Introduction
Lead
Every culture faces its own struggles and hardships. Racism and discrimination has been an ongoing battle for centuries, migrating more towards racial profiling in the twenty-first century. In the time of the Great War, Native Canadians were looked down upon, yet an impressive amount of nearly 4,000 Canadian Indian men volunteered to join and serve the Allied forces in European battlefields, inspiring those around them with their achievements and sacrifices (Coates). However, each Aboriginal battled their way through the War in more ways than one. Joseph Boyden raises awareness of the discrimination against Native Americans in his brilliant book Three Day Road of two friends who test their skills and friendship on the war front.
Thesis
The Aboriginal background of Xavier and Elijah proves to have an impact on their war experience. Battling against discrimination, using superior hunting skills and practicing spiritual rituals, they work as a team to fight through not only the Great War, but their own war of internal struggles as well.
Three Supporting Details
1. Xavier and Elijah faced the struggles of discrimination by their peers for being Aboriginals.
2. They use their tracking and hunting tactics that they've gained from their past and apply it on the war front.
3. Keeping faith in God and practicing spiritual rituals was important, but proved to become one of the toughest struggles.
Lead
Every culture faces its own struggles and hardships. Racism and discrimination has been an ongoing battle for centuries, migrating more towards racial profiling in the twenty-first century. In the time of the Great War, Native Canadians were looked down upon, yet an impressive amount of nearly 4,000 Canadian Indian men volunteered to join and serve the Allied forces in European battlefields, inspiring those around them with their achievements and sacrifices (Coates). However, each Aboriginal battled their way through the War in more ways than one. Joseph Boyden raises awareness of the discrimination against Native Americans in his brilliant book Three Day Road of two friends who test their skills and friendship on the war front.
Thesis
The Aboriginal background of Xavier and Elijah proves to have an impact on their war experience. Battling against discrimination, using superior hunting skills and practicing spiritual rituals, they work as a team to fight through not only the Great War, but their own war of internal struggles as well.
Three Supporting Details
1. Xavier and Elijah faced the struggles of discrimination by their peers for being Aboriginals.
2. They use their tracking and hunting tactics that they've gained from their past and apply it on the war front.
3. Keeping faith in God and practicing spiritual rituals was important, but proved to become one of the toughest struggles.
Body Paragraph 1
Topic Sentence
Being a native Canadian, Xavier and Elijah were looked down upon and discriminated against by the other soldiers. This caused a great deal of stress and pressure to prove themselves honorable to fight for their country.
Point
“First Peoples troops encountered a double cultural barrier in the military: the racial prejudice that marked the contemporary non-aboriginal world, and a military hierarchy that worked almost exclusively in English, a language many aboriginal recruits did not speak“(Canadian War Museum). One major obstacle was the language differentiation.
Proof
“My English was no good. But Elijah taught me the words instead, told me I had to begin fending for myself in their tongue” (78).
Comment
Growing up, Elijah attended an English speaking school, which gave him a distinct advantage in the Canadian Army. On the contrary, Xavier grew up in the bush with his aunt and his lack of communication proved to be a prominent struggle in the war.
Topic Sentence
Being a native Canadian, Xavier and Elijah were looked down upon and discriminated against by the other soldiers. This caused a great deal of stress and pressure to prove themselves honorable to fight for their country.
Point
“First Peoples troops encountered a double cultural barrier in the military: the racial prejudice that marked the contemporary non-aboriginal world, and a military hierarchy that worked almost exclusively in English, a language many aboriginal recruits did not speak“(Canadian War Museum). One major obstacle was the language differentiation.
Proof
“My English was no good. But Elijah taught me the words instead, told me I had to begin fending for myself in their tongue” (78).
Comment
Growing up, Elijah attended an English speaking school, which gave him a distinct advantage in the Canadian Army. On the contrary, Xavier grew up in the bush with his aunt and his lack of communication proved to be a prominent struggle in the war.
Point
Xavier's and Elijah's Aboriginal background proved to affect their war experience for they were “repeatedly treated as second-class citizens” (Gordon).
Proof
“We do the nasty work for them and if we return home we will be treated like pieces of shit once more” (287).
Comment
When they meet another native soldier, Francis Pegahmagabow, they discuss the discrimination they all face. No matter how excellent their skills are on the war front, once they return home they will be treated with “the same discrimination and limits” (Petten).
