Stolen Words

William Fogg Library

18 Aug 202006:34

Summary

TLDRIn 'Stolen Words,' a young girl eagerly asks her Cree grandfather how to say 'grandfather' in his native language. His sorrowful response reveals that he lost his language due to the trauma of residential schools, where Indigenous children were taken from their families and forbidden from speaking their languages. The girl, determined to help, brings him a Cree language book from the library. Together, they rediscover his lost words, reconnecting with their heritage. The story highlights the painful legacy of colonialism and the resilience of Indigenous culture and language.

Takeaways

👧 A young girl returns from school, excited and proud of a dreamcatcher she made, and asks her grandfather how to say 'grandfather' in Cree.
😔 Her grandfather pauses and sorrowfully admits he no longer remembers the word, as he lost his Cree language long ago.
💔 The girl is confused and asks how someone can lose words, to which her grandfather explains that they were taken from him when he was sent away to residential school.
🏫 He reveals that he and many other First Nations children were taken away from their homes and families, where they were forbidden from speaking their own language and punished for doing so.
🥀 The girl empathizes with her grandfather’s pain, feeling the sadness in his story and offers him the dreamcatcher, hoping it will help him find his words again.
📖 The next day, the girl returns from school and surprises her grandfather with a Cree language book she found with the help of her teacher.
💡 She proudly tells her grandfather, 'I found your words,' presenting the book as a symbol of rediscovering the language he had lost.
👴 Her grandfather is deeply moved, and as he begins to read the words aloud, he reconnects with his heritage and language, feeling like he has regained a piece of his past.
📚 The girl asks her grandfather to teach her Cree, marking the start of a journey to reclaim their cultural identity together.
🕊️ The story ends with a powerful reminder of Canada’s history of residential schools, where Indigenous children were forcibly taken from their families and stripped of their language and culture, resulting in lasting harm and loss.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the story 'Stolen Words'?
-The main theme of 'Stolen Words' is the loss of cultural identity, language, and heritage experienced by Indigenous people due to the forced assimilation in residential schools.
Why did the grandfather forget his native Cree language?
-The grandfather forgot his Cree language because it was forcibly taken from him during his time in residential schools, where children were punished for speaking their native language.
What does the dream catcher symbolize in the story?
-The dream catcher symbolizes hope, healing, and the possibility of reclaiming lost culture and identity, as the granddaughter gives it to her grandfather in the hope of helping him find his lost words.
How does the granddaughter help her grandfather reconnect with his language?
-The granddaughter finds a Cree language book at the library with the help of her teacher and presents it to her grandfather, which helps him reconnect with his lost language.
What does the story reveal about the impact of residential schools on Indigenous children and families?
-The story reveals that residential schools caused deep emotional and cultural damage by forcibly removing children from their families, prohibiting them from speaking their language, and resulting in the loss of Indigenous identity and culture.
How does the grandfather react when he starts to rediscover his words?
-The grandfather is deeply emotional when he starts to rediscover his words, feeling a sense of familiarity and connection to his past, his home, and his mother.
What role does the granddaughter play in the grandfather's healing process?
-The granddaughter plays a vital role in the grandfather's healing process by showing compassion, actively seeking to help him reconnect with his Cree heritage, and expressing a desire to learn and preserve his language.
Why is language so important to the grandfather in the story?
-Language is important to the grandfather because it represents his culture, identity, and memories of home, which were forcibly taken from him. Reclaiming his language helps him reconnect with his heritage.
What message does the story convey about the resilience of Indigenous culture?
-The story conveys a message of resilience by showing that despite the painful history of cultural suppression, Indigenous languages and traditions can be reclaimed and passed down to future generations.
What historical context is provided at the end of the story?
-The story provides historical context about the Canadian government's role in forcibly removing Indigenous children from their families and sending them to residential schools, where they were stripped of their language and culture.

Outlines

00:00

👧 Granddaughter's Curiosity About Cree Language

A young girl returns home from school, excitedly showing her grandfather a dream catcher she made. She asks him how to say 'grandfather' in Cree, but he responds sadly, explaining that he has forgotten his words because they were taken from him long ago. He recalls being taken away from home, separated from his family, and forced into a school where he was punished for speaking his native language. His granddaughter, saddened but determined, gives him the dream catcher, hoping it will help him find his lost words.

05:03

📚 Finding Hope and Reclaiming Language

The next day, the granddaughter surprises her grandfather by speaking Cree words she has learned. She presents him with a book, 'Introduction to Cree,' which her teacher helped her find. The grandfather, deeply moved, holds the book tightly, feeling connected to his roots again. Together, they begin a journey of rediscovering the Cree language and culture. The paragraph ends by reflecting on the historical trauma faced by First Nations children, taken from their families and forced into residential schools, where they were forbidden to speak their language and suffered deeply. The loss of language led to the erosion of Indigenous culture, which is recognized as vital and rich in wisdom.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Residential Schools

Residential schools were institutions established by the Canadian government and Christian churches where Indigenous children were forcibly taken away from their families and communities. These schools aimed to assimilate Indigenous children into white Canadian culture by prohibiting them from speaking their native languages and practicing their cultural traditions. In the script, the grandfather mentions that he lost his words because he was taken to such a school, which serves as a core theme highlighting the impact of cultural erasure.

