Familial bonds are meant to be seen as unbreakable. Yet the depiction of the two brothers, not only plays with that notion but questions our understanding of the relationship. To view Coyote and the Ancestor of the white people as twins reflects on the foundational connection that is based in our human existence. It shows that two beings who are meant to be viewed as the same can be entirely different. 

The care that the older twin shows for the work that is entrusted to him, is clear. Coyote, is trusting, and careful. Placing a great deal of trust into his brothers descendants, who do not deserve his kindness. Coyote cares about his descendants, as he moves from prehistorical to historical time zones, easily. Coyotes is willing to see the best in people, providing those who have harmed him and his descendants with an infinite number of chances. This is perhaps due to him seeing his twin reflected through the white people. 

There is no explanation for why the younger twin steals the paper, perhaps it is youth and curiosity. Though that does not explain why he would lie. There are no redeemable qualities to be discovered with the younger twin, nor his descendants. They take and destroy simply because they can. There is no explanation for their action. 

The story plays with our understanding of sibling revelries and bonds. It depicts an intermit relationship, that is entirely one-sided. Allowing for us to see the abuse that is being committed outside of the historical lense that is often applied to indigenous existence in Canada and instead to see the evils that are committed without the rose coloured glasses that are applied in our history books. The story is not framed as some ancient experience, as Robinson points out Coyote is able to jump between time periods depicting that the mistreatment is still ongoing. Though several generations have passed since the last king.

The piece of paper, it self does not matter for it can be the thousand and one promises made by the colonizers that were never kept. It is all of the broken promises and lies told by the colonials for their own selfish reasons. The paper is the trauma and abuse that is depicted onto the bodies of Coyote and his descendants. The paper is the stolen lands, and stolen bodies. It is the untold history of this land, and the rewritten narrative we present today.  

Coyotes behaviours are understood through out the story. though different that the image we go into the story with. It is a moment of shock when discovering that Coyote is the elder twin. As Robinson first introduces Coyote as a trickster, the story contradicts this label on a surface level but serves as an origin story for how Coyote changes to fit this label. Coyote adapts, for survival, not pleasure. He is given this label by others, it is not a depiction of self but yet another thing he has lost. by removing his ability to control his narrative he is once again becoming unaware of what is written on the paper. 

Depicting trauma and pain and loss, through universal terms, allows for the story to transcend past individual identity to explain cultural history and experience. It explains colonization plainly without ever having to use the term. It is the story of this land, that is still ongoing. Depicting a never ending commitment to the growth and preservation of existence by Coyote, and the unexplainable destruction caused by his twin.

 

 

Robinson, Harry. “Introduction.” Living by Stories: A Journey of Landscape and Memory, edited by Wendy Wickwire, Vancouver, Talon Books, 2005, pp. 1–30.

Krisch, Joshua. “Brother, Sister, Rival, Friend: How Siblings Shape One Another’s Lives.” Fatherly, 5 Mar. 2021, www.fatherly.com/health-science/siblings-how-having-a-brother-sister-changes-kids.

Howe, Nina, and Holly Recchia. “Peer Relations | Sibling Relations and Their Impact on Children’s Development.” Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development, Department of Education and Centre for Research in Human Development, Concordia University, Canada, Dec. 2014, www.child-encyclopedia.com/peer-relations/according-experts/sibling-relations-and-their-impact-childrens-development.

Wilson, Kory. “Colonization – Pulling Together: Foundations Guide.” Pressbooks, 5 Sept. 2018, opentextbc.ca/indigenizationfoundations/chapter/43.

Clibbon, Jennifer. “The ‘special Relationship’ of Native Peoples and the Crown.” CBC, 22 May 2012, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/the-special-relationship-of-native-peoples-and-the-crown-1.1189032.