Lecture Notes: Saul Indian Horse's Story

Early Childhood

• Saul was taken away at six years old.
• Punished for speaking his native language.
• Brother ran away, parents never the same after being taken to school.
• Grandmother stressed the importance of their ancestral land.

Cultural & Spiritual Struggles

• Forced to adopt new religion and abandon indigenous beliefs.
• School was more like imprisonment, teaching was through fear and punishment.
• Emphasis on understanding one's past to comprehend the future.
• Reference to Anishinaabe heritage and connection to the earth.

Personal Pain and Resilience

• Witnessed and experienced mental and physical abuse at the school.
• Saw the negative impact on peers, including punishments and forceful indoctrination.
• Developed a deep sense of fear but also a growing resilience and self-reliance.
• Hockey became a form of escape and a survival mechanism.

Discovering Hockey

• Saul discovered hockey at the residential school but was initially not allowed to play.
• Practiced alone secretly and became exceptionally skilled.
• Hockey was a metaphor for the universe and a sense of order in chaos.
• Eventually caught attention of coaches and scouts.

Struggle for Acceptance

• Despite talent, faced racism and stereotyping in the sport.
• Moved from playing for local teams to more competitive levels, struggled with identity and acceptance.
• Conflict between his identity and the external expectations placed on him by others, including potential scouts.

Moving Forward and Back

• Brief glimmer of hope as he was recognized for his talent and given opportunities to play at higher levels.
• Internal struggle led him to leave professional hockey.

After Leaving Hockey

• Long period of wandering, feeling lost and sinking into alcoholism.
• Eventually sought healing, both physically and spiritually.
• Reconnected with indigenous roots and began a journey towards self-acceptance and understanding.

Healing and Sharing His Story

• Found a community where he could share his story and find healing.
• Embraced storytelling as a way to connect the past, present, and future for younger generations.
• His story became a testament to resilience and the importance of understanding one's heritage.