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A SHORT HISTORY OF INDIANS IN CANADA—VOICES

Voices are present to introduce, define, and move along the conflict, often through different perspectives in the form of different characters.

Borg=Aboriginals

“I think that the Federation destroyed the Borg and then, when no one was looking, they ambushed the Klingons and the Ferengis, the Vulcans and the Romulans one by one, until there was no one left in the universe to oppose them...So they could have the universe all to themselves.” “But Grandpa, the Federation are the good guys. Good guys wouldn’t do something like that” “In most cases, the bad guys look like lizards or devils or scary people with dark skin and snaky hair, and the good guys look like Europeans”

  • Milton compares the Borg to the Aboriginals. In Star Trek, the Borg, who are a collective alien race that forces species to connect to "the hive mind".
  • The Borg are one massive group that follow the same orders, no identity

Where The Borg Are

Rendezvous

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Europeans

Townspeople

"Milton mused as he watched Jean-Luc Picard save another primitive civilization from destruction, that it would turn out to be the key to understanding the universe"

  • Europeans believed that they were helping the Aboriginals by giving them new battle tactics and technology, but what they were really doing was stripping away their culture

Indian

Librarian and Teacher

"Where the Borg Are" is a story outlining the effects of assimilation on Aboriginal people, and how western values heavily denounces Aboriginal heritage and culture.

  • Townspeople: their voices are really pressing, and constantly griping and moaning about their own pest problems without consideration for the animals
  • “‘What we need to know is how to get rid of the animals’”
  • “‘Forests or no forests, we can’t have wolves annoying our citizens’”
  • Refuses to see real problem when it’s so clearly pointed out to them, dismisses it, claiming it to be crazy talk by the Indian
  • “‘It’s just an aboriginal scare tactic’”
  • Refusal to acknowledge problem even after previous instances of their wrongdoings
  • “‘No sense of dwelling on the past’”, said by Alistair Doogle

The Librarian and teacher's voices represent western views, and how their voices hold dominance, suggesting that what they say is always right. Both are polite and patient to some degree, but lack essential knowledge to truly help Milton

  • " I don't think so...most great moments in Canadian history have holidays"
  • Reductionism
  • Teacher focuses on Milton's handwriting instead of context. She ignores and avoids Milton's statement

The story of Tidings of Comfort and Joy displays Native Canadians materialistic objects rather than human beings.

The "Indians" are seen as collectibles and are casually traded and sold within Caledon Hills, a rich, "White" neighbourhood.

The voices of the wealth "white" people speak of trafficking humans with such nonchalance that the satire and use of irony becomes very apparent.

The story can serve as a metaphor of the mistreatment of Aboriginals

  • Indian: acts as the voice of warning and reason, pointing out how the problem was caused, and how it’s getting increasingly worse, despite all the warnings
  • “‘We’ve been warning you about this for years’”
  • His voice is ignored, due to him being an Indian. His warnings and statements are labelled as “environmental belly-aching” and the collective voices of the townspeople reject all that he says, diffusing the situation and blaming it on the fact that the Indian is simply overreacting.
  • “‘The forests are gone’”
  • “‘That’s nonsense. We drive through forests every time we go to our cottage.’”
  • “‘That’s just a hundred yard stretch along each side of the road that the lumber companies were required to leave’”

Haida Gwaii

Voices: Townspeople, Authorities, the Indian

Is about a forest’s worth of animals rudely soliciting the nearby town. When the townspeople complain, an Indian agent from the Department of Natural Resources tells them that because of the lumber industry cutting down the surrounding forest, the animals are forced to seek out new homes, and many settled with the town. Failing to see the problem in urban development - such as resorts and roads - at the cost of forests and wildlife, they ignore the warnings and advice of the Indian. One day, the animals simply disappear. A couple, hoping to see some animals, venture out into their cottage, but see none, the landscape is even devoid of mosquitoes. The story ends with the couple returning to the town.

The Unheard Voice of the Aboriginals

Mom

Grandfather

Authorities

Milton Friendlybear

  • The mom is dangerously assimilated, to the point where she doesn't perceive Aboriginal roots. Her voice symbolizes the complete loss of heritage
  • "Your Indian Act thing is in"
  • Cares about grades, and western subjects
  • " Sixty percent's not too good, eh?"
  • Likes to watch Sherlock Holmes
  • Hurt by racism

Author

The aboriginals do not have a voice in this story, as we do not once see speech from the Aboriginals. This is parallel to the real world, where Aboriginals had no say in the Europeans taking their land, or relocating the Aboriginals across the country. Even in Hudson's home, the Aboriginals are all placed in a specific area, just like the reservation camps. The only sounds we hear from the Aboriginals is their music, faintly in the background. This suggests that Aboriginals are struggling to maintain their culture and heritage to "be heard" as they continue to play their songs even during assimilation. The three men come to the camp and start singing western Christmas carols, imposing their western culture onto the Aboriginals, suggesting a sense of dominance.

