This story starts off with Niska, a Cree tribe member, who is on her way to pick up and bring home her recently deceased nephew's friend. However, it’s not her nephew's friend that steps off the train, it's her nephew, Xavier. Who is scarred by war. The first half of this story is Xavier reminiscing on what occurred in the war and how he came to this situation. And let me tell you this, it is one hell of a story.

“We all fight on two fronts, the one facing the enemy, the one facing what we do to the enemy.”

This story, regardless of everything it’s about, is important for telling a story about how the First Nations were terribly treated. Especially in the Residential Schools where they were forcibly culturally assimilated. It is especially as important in representing what it was like for the Cree living in Canada at the time of the war. It is amazing for showcasing how they were treated and how they, as Cree tribesmen, had to change who they were and pretend to be less ‘Indian.’

“I slip into half dreams, go back to my short time in the residential school, old Sister Magdalene and her stinking breath like burnt wool. I see her mouth moving as we boys sit frightened at our desks, her words pouring out like the river. ‘The old Cree are heathen and anger God,’ she says.”

Depending on how you want to interpret the novel, there are many elements to the story to love. One element that was my favourite was the telling of the Wendigo. The Wendigo, if you don’t know already, is a mythological creature derived by First Nations Folklore. Sometimes spelled (Windego) the Wendigo are malevolent spirits that are known to have almost human-like features, are known to possess humans or turn humans into Wendigos. The influence of this spirit is known to invoke acts of murder, cannibalism or insatiable greed on upon its victims. This usually occurs when someone has broken a long-held taboo, and is exposing their inner evil. You might ask, why does this have anything to do with the war or with Xaviers friend? Everything and nothing, again, depending on how you interpret the novel. The Wendigo is something that happens alongside and is hinted at throughout the novel. You see, you never really see the monster, but it is ever so present throughout the text. The Wendigo could just be something that the characters made up, or it could be them really sensing the spirit around them. This is something you have to decide for yourself, if the Wendigo is indeed real or if it’s just a symbol or reference the characters use. You kind of have to read and figure it out, however, if you ask me? I like to think that the Wendigo is real. I think that it makes the novel more exciting and you can make endless literary comparisons between the plot and First Nations Folklore. Not to spoil much.

Disregarding the Wendigo aspect of the storyline, this story mainly focuses on Xavier and his friend Elijah taking part in World War 1. It focuses on their struggles with identity, addiction, the thwart of war and how they changed as people because of it. There are many other symbols and smaller plots going on, such as the symbolism of a lynx, a Mauser rifle and addiction. There are many layers to this novel and so much to explore, Joseph Boyden really layered on many layers onto the main plot that I can’t even explain the entirety of it. The best thing I can say to do is of course, read it yourself.

Want to hear more about Wendigo’s? Check out the videos below.