Rating: 8.4/10.
This book is about the life of an Ojibway Indian, living in northern Ontario and growing up in the 60s. When he was young, they sent him to a residential school where he was badly treated and not allowed to speak his own language. He found hockey and got really good at it, but faced problems with racism so he couldn’t really make it in the big leagues with white people. Later, he faced more racism in his job as a logger. Eventually, he developed an alcohol addiction due to this disillusionment and finally comes to terms with his life.
Very interesting perspective on the indigenous people of Canada, a group that most of us don’t think about often. Despite numerous government subsidies, they’re still some of the poorest people in the country, with low education levels. Some people think it’s laziness, but they’ve had a history of mistreatment in residential schools and were subjected to racism until very recently, so it’s difficult for them to integrate into society. Their reserves are often a long distance from major population centers, which means very few opportunities. Furthermore, their culture doesn’t really value education. Overall, great read about a group currently marginalized in Canadian society.
