Preview

I Am Graffiti By Tonne Simpson Analysis

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
171 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
I Am Graffiti By Tonne Simpson Analysis
The anger and pain in the poem “I am Graffiti” by Leanne Simpson resonated with me. Having travelled in the summer of Grade 10 to Moose Factory, I was deeply moved by the personal stories of oppression and hurt caused by residential schools and consequential cultural oppression. As a reader and speaker, the repetitive nature of the poem was captivating, and the reproachful and sorrowful tone that begins as melancholy and becomes furious and passionate is consistent with the message of the poem. “I am Graffiti” is about aboriginal subjugation; as Simpson writes, the “bleeding-heart liberals and communists” think that “erasing indians is a good idea;” but she cannot, will not, be silenced, or “erased” since she “is graffiti.” We cannot simply
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Aqua Nibii Waawakane Summary
    • 546 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Aqua Nibii Waawakane Summary

    On May 10th, the speaker, Aqua Nibii Waawaaskone, an indigenous singer, songwriter, storyteller, artist and activist, illuminated the aspects of the Indigenous community in the city of Toronto. She discussed the shortcomings that the Indigenous community had experienced throughout the history and development of Canada, specifically Toronto. Toronto has a long and intricate Indigenous history, in which most Torontonians are not cognisant of. Aqua referred to Toronto as Tkaronto, which was quite fascinating. When Aqua discussed the topic of residential schools, I did not react as much as I was exposed to this topic in other courses.…

    • 546 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Improve Aboriginal Health Through Oral History Summary
    • 595 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Improve Aboriginal Health Through Oral History Summary

    In the article “Improve Aboriginal Health through Oral History,” which was published in the Toronto Star on Sunday, May 2, 2010, the author Nicholas Keung discusses the childhood of aboriginal in residential school and its effect on the healthy relationships.…

    • 595 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Pauline Johnson's Analysis
    • 245 Words
    • 1 Page

    Pauline Johnson's Analysis

    Series of traumatic events occurred while residential school were running, but it left a scars on aboriginal people forever. As an aboriginal women I get a lot of understanding from Pauline Johnsons “As it was in the beginning”, growing up on the Six Nation Reserve and having meet people who have experienced the same things as Pauline. Residential schools were open between the 1980’s and the 1990’s and the last school did not close until 1996, the year I was born. Pauline writes, “No more, no more the tepees; no more the wild stretch of prairie, the intoxicating fragrance of the smoke-tanned buckskin; no more the bed of buffalo hide, the soft, silent moccasin; no more the dark faces of my people, the dulcet cadence of the sweet Cree tongue”…

    • 245 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Analysis Of Claiming Anishinaabe: Decolonizing The Human Spirit
    • 763 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Analysis Of Claiming Anishinaabe: Decolonizing The Human Spirit

    She showed how her knowledge from Western schooling pushed her to learn more about Indigenous knowledge and how both forms can have a strong impact on the world. Also, it took a vast amount of strength for Gehl to overcome her position in society according to the Indian Act and fight against the government to achieve for herself, the good life. In this book, many topics are touched upon that bring to surface the problems within the Canadian government and the issues the government imposes onto the Aboriginal population. Lynn Gehl in Claiming Anishinaabe: Decolonizing the Human Spirit proves that sexism within the Indian Act of 1876, racialization and discrimination, colonialism through unfair treaties and denial of traditional Aboriginal land are all issues that affect the lives of the Aboriginal community and make their struggle towards Aboriginal status and mino-pimadiziwin much greater. In my analysis, I will show how racialization, discrimination, and colonialism has affected the Indigenous community and how sexism has both directly affected women in the Aboriginal community and Gehl in the process of achieving Indian…

    • 763 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Aboriginal Voice in Canadian Political Affairs
    • 2478 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Aboriginal Voice in Canadian Political Affairs

    In today’s modern Canadian society every group is fighting for their rights to be heard, acknowledged and more importantly respected. In Canadian history one group has had to fight harder than anyone else to receive a voice to be heard and that is the Aboriginals. The question that needs to be asked is, do they really have a voice at all? Throughout this paper I will highlight three areas of aboriginal political uprising, First the history, secondly successful initiatives for the betterment of aboriginals and finally unsuccessful actions in the political landscape.…

    • 2478 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Failure Of The Euro-Canadian Residential Education System
    • 853 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Failure Of The Euro-Canadian Residential Education System

    Thesis: The government’s failure to adequately support the Indigenous peoples of Canada is highlighted in how poorly the following three cases or events were handled: residential schools, the Harper apology, and the current living conditions on reserves. The federal government excused and participated in the abuse in residential schools, failed to take action against the pain inflicted upon residential school survivors and family, and continued to allow current Indigenous peoples to live in terrible living conditions. Residential schools were a collaborative effort between the federal government and Eurocentric religious institutions to assimilate Indigenous children into the Euro-Canadian culture but had resulted in causing long-term…

    • 853 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Why Did The South Win The Civil War Essay
    • 877 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Why Did The South Win The Civil War Essay

    Ever since the birth of The United States, we have shown resilience and determination, starting with the Revolutionary war. As years passed and national division became evident there was discussion on who would win the fight between the free and enslaved states. Over time it has become apparent that the colonies and the confederacy have shared many qualities, which makes one wonder how is it that the colonies won, but the confederacy did not? The reason the South didn’t win the Civil War was because they were outgunned, out supplied, received no international aid and this time, their enemy wasn’t an ocean away.…

    • 877 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Victims Of Benevolence, By Elizabeth Furniss
    • 921 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Victims Of Benevolence, By Elizabeth Furniss

