death of all these women who have died struck a chord in me when I heard about it. I wish I was there to honor them and to give them the respect they had deserved. It saddened me that they have to suffer this sort of fate, they did not really deserve death. So as a result I was rather thankful for this march and I was pleased and overjoyed to see that some people were interested in this. Being a member of society who surfs the internet on a daily basis I was always aware that people placed animals on a higher level than humans and would always care for animals first then humans second. This makes me have faith in this world as there are still people out there who care. To all those people who attended the march especially members of the Law and Society stream, thank you for showing your care and love towards these women.

Another thing I would like to mention is the piece by Marlene George on trying to end violence against women. The last few sentences of her blog were what struck me the most. The lines: “I march for the women who cannot march, their voices have been forever silenced by violence, I march for all women experiencing violence, I march for the missing women everywhere, I march because they canʼt“ was very well said by her, expressing the need for her to go out there and to spread awareness by participating within this march. Her descriptions of the experiences she had within the event and the people she met were heartwarming and also horrifying especially when she said that one of the Cree women called Reta Blind had actually witnessed the aftermath of the murder of one of these women. It almost frightens me when I imagine the pain and despair she must have felt when she saw the remains.

So to end this blog I ask: Why do people still enact violence towards women? There is no justification for doing such a thing and I just feel that it needs to stop.

Because class has been canceled I have decided that it would be a great idea to update my blog as compensation. The topic this time will be based on the novel entitled: Three Day Road.

My first impressions of the book were nothing short of enjoyable. Its narrative was extremely engaging and had this habit of hooking you with its relatable characters and the dire situations in which they are placed. Each encounter is heart pounding and kept you on the edge of your seat. This is not a calm, relaxing book as it is one that does not hesitate to shove in suspense and the terrors of war. I also find the way in which the novel shifts from different points of view to be rather effective as it allows readers to see development in both Xavier and Niska and to glimpse their side of the story. This also brings to this particular question that I feel needs answering:

4) What is the significance of Niska’s character in the novel?

Being the aunt of Xavier Bird, Niska serves an important and essential role within the story. From her point of view, we catch a glimpse of her thoughts and feelings towards the arrival of her niece and how much he has changed after his venturing out into a perilous battlefield. Her presence makes us wonder about Xavier’s survival within the novel and whether he is going to live towards the climax, or lose his life. We witness her describing how weak and frail he is and how she worries about him and how much he has changed. Through her point of view we are able to find out what had happened to him after the war and the affect it had on his body, his actions and his emotions. The character of Niska is also used by author Joseph Boyden to show readers the life of an aboriginal and how it was like from the perspective of this character. With this perspective readers can explore different narratives and flashbacks within the novel. Xavier for example showcases the flashbacks of what happened during his time serving in the army, the interactions he has with his comrades and the training he is subjected to such as the sniper training where he feels sickened after successfully shooting a man in the head. It also details his relationship with his friend Elijah and the adventures the two have had together. But while Xavier’s narrative perspective shows his experiences in the army and on the battlefield, Niska’s story goes back further into the past to a point where she was only a child. While many wonder whether this has anything to do with the storyline itself, it does have a huge purpose. This is because for one, the flashbacks displayed within Niska’s narrative explain to readers as to how the life of an aboriginal is like. As readers we delve into the culture of the aboriginals as well as their myths and legends such as the fearsome Windigo. It shows clearly how the aboriginal lifestyle is like from the way the hunters attack and cook their prey to other noteworthy moments. The flashbacks here also give us more of Niska’s past and also even relates her past to what Canadians have been doing to the aboriginals such as with the Indian Act. For example here is when Niska is taken away from her mother and her family members and forced to live in a residential school where punishment towards their wrongdoings was done in an extremely abusive manner.  Such an example can be seen in reality.

Hello everybody! Just want to clarify a few things for my blog post today.

First of all I would like to respond to why we need to recognize the histories of the aboriginal peoples. In my opinion I believe that this is essential since it allows one to empathize with these groups of people and understand the suffering that they have gone through. By accomplishing this task they are able to then make the world a better place for these aboriginals by giving them the respect and equality in which they deserve. It also prevents such atrocities towards these people from occurring ever again. Remember the phrase “Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it” (there are many different versions of this phrase from multiple individuals but my example was from an author known as Edward Burke) as this is actually true in most cases. By looking back into the past we as individuals are able to discover the mistakes we or other people have made and by recognizing these faults and the consequences they bring upon society and the world itself, we as individuals can make sure such acts do not happen yet again.

The video we as a class saw in Thursday’s seminar did much to captivate me. One noticeable detail that highly interested me was the way the host explained to the audience about the way the aboriginals were treated when they were invited to sit with the royal people of higher society. Basically what occurred was that the aboriginals were forced to sit at a much smaller table unlike the others who were relaxed in their comfy dining chairs at a much bigger and luxurious looking table. Just the way the host moved around the scenery, approaching different objects such as the small table when he began to educate us that the aboriginals were required to sit here. The content of the video itself was educational yet rather witty and at times, comedic. This was an impressive move both by the host himself and the filmmaker as it catches the audience’s attention and keeps them entertained.

The advertisement on Indian Residential schools was a prime example of cultural genocide. These children whom were torn away from their families were also subjected to having their Indian identity and culture stripped away from them. The advertisement depicts them as very joyful and with big smiles upon their youthful faces along with upbeat music audible in the background, but we must realize that these children are being force fed into become like what most Canadians are. They go to churches, are converted to Christianity and learn the English vocabulary instead of the Indian one. Their entire culture is left behind as they are commanded to take on an entirely new lifestyle. It is almost distasteful as to what was happening to them at that time and the blissful soundtrack made it even more insulting almost as if the advertisement was meant to present to viewers that this was a moral thing to do. I at hope these children were not severely abused within these schools.

So that’s my blog for the day. Feel free to comment and tell me if I’ve missed an important detail out or if I misinterpreted one of the three points I’ve made.