  • aboriginals are collectables
  • “Hudson hadn’t really planned to collect Indians...It was true he had travelled all the way to Quebec City to purchase a set of four Cheyenne Dog Soldiers, but that had been more investment than for mere collecting”
  • People who "sell" Indians are called “dealers”
  • “Those two aren’t quite as dark as the others.”
  • Does not treat them like humans
  • “the place is a damn zoo”
  • Aboriginals compared to animals
  • “now those are collectible”
  • treated as objects/objectified (use whichever one sounds more fancy)
  • “‘So,’ said Vince, grinning from ear to ear, ‘what are you going to name the little rascals?’”
  • The word “collection” is used often throughout the story
  • The voice of the grandfather is the product of assimilation. He has adapted into western culture, as he regularly watches tv
  • Milton: "My teacher didn't think that [the Indian Act] was a great historical moment"

Grandfather: "That's probably because she's not Indian"

  • He is accustomed and resigned to the idea of assimilation, his response to the teacher's comment was very relaxed
  • "Oh, ho...I;ve heard of that one alright!"
  • "Maybe you better talk to your teacher"
  • He trusts westernized teachings
  • Puts a television inside a tipi
  • Contrasting 2 societies. He believes that he can have both cultures
  • "That's the trouble with life...Television is a lot simpler"

The author's voice in the story serves as a warning, that those who are assimilated lose a sense of themselves. They become "lost in space". In Milton's case, the author shows Milton's lack of understanding, by portraying the world (according to Milton) metaphorically as the Star trek universe, where "the borg" are assimilated aboriginals, the Ferengis (concerned with profit) is Christopher Columbus, and the Federation are the Europeans. Milton later says that "the good guys look like Europeans". He also compares the wormhole collapse to the formation of reservation camps where people were "phased into particle streams, and their atoms were mixed and merged...reconfigured". After the arrival of the Europeans, Aboriginals become "lost in space" and suddenly placed around the country. A new incomprehensible world forms where "Europeans [are] the only thing that makes any sense". Through the persuasion of the media, Milton is able to put aside his heritage history, and completely accept the western influences. He is also "lost in space".

  • The voice of Milton represents the curiosity of students, or citizens learning about culture. They are often heavily influenced by the media
  • Milton tries to understand things, why his father left, how his life ended up the way it did
  • "It would explain why dad took off"
  • "Like the old days"
  • Suggests that in the past, they used to "sleep under the stars", now, they are sucked into western culture. Milton used to be tied to his Aboriginal roots
  • Wants to make sense of his universe (Star Trek)
  • "Holy!...Assimilation!" "Wow!"
  • Idea of assimilation resonates in him
  • Identity crisis: Parent missing, heritage missing

The Voice of Hudson

The Voices of Hudson's Friends

VOICES

Voice of women--Narrator

The Voice of Hudson

Though men are critiqued very much, the author also displays their negative sides.

  • Authorities: acts as the voice of instigation, prompting the townspeople to gather and project their voices, moving along the conflict
  • “That afternoon, the mayor called a town hall meeting to discuss the problem”
  • “the chief of police gave a talk on public safety and suggested that going for walks in the evening was not a good idea”
  • The voice of the authorities simply points out the conflict and comments on what needs to be done, without giving any real advice on how to accomplish this, leaving the townspeople arguing with each other

act as an accompanying voice to Hudson’s, developing the conflict as well as providing support

  • "I brought the shotguns"
  • implication of potential execution due to the fact that the native woman is pregnant
  • “‘So,’ said Vince, grinning from ear to ear, ‘what are you going to name the little rascals?’”
  • furthering conversation about the conflict in the story, which further develops the conflict
  • “‘Vince and I drove around the neighbourhood a couple dozen times, but nothing’s come up yet’”
  • “‘About the most you can do now is post a reward and hope someone finds them before the weather turns really cold and they all freeze to death’”
  • The voices of his friends act as a blanket, always covering him in whatever way they can, all the while having an encouraging sympathetic tone

Hudson is a very simplistic man, who sees the world with "tunnel vision". He is shallow and believes that any form of melancholy can be replaced with money or materialistic objects.

"Hudson was, in fact, an especially skilled and considerate gift-giver. Year after year, he took great delight in surprising Eleanor with thoughtful presents. A fur stole. A cruise to St. Croix. An eight-piece set of hand-painted antique wine glasses. A designer raincoat."

