Horrors In Kiriault's Akua Nuten

The past has resounding effects on the present, just as the present has tremendous effects on the future, but no one can tell how these effects might unfold. For example, when the white people first came to Canada, the Indians could never have anticipated what horror they would cause, but this horror has carried on even until today. Authors W. P. Kinsella, Yves Theriault, and Sherman Alexie are just a few of the many people to have illustrated the hate and prejudice that these horrors have caused. Throughout the short story “Lark Song”, Kinsella discusses the major contrast between the paranoia of the whites and the welcoming nature of the Indians. Similarly, Theriault explores in his short story “Akua Nuten” the sense of bitterness that Indians …show more content…
For example, in “Lark Song”, the narrator talks about the whites and how they are hesitant to let people around their children, especially Indians. This proves that the white people are intimidated and frightened by the Indians for no other reason besides the fact that they are Indians. Later in the story, the Indians are referred to as “wagon burners” indicating once again that the white people do not appreciate them. The second medium “Akua Nuten” has a similar message with regards to the hate between Indians and whites. For instance, the main character Kakatso is referred to by a young white boy as a “savage.” Historically, this term was used to describe groups of people who were uncivilized, uneducated, and primitive; consequently it is an extremely offensive term. The fact that a child uses such demonizing language is evidence of the theme of racism in this short story. In contrast, Kakatso refers to the Indian as a “changeless” man that is superior to that of the white man. This belief proves that the Indians also have their own prejudice against the whites. At the end of this story, Kakatso leaves a family of white people to die to get revenge for all of the Indian deaths that white people have caused. This repetition of Indian disgust in the white people is yet another result of the discrimination that they face daily. Finally, in Smoke Signals, the most vital evidence of racism is brought forward during the accident. More specifically, when Victor and Thomas get into a car accident with a drunk, white male a young girl almost dies. In this scenario, the white male points the blame toward the two Indian men. This instance shows that in a horrible situation, Indians are the easiest to blame because they are the outside party. However, they are only on the outside because white people stole what rightfully belongs to the Indians. In this circumstance, the white male is discriminating