💡Cree Language

The Cree language is one of the Indigenous languages spoken by the Cree people in Canada. In the story, the young girl wants to learn how to say 'grandfather' in Cree, which sparks a conversation about language loss. The Cree language symbolizes cultural identity and heritage, and the grandfather's inability to speak it reflects the generational trauma and loss caused by the residential school system.

💡Language Loss

Language loss refers to the disappearance of a language as its speakers shift to speaking another language, often due to external pressures like colonization or forced assimilation. In the script, the grandfather mentions that 'they took our words away,' illustrating how Indigenous people were systematically stripped of their native languages. The young girl's quest to help her grandfather rediscover Cree language symbolizes hope and cultural revitalization.

💡Dream Catcher

The dream catcher is a handmade object rooted in Indigenous culture, often used as a symbol of protection and good dreams. In the story, the girl makes a dream catcher and gives it to her grandfather, saying, 'Maybe it will help you find your words again.' This gesture represents her desire to heal the cultural and emotional wounds caused by the residential school system and restore her grandfather's connection to his heritage.

💡Cultural Erasure

Cultural erasure is the systematic removal or suppression of a group's culture, traditions, and language. The residential school system aimed to erase Indigenous cultures by forcing children to abandon their native languages and practices. In the story, the grandfather’s inability to remember his own language represents this cultural erasure and its long-lasting impact on Indigenous communities.

💡Generational Trauma

Generational trauma refers to the psychological and emotional harm passed down from one generation to the next due to traumatic events experienced by a group. The script illustrates this concept through the grandfather’s sadness and sense of loss when he realizes he cannot remember his own language. The young girl’s efforts to reconnect with their cultural heritage signify the beginning of healing from this trauma.

💡Cultural Revitalization

Cultural revitalization is the process of bringing back lost or endangered aspects of a culture, such as language or traditions. The young girl’s attempt to help her grandfather relearn Cree language and her request for him to teach her represents a hopeful act of cultural revitalization. This theme is central to the story as it showcases the importance of preserving and restoring Indigenous cultures.

💡Assimilation Policies

Assimilation policies are strategies used by governments to absorb minority groups into the dominant culture, often by force or coercion. The residential school system was part of these assimilation policies, where Indigenous children were taken from their families to be 'civilized' and made to adopt Western customs. The grandfather’s experience in the school, where he was punished for speaking his language, is a direct result of these harmful policies.

💡Identity

Identity in the context of this script refers to the sense of self that is deeply connected to cultural heritage, language, and community. The grandfather’s struggle with identity is evident when he expresses that he lost his words and feels disconnected from his roots. The granddaughter’s efforts to help him reclaim his language symbolize a restoration of his identity and a reconnection to his past.

💡Reconciliation

Reconciliation involves acknowledging past injustices and working towards healing and restoring relationships. The script portrays reconciliation through the young girl’s actions to help her grandfather relearn his native language. Her efforts to bridge the gap between the past and present, and between different generations, highlight the ongoing process of reconciliation for Indigenous communities affected by residential schools.

Highlights

A young girl joyfully returns from school, excited about a dream catcher she made, symbolizing her connection to her heritage.

The girl asks her grandfather how to say 'grandfather' in Cree, sparking a conversation about lost words.

The grandfather reveals his sorrow, explaining that he lost his Cree words long ago due to forced assimilation.

The grandfather's words reflect the deep pain and loss caused by being taken away from his family and culture.

The child listens intently, asking questions about who took the words away, showing her desire to understand her family’s history.

The grandfather speaks of being sent to a residential school, where he was punished for speaking his native language.

The story captures the emotional toll of cultural erasure, as the grandfather recalls the harshness of his school experience.

The granddaughter offers her dream catcher to her grandfather, hoping it will help him find his lost words.

The next day, the girl surprises her grandfather by greeting him in Cree, showing her determination to reclaim their language.

She presents her grandfather with a Cree language book, a symbol of hope and reconnection to their culture.

The grandfather feels a deep sense of recognition and belonging as he begins to remember his lost language.

The story emphasizes the healing power of reclaiming lost words and culture, symbolized by the grandfather's joy in reconnecting with Cree.

The book closes with a historical reflection on the government of Canada’s role in taking First Nations children away from their families.

The narrative illustrates the devastating impact of residential schools on Indigenous families and cultures, which were torn apart.

Despite the loss, the story concludes on a hopeful note, with a new generation working to recover and preserve their cultural heritage.