His "thoughtful" gifts consist of expensive gifts that have no personal sentiment at all. Irony is present as he believes his gifts to be thoughtful, but in fact it is quite the opposite.

VOICES

  • How women who are concerned more about themselves can neglect their partner in a time of despair, and still be content.
  • How women can leave men when men are not satisfying them enough.

Voice of men--Steve

lying and deceptive men with intentions that are different from what they portray.

"The lead singer was a little on the heavy side and two of the Indians didn't look as Indian as Hudson would have hoped."

"Those two aren't quite as dark as the others."

"And only three of them have long hair."

Hudson is extremely meticulous when it comes to the appearance of the "Indians". Rather then seeing them as individual human beings, he sees them as figurines or collectibles that can be easily replaced with the use of money. It has become so natural for Hudson to treat Aboriginals as materialistic objects as he never even considers the idea that the "Indians" have feelings and personalities.

"...he would have to put the loss aside and begin again."

Hudson speaks with such nonchalance that it seems that it has never occurred to Hudson that the Aboriginals are people. All of their rights, human necessities, traditions, land, and everything else that they owned were stripped away from them. Yet Hudson expects the "Indians" to be thankful and ecstatic for a simple music box and a few clementines.

"Haida Gwaii" is centered around the humiliation and discrimination of the aboriginals, and human relationships: particularly the relationship between men and women.

  • Didn’t actually hit an eagle, as it was just an excuse to meet with the narrator.
  • Intention was to try and have a relationship with the narrator again.

Voice of men in relationships--young couple

  • How men are the ones who make most decisions, thus they can make the most mistakes.
  • Men have trouble seeking for help, ex. asking for directions

Voices

Voice of women--Narrator

Voices

The Way out

  • Men are "allowed to" have many sexual partners, and women are not. In this story, the man doesn't seem at all ashamed of just coming and asking her to be with him again.
  • If a woman would do such things, it would not be considered socially acceptable.
  • Shows one of many injustices placed on women according to the author, and he feels women's voices aren't heard in society.

The Eagle is a sacred creature for the natives, because it represents peace, power, and prestige.

It means even more to the Haida people who live in Haida Gwaii, as their social groups are divided into two: Raven and Eagle.

Steven constantly makes fun, and is disrespectful to the importance of symbols in native culture.

A War bonnet was of great magical and spiritual importance, and thus it mainly consisted of eagle feathers. Steven giving the narrator a feather of the goose for a war bonnet, shows further discrimination and humiliation of the native culture.

  • Mimics and mocks how eagles fly
  • Brings a goose to further mock the story, and as a result mocks their traditions, disgracing their identity

VOICES

Voice of natives and the native author (tone) represented by female narrator

Voice of white people represented by Steven

CONFLICT

MAN VS WOMAN

People who are too ignorant to respect the cultures and traditions of the native, and instead ridicule them.

MAN

WHITE MAN

VS

NATIVE ABORIGINALS

  • The voices of the natives when their customs are mocked by white people isn't heard very much, just like the narrator's voice in the story.
  • Frustration of the natives trying to preserve their identities and heritage in a stolen world, with people who see no value for their existence or respect their traditions.
  • Anger which relates to how the white people took what was once theirs, and are now acting as if it was theirs all along.

Steven ridicules the native story in which the Raven put Eagle’s body in a tree, and how the Sun brought her back to life.

The story revolves around a past love relationship between a white man and a native woman.

The Colour of Walls

Throughout the story, and book, King gives us social commentary within his texts showing his views on society. One way these social commentaries are delivered to the readers are by the voices that he includes in his work about different aspects in human life.

  • He shouts "It didn't work" when he tries it
  • Keeps saying "You're native. Do something"

The relationship is already over, but the white man later makes excuses to see her again, by calling her one morning about an eagle.

Not only this, but he also uses the first-person-view of a native to narrate the story in order to enhance the shadow in which the natives are having to live in, and how much they have lost.

Harper's Secretary

Harper

WOMAN

Coyotes and the Enemy Aliens

Billy Frank

  • reveals Afua’s cultural background/nationality
  • does not have much of a voice in story
  • does not speak too much
  • only comments on the colour of walls, and agrees with Harper
  • “Oh yes, [the white walls look] just like cottage cheese. Or teeth”

The friend of the narrator whom was around the age of 11 during the story.

This suggests that the narrator was also around this age during the story. The story appears to be told from a Native perspective as well.

