The importance and role of literature originating in former colonies such as Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand or Pakistan during the last fifty years by now is undisputed since most writers gave a new push to English-speaking literature by adding matters of colonialism, racism, immigration, exile, survival, border crossing or hybrid existence.
Canada hereby soon gained a key role since it was and still is considered to be an ideal place for diversity which formed the basis for a multicultural society which soon produced an enormous number of writers disposing of different political, cultural, ethnic or religious backgrounds.
This essay therefore mainly deals with matters of loosing and (re-)gaining First Nation identity in contemporary Canada. It hereby throws light on a history of racism, exploitation, genocide, subjugation and discrimination which has marked Canadian history for such a long time.
The loss of tradition and identity patterns hereby are of special interest since their results led to various ways of existence which constantly created multiple forms of the hybrid between two worlds – the world of the First Nations and the world of Western colonialism and its manifold realisations.
Table of Contents
- Preface
- Catchphrases
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to provide an overview of the novel "Keeper'n Me" (1994) by Richard Wagamese, focusing on how the novel explores the quest for healing First Nation identity in Canada.
- The historical context of colonialism in Canada and its impact on First Nation communities
- The struggles of survival and identity faced by First Nation individuals and communities
- The importance of tradition and cultural belonging in the face of assimilation and modernization
- The themes of healing and reconciliation as means of overcoming historical trauma
- The exploration of hybrid identities and the complex relationship between First Nation culture and Western culture
Chapter Summaries
This section will provide summaries of the chapters of the novel.
Keywords
The key terms and concepts explored in this paper include: First Nations, colonialism, cultural identity, survival, trauma, healing, reconciliation, Canadian literature, tradition, modernity, hybrid identity, and the clash of civilizations.
- Quote paper
- Dr. Matthias Dickert (Author), 2024, Richard Wagamese's "Keeper'n Me" (1994). The Quest of Healing First Nation Identity in Canada, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1494579