    First Nations people have been facing prejudice and have been the victims of cruelties since the first European explorers set foot on Canadian soil. It has been a long-standing problem in Canada and oftentimes Canadian society chooses to ignore this part of its’ history. The book, Victims of Benevolence: The Dark Legacy of the Williams Lake Residential School written by Elizabeth Furniss in 1992, published in Vancouver by Arsenal Pulp Press. The message the book aims to deliver to bring awareness to the mistreatment and cruelties suffered by First Nations while in the clutches of religious administrators in residential schools. Not only the mistreatment, but also to educate readers about the life in residential schools that has been hidden…

    • 921 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Indigenous Australians In The Penal System: Description And Analysis
    • 1808 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Indigenous Australians In The Penal System: Description And Analysis

    This essay explores the issues of representation and incarceration in relation to the Indigenous community. The status of Aboriginal people is indicative of a marginalised group, essentially denying them of equal treatment and rights. In a criminological sense, Indigenous people are more likely to be arrested and charged with more serious criminal offences (Blagg, 2012) leading to an extremely high penal population. Drawing on and analysing forms of systemic violence, this piece argues that over representation is caused by the ongoing legacy of colonialism which serves to…

    • 1808 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    What Were The Effects Of Residential Schools In 1800-1900's
    • 1410 Words
    • 6 Pages

    What Were The Effects Of Residential Schools In 1800-1900's

    Aboriginal people have had to suffer through many different experiences and social determinants over the years, one of them being Residential schools, which has added to many other issues and arising problems. Starting early 1800-1900’s, kids were taken from their families and forced to attend these schools. There were a variety of the schools across Canada. The schools were government funded, and run through churches, where priests and nuns taught; some of the teachers were hardly educated themselves. Families were told that their children must attend these schools, because of the Indian Act that had been implemented, or the family members would be arrested or suffer greater consequences.…

    • 1410 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Pros And Cons Of Residential Schools
    • 480 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Pros And Cons Of Residential Schools

    How would you feel if, as a young child, you were taken from your home and driven to an unfamiliar school many kilometers away? What would it be like to live in a strange dorm where you cannot speak your language or follow your religion? Why would these peculiar people drag you here and abuse you? 150,000 Indigenous people have experienced that torture and shame, which has then continued into many other issues for many of those people; such as depression, alcoholism, drug addiction, lower socioeconomic status on average, and suicide. Residential schools powerfully damaged Aboriginal people in a way we cannot ignore.…

    • 480 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Summary: Racial Segregation In Canada
    • 2507 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Summary: Racial Segregation In Canada

    The way certain racial minority groups are stigmatized and labeled as inferior from others is a major reasoning why these stereotypes still exist (Copes, Topalli 2008). Taking in consideration that stereotypical views have continued to create conflict, means that class and racial differences raise concerns of empowerment (Gabbidon 2007). The society needs to pay more attention to racial issues involving visible minorities and in this essay Aboriginals will be specifically mentioned. In other words, if racial segregation amongst Aboriginals in Canada were to be more acknowledged either past or present, this group would not be negatively labeled. Aboriginals have a long structural history of being segregated from the rest of the Canadian population, and because of…

    • 2507 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Residential Education In The 1920's
    • 1368 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Residential Education In The 1920's

    The purpose of the schooling system was to remove all aspects of the Indigenous race and culture. Unfortunately, students had their hair cut, dressed in uniforms, given new names, and were not able to speak their native language. If any rule was broken, students were harmed physically and sexually. For example, a needle would be shoved into a Native Canadian student’s mouth if they spoke their own language. Students were also beaten and strapped, even tied down to beds, being abused sexually and physically for not obeying a leader's orders. Carole Dawson, an Indigenous Residential school student, states that the worst part was, “[p]robably the abuse. It's not only my own abuse. I saw the abuse of others” (109). Young children witnessed abnormal treatment of others, and they also experienced inhumane behaviour. In addition, escaping was common in Residential schools however, the punishment was severe. Many Indigenous students that attempted to escape Residential schools and succeeded, ended up dying from starvation, frostbite, or hypothermia. In fact, over nine-thousand Indigenous Canadians died from their futile efforts of leaving Residential schools. Celia Haig-Brown quoted a female residential school survivor as saying, “[t]hey said they were going to give me a real short haircut for my punishment” (qtd. In Quinlan et al. 68). Furthermore, Indigenous children were not able to see their own families again, the isolation affects the students emotionally, even to this day. Ingrid Annault states “[t]he worst part, besides the second thing of being there was not having your family, not having anybody to hug you and tell you they loved you” (107). A child's innocence is torn and damaged once they are separated from their family. The closest element Native children had from seeing their family was “a mere wave in a dining room” (Erin Hanson) however,…

    • 1368 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Prejudice And Racism In The Second Stolen Generation
    • 1750 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Prejudice And Racism In The Second Stolen Generation

    The racial slurs expressed by others against Indigenous individuals can make cultures feel isolated and are perceived as different in society, therefore forces communities on the periphery. It can make these cultures feel ashamed of who they are, making feel as if they are not accepted within society or by the ‘mainstream’. Attempting to assimilate Indigenous Australians diminishes the Indigenous…

    • 1750 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Abortion is bad. Essay
    • 594 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Abortion is bad. Essay

    Many people may wonder, abortion is not bad I mean it was your decision.We don’t see it but babys who aren’t borned yet do. It may hurt a mom but it hurts more a baby. Babys who aren’t born yet are innocent they haven’t lived a life, so why not give them a chance. We know the baby is inside a mom, so she gets to choose wether or not she wants the baby.But think about it would you want to take a unborn babys life away?…

    • 594 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More

Related Topics