Concluding Statement
Overall, Xavier and Elijah faced many obstacles, such as a language barrier as they battle against discrimination for being Aboriginal.
Xavier's and Elijah's Aboriginal background proved to affect their war experience for they were “repeatedly treated as second-class citizens” (Gordon).
Proof
“We do the nasty work for them and if we return home we will be treated like pieces of shit once more” (287).
Comment
When they meet another native soldier, Francis Pegahmagabow, they discuss the discrimination they all face. No matter how excellent their skills are on the war front, once they return home they will be treated with “the same discrimination and limits” (Petten).
Concluding Statement
Overall, Xavier and Elijah faced many obstacles, such as a language barrier as they battle against discrimination for being Aboriginal.
Body Paragraph 2
Topic Sentence
Although being a native carries its’ own set of challenges in the military, Xavier and Elijah developed a skill few soldiers possessed, the skill to shoot accurately.
Point
Learning how to hunt at such a young age, gave them the advantage in their sniper skills. “For generations, the aboriginal people have passed down the knowledge of trapping, tracking and hunting to their descendants…the advanced hunting tactics of the natives made them excellent recon scouts and snipers” (Veloso).
Proof
“I will gain respect. I let half my breath out and place the very tip of the sight on what must be the tip of the match. The world has grown silent. My body feels as steady as it ever has. I squeeze the trigger and as if by some magic the match flares and then lights, the flame wavering in the wind. The men roar” (109).
Comment
Elijah had been seen as a heroic figure amongst the men for his bravery and ability to kill an enemy soldier in one shot. Xavier was left in the dust with no recognition for his tracking. This pushes him to prove himself honorable to his superiors and show off his skills at a sniper competition.
Topic Sentence
Although being a native carries its’ own set of challenges in the military, Xavier and Elijah developed a skill few soldiers possessed, the skill to shoot accurately.
Point
Learning how to hunt at such a young age, gave them the advantage in their sniper skills. “For generations, the aboriginal people have passed down the knowledge of trapping, tracking and hunting to their descendants…the advanced hunting tactics of the natives made them excellent recon scouts and snipers” (Veloso).
Proof
“I will gain respect. I let half my breath out and place the very tip of the sight on what must be the tip of the match. The world has grown silent. My body feels as steady as it ever has. I squeeze the trigger and as if by some magic the match flares and then lights, the flame wavering in the wind. The men roar” (109).
Comment
Elijah had been seen as a heroic figure amongst the men for his bravery and ability to kill an enemy soldier in one shot. Xavier was left in the dust with no recognition for his tracking. This pushes him to prove himself honorable to his superiors and show off his skills at a sniper competition.
Point
Word spreads as Xavier and Elijah become well-known throughout the Canadian army for their exceptional tracking and hunting skills.
Proof
“’From what I’ve heard, you’ve killed many. How many? Be honest.’ ‘One hundred ninety-four, to date,’ Elijah answers. The corporal’s eyes open wide in astonishment. ‘It’s true!’” (287).
Comment
Xavier and Elijah met "Peggy", "Canada's most highly decorated Aboriginal soldier” (Petten), in a bar and discussed the number of kills Elijah had racked up. This was the first time the reader had heard about his number of kills. The skills the two men attained, enabled them to journey into No Man’s land on dangerous quests to scout out enemy positions. An Archetypal critique points out the typical reoccurring tactics the Native’s use to patiently wait and hunt for their prey.
Concluding Statement
In summation, the background knowledge of hunting and shooting becomes Xavier’s and Elijah’s saving grace. They apply the skills they have learned in their youth, proving themselves worthy to those who think otherwise, and becoming famous for their actions.
Word spreads as Xavier and Elijah become well-known throughout the Canadian army for their exceptional tracking and hunting skills.
Proof
“’From what I’ve heard, you’ve killed many. How many? Be honest.’ ‘One hundred ninety-four, to date,’ Elijah answers. The corporal’s eyes open wide in astonishment. ‘It’s true!’” (287).
Comment
Xavier and Elijah met "Peggy", "Canada's most highly decorated Aboriginal soldier” (Petten), in a bar and discussed the number of kills Elijah had racked up. This was the first time the reader had heard about his number of kills. The skills the two men attained, enabled them to journey into No Man’s land on dangerous quests to scout out enemy positions. An Archetypal critique points out the typical reoccurring tactics the Native’s use to patiently wait and hunt for their prey.
