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.