  • only wants white walls
  • “White… I asked for white.”
  • “I asked for white… not brown”
  • theme of assimilation
  • Harper’s white
  • part or all German (page 87)
  • in the end, his walls are as white as he wants, but his hands have turned dark.
  • Sometimes walls are too dark and hands look fine. Sometimes walls look fine, and hands would look “tawny” which “as Harper recalled from his literature class at university—was one of the polite words for things that were not white”
  • “Who would have guessed, he mused to himself, that something as simple as walls could be such a problem”

The Voice of the Narrator

The voice of the narrator is similar to the voice of a child; using simplistic terms, it displays truth and curiosity. Unlike Coyote, the narrator is not directly biased. However, the narrator's "ignorance" seems to play a role in satire and sarcasm, which further supports the role of the "Enemy Aliens". The narrator's voice represents the truth; it speaks for all the people in Canada whom have been discriminated and robbed of their identity and homes by the "white men".

"'Order-in-Council 469.' Boy, I says, that paper sounds pretty important."

"It is the most important job in the world, says Coyote."

"Is it more important than being truthful?... reliable?... fair? ...generous?"

"It certainly is, says Coyote."

The narrator questions Coyote with an innocent tone... almost too innocent. The narrator's innocent tone gives off a feeling of false stupidity to further demonstrate the ignorance of Coyote. Coyote blindly pursues the demands of the "White men" for his own superficial benefits, such as money, possessions, and the sensation of having power over others. The narrator's tone suggests that Coyote lacks virtue and only displays his own version of the truth using manipulative, "flowered" words.

Walls

"Holy, that's all the livestock I can remember. So I ask that Coyote, what do you keep in that Livestock Building?"

"Enemy Aliens, says Coyote. That's where we keep the Enemy Aliens."

Throughout the story, the narrator asks Coyote questions in a naive tone. Little by little, the reader discovers more about the Coyote's job and the mistreatment of the "Enemy Aliens". Possessions, houses, and rights are taken away from the "Enemy Aliens". They are treated like animals; put in internment camps where they work for free and they are encouraged to leave the country (deportation).

  • assimilation is a major theme
  • Harper’s attitude toward the walls
  • Brown walls represent the Aboriginal population
  • Harper wants to paint them white → Harper represents European population
  • “It was a mystery to be sure, and Harper found that thinking about it made him tired and somewhat cranky. Who would have guessed, he mused to himself, that something as simple as walls could be such a problem”
  • “It took eight coats of paint and even then Harper wasn’t completely happy with the walls or his hands. Some days the walls would be too dark and his hands would look fine, and the next day the walls would look great and his hands would look...tawny”
  • walls have a memory, a history, that can’t just be painted over
  • also means that after the assimilation of the aboriginals via residential schools and other means, it cannot be undone, regardless of the number of apologies or amount of land reserved for the Aboriginal people now
  • The Aboriginal people’s land and culture cannot be replaced and “painted over” (assimilation”
  • similarly, the assimilation cannot be undone, and cannot be “painted over” with apologies

The Voice of the Canadian Government

The Voice of the Enemy Aliens

Afua (The Painter)

The voices in the story, Coyotes and the Enemy Aliens, demonstrate the contrasting depictions of submission and dominance. The dominating voice plays a poignant role in the story and is biased and discriminating, portraying ignorance at its finest. The submissive voice is the voice of the "Enemy Aliens"; the lack of their voice seems to be a statement itself.

The voices portray different perspectives taking place in Canada during WWII. During this time (1942). anyone of German, Italian, or Japanese heritage was deemed "potentially dangerous" by the Canadian government. The internment order and the deportation order was based on speculation of sabotage and espionage. Similar to the Aboriginals of Canada, everything was taken away from the "Enemy Aliens" and they were greatly mistreated. This story represents the manipulated truth that is displayed by the White men; it is the depiction of what they say happened in contrast to what really happened.

The voice of the Enemy Aliens is completely missing from this story. The lack of their voice seems to be a statement itself.

However, inanimate objects and the narrator seems to help support the role of the "unheard". The voice of the "Enemy Aliens" represent the voices of the Japanese, Germans, Italians, and the Aboriginals that lived in Canada; they were all deemed as outcasts and in result had their homes, human rights, and identities taken away from them by the Canadian government.

"Where did you get that pretty good truck? I says."

"Coyote stole me, says that pretty good truck."

"Eight hundred and four, says Coyote."

"That's a lot of fishing boats, I says."

"Maybe you need a pretty good kimono."

Although, no voice of the Enemy Aliens is heard. The narrator makes it quite obvious that everything was confiscated from them. Coyote's collection of fishing boats, represents the fishing rights that were taken away from Japanese Canadians during the Japanese Canadian internment.