Concluding Statement
In summation, the background knowledge of hunting and shooting becomes Xavier’s and Elijah’s saving grace. They apply the skills they have learned in their youth, proving themselves worthy to those who think otherwise, and becoming famous for their actions.
Body Paragraph 3
Topic Sentence
The Aboriginal religion was a very sacred one. Staying in touch with God and practicing his spiritual rituals is what saved Xavier from the degeneration caused by the effects of War.
Point
Xavier prayed to Gitchi Manitou when he made his first kill, showing his gratefulness for his survival.
Proof
“The night of the day I killed my first human was the first time I felt like an ancestor, an awawatuk raider and warrior. I prayed to Gitchi Manitou for many hours on that day, thanking him that it was I who still breathed and not my enemy. Since that time I am able to shoot at other men and understand that what I do is for survival, as long as I pray to Gitchi Manitou” (224).
Comment
Here Xavier spoke of his praying rituals to his God. This proved that his faith in these practice of his spiritual rituals kept him alive. It was his continual use of these rituals that kept war from destroying his humanity. However, it became tougher as the war lead on and the madness grew.
Topic Sentence
The Aboriginal religion was a very sacred one. Staying in touch with God and practicing his spiritual rituals is what saved Xavier from the degeneration caused by the effects of War.
Point
Xavier prayed to Gitchi Manitou when he made his first kill, showing his gratefulness for his survival.
Proof
“The night of the day I killed my first human was the first time I felt like an ancestor, an awawatuk raider and warrior. I prayed to Gitchi Manitou for many hours on that day, thanking him that it was I who still breathed and not my enemy. Since that time I am able to shoot at other men and understand that what I do is for survival, as long as I pray to Gitchi Manitou” (224).
Comment
Here Xavier spoke of his praying rituals to his God. This proved that his faith in these practice of his spiritual rituals kept him alive. It was his continual use of these rituals that kept war from destroying his humanity. However, it became tougher as the war lead on and the madness grew.
Point
One theme present in this story is that killing degenerates the humanity in our souls, proving to be true as Elijah veered further away from his Native culture (Le Souder), and more so into the madness of war. The Native Canadian myth of the Windigo states that a powerful spirit manifests itself in humans who have practiced canninalism (Drainie).
Proof
“I desperately want to stop what I’ve started, but something else controls me now…Just when I think that he is made of something unbreakable, the rifle in my hands sinks down and I feel through the stock the collapse of his windpipe under my rifle’s pressure…my tears leave streaks in the dirt and blood of his dead face” (370).
Comment
The Windigo spirit possessed Elijah's spirit because of his thirst for killing. Xavier, as a Windigo killer, had no choice but to kill his best friend to rid him of the evil spirit.
Concluding Statement
Ultimately, Xavier’s spiritual beliefs and habits kept him sane and free from the madness of the war. As long as he kept up his routine of praying to his God, he felt he would make it out alive. However, the longer the war raged, the more the soldiers began to go mad, losing control and resulting in death and loss of faith and friendship.
One theme present in this story is that killing degenerates the humanity in our souls, proving to be true as Elijah veered further away from his Native culture (Le Souder), and more so into the madness of war. The Native Canadian myth of the Windigo states that a powerful spirit manifests itself in humans who have practiced canninalism (Drainie).
Proof
“I desperately want to stop what I’ve started, but something else controls me now…Just when I think that he is made of something unbreakable, the rifle in my hands sinks down and I feel through the stock the collapse of his windpipe under my rifle’s pressure…my tears leave streaks in the dirt and blood of his dead face” (370).
Comment
The Windigo spirit possessed Elijah's spirit because of his thirst for killing. Xavier, as a Windigo killer, had no choice but to kill his best friend to rid him of the evil spirit.
Concluding Statement
Ultimately, Xavier’s spiritual beliefs and habits kept him sane and free from the madness of the war. As long as he kept up his routine of praying to his God, he felt he would make it out alive. However, the longer the war raged, the more the soldiers began to go mad, losing control and resulting in death and loss of faith and friendship.
