Kiss Of The Fur Queen Analysis

Topic 2:

An Analysis of the Loss of Indigenous Language in Kiss of the Fur Queen by Tomson Highway

This literary study will identify the loss of the indigenous language in Kiss of the Fur Queen by Tomson Highway. Highway’s story of two young Indian boys, Champion (Jeremiah) and Ooneemeetoo (Gabriel), illustrates the effect of forced Anglophone education in a residential school. In addition to be sexually abused by the Roman Catholic priests, they must reject their own native language in order to assimilate the English language. Highway’s story defines the tragic loss of indigenous identity through the forced assimilation policies of Canadian society during the era of residential schooling, which involves changing their names to Jeremiah and Gabriel. The loss of identity is a traumatic event due to the shame that the children have to endure due to a complete rejection of their own language and cultural values. In essence, an analysis of the loss of the indigenous language through residential schooling will be examined in Kiss of the Fur Queen by Thomson Highway. The story of Champion and Ooneemeetoo defines the struggle of …show more content…
The traumatic assimilation process that Champion (Jeremiah) and Ooneemeetoo (Gabriel) endure defines the loss of the right to speak the indigenous language at the residential schools. The Canadian government’s assimilation policy of the First Peoples defines the racist and cultural biases of western Anglophone culture. Which forced the Indians to adopt European ways of life. Champion’s suffering under the influence of the Roman Catholic priests also defines the victimization and trauma that indigenous children had to endure during the assimilation process. In this way, an analysis of the loss of the indigenous language is defined in the experiences of indigenous children in Kiss of the Fur Queen by Tomson