Saul Indian Horse

Saul Indian Horse

The narrator and protagonist of the story, connected to the Ojibway culture.

Mary Mandamin

Saul's mother, deeply traumatized by her experiences in residential school.

John Indian Horse

Saul's father, who becomes an alcoholic as a means to cope with family trauma.

Benjamin Indian Horse

Saul's older brother, whose experience in residential school causes deep family trauma.

Naomi

Grandmother of Saul and the matriarch of Saul's family, connected to Ojibway tradition, and protective of her grandchildren.

Shabogeesick

Great-Grandfather of Saul and a shaman and trapper, known for bringing the first horse to his people, symbolizing change.

Rachel

Saul's sister, taken at a young age to residential school, representing loss and disconnection.

Moses

Saul’s counselor at the New Dawn Centre who encourages Saul to share his story for healing.

New Dawn Centre

A treatment facility where Saul is encouraged to confront his trauma.

Aki

The term for Mother Earth in Ojibway culture, emphasizing the connection to nature.

Zhaunagush

A term meaning white man or European settler, reflecting cultural displacement.

Cultural Displacement and Identity

A key theme highlighting the loss of traditional ways of life among the Ojibway.

Trauma and Healing

A central theme focusing on the psychological wounds caused by residential schools and the healing process.

Connection to Nature

A theme emphasizing the importance of nature in Ojibway culture and healing.

Family and Community

A theme that explores the impact of residential schools on family structures and community ties.

Change and Adaptation

A theme representing the changes brought by European colonization and the need for adaptation.

God's Lake

A traditional Ojibway and Cree site for prayer and connection to the land, now part of the fur trade network.

Stigmatized

A term describing individuals marked for death and outcasted due to their experiences.

TB (Tuberculosis)

A disease that disproportionately affected Indigenous populations, highlighting health disparities.

Residential School

Institutions that aimed to assimilate Indigenous children, causing lasting trauma to families and communities.