Conclusion
Restatement of Thesis
The Aboriginal background of Xavier and Elijah proves to have an impact on their war experience as they face discrimination, use their knowledge of tracking and hunting, and practice spiritual rituals to fight their way through the Great War.
Key Points
1. Battling discrimination
2. Superior hunting skills
3. Practicing spiritual rituals
Clincher
Discrimination has been an ongoing battle for various cultures around the world, no matter what the circumstances. It can influence and affect a person in the most negative ways, as proved in Joseph Boyden’s novel Three Day Road.
Restatement of Thesis
The Aboriginal background of Xavier and Elijah proves to have an impact on their war experience as they face discrimination, use their knowledge of tracking and hunting, and practice spiritual rituals to fight their way through the Great War.
Key Points
1. Battling discrimination
2. Superior hunting skills
3. Practicing spiritual rituals
Clincher
Discrimination has been an ongoing battle for various cultures around the world, no matter what the circumstances. It can influence and affect a person in the most negative ways, as proved in Joseph Boyden’s novel Three Day Road.
Works Cited
Primary Sources
Boyden, Joseph. Three Day Road: A Novel. New York: Viking, 2005. Print
Secondary Sources
Coates, Donna . “On the Warpath.” canlit.ca. Canadian Literature, 8 Dec. 2011. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
Gordan, Neta. “Time Structures and the Healing Aesthetic of Joseph Boyden’s Three Day Road”. N.p., n.d. 10 Dec. 2013.
Petten, Cheryl. “Frances Pegahmagabow – Footprints”. The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society. 10 Dec. 2013.
Souder, Michael Le. "Three Day Road:Novel Analysis of Themes and Synopses." Thestudiousparrot.weebly.com. N.p., 23 Apr. 2009. Web. 12 Jan. 2014.
Drainie, Bronwyn. “Three Day Road.” Quillandquire.com. Feb. 2005. Web. 12 Jan. 2014.
Pictures
http://www.tulalipnews.com/wp/wpcontent/uploads/2014/01/cherokee_patient_world_war_i._u.s._base_hospital_no._41_paris_france_c._1917-18._-_courtesy_u.s._national_library_of_medicine.jpg
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/11/01/article-2226235-0F7F8D0300000578-696_964x682.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/01/Francis_Pegahmagabow.jpg
http://myitchytravelfeet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Sunset-Canoeing.jpg
http://www.bigfootbuzz.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/windigo1.jpg
http://www.giraffedays.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/three-day-road-198x300.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/A_World_War_1_Story,_Part_6._Hutt_Valley,_Wellington,_New_Zealand,_14_April_1916_(437353411).jpg
Video
"World War One Video (For school)". Youtube. Youtube, LLC. Web. 20 Jan. 2014.
Primary Sources
Boyden, Joseph. Three Day Road: A Novel. New York: Viking, 2005. Print
Secondary Sources
Coates, Donna . “On the Warpath.” canlit.ca. Canadian Literature, 8 Dec. 2011. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
Gordan, Neta. “Time Structures and the Healing Aesthetic of Joseph Boyden’s Three Day Road”. N.p., n.d. 10 Dec. 2013.
Petten, Cheryl. “Frances Pegahmagabow – Footprints”. The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society. 10 Dec. 2013.
Souder, Michael Le. "Three Day Road:Novel Analysis of Themes and Synopses." Thestudiousparrot.weebly.com. N.p., 23 Apr. 2009. Web. 12 Jan. 2014.
Drainie, Bronwyn. “Three Day Road.” Quillandquire.com. Feb. 2005. Web. 12 Jan. 2014.
Pictures
http://www.tulalipnews.com/wp/wpcontent/uploads/2014/01/cherokee_patient_world_war_i._u.s._base_hospital_no._41_paris_france_c._1917-18._-_courtesy_u.s._national_library_of_medicine.jpg
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/11/01/article-2226235-0F7F8D0300000578-696_964x682.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/01/Francis_Pegahmagabow.jpg
http://myitchytravelfeet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Sunset-Canoeing.jpg
http://www.bigfootbuzz.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/windigo1.jpg
http://www.giraffedays.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/three-day-road-198x300.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/A_World_War_1_Story,_Part_6._Hutt_Valley,_Wellington,_New_Zealand,_14_April_1916_(437353411).jpg
Video
"World War One Video (For school)". Youtube. Youtube, LLC. Web. 20 Jan. 2014.