Indian Horse

A Novel

By: Richard Wagamese

Narrated by: Jason Ryll

Length: 6 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

Saul Indian Horse is in critical condition. Sitting feeble in an alcoholism treatment facility, he is told that sharing his story will help relieve his agony. Though skeptical, he embarks on a heartbreaking journey from the present - and into the woods of Northern Ontario, where his life began in a snowy Ojibway camp. The tale that follows is one of great pain and great determination from Richard Wagamese, an author who "never seems to waste a shot" (New York Times).

After being taken forcibly from his family, Saul is placed in an abusive boarding school determined to expunge his Ojibway traditions and knowledge. But he finds salvation each morning at dawn, practicing hockey alone on the school's makeshift ice rink. Saul's gift is undeniable: He quickly rises from his school's all-Ojibway team to the white-dominated regional circuit. As his skills improve and he gains notoriety, however, each of his victories on the ice is met by racism and hate. As the years pass, Saul must reconcile his passion - the game he loves, that allowed him to escape poverty - with the harshness of a world that will never make him entirely welcome.

Unfolding against the bleak loveliness of Northern Ontario - all rock, marsh, bog, and cedar - this is a singular story of resilience from a beloved storyteller.

©2012 Richard Wagamese (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Important Read

One of the rare cases where I seen the movie before I read the book. Richard Wagamese weaves a remarkable story (based on a culmination of true accounts) of the Indian Boarding Schools that many Native American and First Nation children were sent to after being kidnapped from their families. What many people do not realize is that these schools did not close until 1990's and there are so many horrifying tales of what happened to the Native children who went there and who never left. Beautifully written, and achingly tragic, I highly recommend this story for every American and Canadian citizen so everyone can understand an important piece of what is not taught in history classes today.

Incredible storyteller

Richard Wagamese was an incredible storyteller. Indian Horse is more than a story of a Native boy, it is more than a story of Hockey, it is a story of indigenous history. It is a story of historical trauma. Wagamese helps the reader to understand residential school history and the abuse endured by Native children and how that sexual, physical, emotional, spiritual and mental abuse influences their lives as they grow into adulthood. It helps us to understand why tribal communities suffer from trauma today.
We feel the sadness of loss and the pain of abuse. We root for Saul Indian Horse and we cry for him.
A great story from a great storyteller. I highly recommend it and hope you come away with a better understanding of tribal communities.

Read and share!

Read if you dare., A truth so many Native American nations endured. So many loss, so many in the struggle, so many generational heartaches. The ripple.

Great story!

Much of his own life story appears to be wrapped up in tale of Saul Indian Horse. Wagamese demonstrates a unique ability to describe in vivid detail everything from the feeling of freedom that comes from the first time one learns to ice skate to the feelings of dread, abandonment and fear that was the experience of Indian schools throughout Canada and the US. He is among the best story tellers I have ever read, and the performance was equally engaging as well.

A tough story, but well worth hearing.

Not for kids, but for adults who know a little bit about the history and about themselves. No hockey knowledge necessary.

Everything and More!

A book all indigenous people and indigenous allies should read / listen too. It goes beyond the pain of residential schools into the healing that survivors go into. I loved the story - I was drawn to the characters and to the light behind the pain. Such a fantastic book!

Tough but Necessary - Please listen to this book!

I am glad I listened to this book. It’s important to hear to correct pronunciation but it’s a bonus to hear an authentically First Nations/Canadian accent. This book made me cry a lot. It brought to life untold stories of horrific experiences of forced assimilation. I think it will help some see why drugs and alcohol are needed escapes from peoples minds until the right therapy can provide hope and the means to live without altercation. By far my favorite listen! I hope everyone listens to this book. First Nations communities need help, not condemnation or the ridicule of being mascots.

Amazing journey

This book and performance was incredible. I have not been moved by a book in a very long time and this had me vacillating between sadness and joy throughout. I highly recommend this to everyone.

Wild emotional ride

This was an emotional ride for me. Growing up in Canada in the 1970’s I saw many Indian kids come off the reservation and go to my schools. I’m ashamed to say the way they were looked at by myself and others was wrong. This book helped me to see their challenges and hardships that I couldn’t when I was younger.

good storyline

powerful and sad, although the ending was encouraging. This would be a good story for anyone unfamiliar with the Indian schools.

captivating

emotional and beautifully written. painful insight into the lives of so many people. the book cultivates compassion & understanding

Definitely worth listening

Easy to follow and beautifully written, I would recommend to anyone interested in a moving tale of a young boy becoming a man.

Beautiful Book.

Touching, moving story. Loss, tragedy, redemption, wisdom. The stuff of life delivered in simple prose that glides like a puck on ice and speaks to something within all of us.