The voice of the Canadian government is the only voice in the story that has the usage of quotations. This gives the effect that the only people with a "heard" voice in the story is the voice of the Whitemen.

The Voice of Coyote

  • father’s native
  • mother’s from Africa
  • part German (according to the secretary)
  • tells Harper that the walls cannot be painted pure white
  • “You may have to settle for something other than dead white”
  • “These are old walls… they have a history. Walls have a memory”
  • Suggests colours to Harper (that are not white) but Harper turns them down
  • “How about I paint your office a nice seafoam green?”
  • “A dark cherry would look quite regal”
  • “Old walls, they’re great, but if you want a bright white you’re going to have to move to a newer office or tear out the walls and start over”
  • “It’s just that [the walls are] very young. They don’t know much yet. All they know is white.”

"And just then the RCMPs grab that Coyote."

"Enemy Alien."

"No, no, says Coyote. I'm Coyote."

"The Whitemen took my pretty good truck, says Coyote. And they took all my Enemy Alien Property. And they took all my Enemy Aliens."

"Holy, I says, those Whitemen like to take everything."

"I'm going to that Los Alamos place in New Mexico, help those Whitemen want to make the world safe for freedom."

Coyote's voice is a voice of ignorance and stupidity. Although Coyote always boasts about his supremacy, he is merely a follower of the Whitemen. His submission is further proven by his inability to learn from his mistakes. He was betrayed and taken in by the RCMP, yet he continues to serve the Whitemen and their cruel idea of "justice". The tone of his voice is assertive and convincing, yet the substance of what he is saying is contradicts that idea. It is a paradox.

"That Coyote will come back. That one always comes back."

This quotation suggests that, like many people of society, Coyote is not able to learn from his mistakes and will continue to make the same mistakes over and over again. This symbolizes the inevitable fate of history repeating itself.

Anyone of Japanese heritage was unjustly accused of espionage and sabotage and in result everything was taken away from them. Similar to the Aboriginals of Canada, the Japanese had lost their homes to the Whitemen. This is yet another example of history repeating itself with no one to stop it. No voice is present to end the discrimination and mistreatment caused by ethnic boundaries.

Who do the voices represent?

The point of view of this story is written in first person. The voice of the narration is a friend of Billy Frank, who happens to share the same name as Billy Frank, Jr., a Native American environmental leader and treaty rights activist. He was born in 1931 and would be around 11 years old when this story took place, explaining the simplicity of the words utilized in this story. The narration is the voice of a child's; pure, simple, and truthful.

Inanimate objects also have a voice; they only speak the truth.

The voice of Coyote is one of the central voices of the story. The coyote is often associated with Native American mythology; usually depicted as a cunning character whom only indulges in self-interest, otherwise known as the "trickster". In this story, Coyote fits this description perfectly representing a man of ignorance and egotism whom echoes the beliefs and the manipulated truths of the Canadian government.

The voice of the Canadian government is cold and firm, usually reverberated by Coyote and sometimes represented by the RCMP.

The voice of the "unheard" are the voices of those who suffered greatly under the laws of Canadian government; they are discriminated and labeled as "Enemy Aliens" due to their ethnicity.

The Voice of the Cunning Coyote

The Cunning Coyote

Similar to the wolf from the Little Red Riding Hood, Coyote is deceptive, egotistic, and narrow-minded. The voice of Coyote represents the "white" man's perspective of what happened in Canada; they only tell their version of the truth as they believe that everything that they have done was for the better good. However, the only people that truly benefited from their actions were themselves. They completely ignore that fact that they have caused the depression and the loss of identity of the "Enemy Aliens" and the Aboriginals.

"Boy that Coyote likes to tell stories... Sometimes he tells stories that have been stretched."

"Canadian story. Coyote story. Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference. All those words begin with C."

"Callous, carnage, catastrophe, chicanery...cold-blooded...condemn...confiscate...connive...conspire....cruel..."

"Sometimes you put two magic words together. National security, Public Good, Private Property."

"Stop, stop, says Coyote, All these words are giving me a headache. We only need one word for Enemy Aliens. And that one word is legal."

Coyote is completely blinded by his own egocentric idea of himself being someone of "importance", that he completely disregards the cruelty of his job. He believes that nothing else matters as long as it is legal. He voices his opinion with confident conviction as he has no doubt that everything he is doing is righteous. Coyote does not care if his occupation causes the destruction of human identity or if it is not just, he only cares about the approval of Canadian government.

Internment Operations in Canada

Many of the internment camps were located in the British Columbia (the West) where this story took place.

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