I write to heal” (Scofield Gathering 821), “writing became my medicine” (Halfe Bear 1272), “be healed through creative expression” (Payne 1353), “he writes us weapons and shields, weaves us blankets” (Driskill 2224), “Indigenous writers (…) narrate Indigenous experiences under colonialism in an effort to heal” (Episkenew 15). Native literature – be it a poem, a drama, a novel or research literature – brims over with allusions as to why Native writers mostly intend to write, to compose and to publish: to tell the truth, to spread their culture, to strengthen their identity, to empower and find themselves, to unite, to change, to resist, to reanimate. But nearly every reason and method to do so ultimately starts and ends with an attempt to heal. Many Native and Métis authors for example write about their own lives, experiences and emotions – say about the loss of a beloved person – to cure their own “soul wound[s]” (Episkenew 5). Some process the history or widespread problems of many Natives to treat the wounds of their whole community caused by alcohol, rape and exclusion. They attempt to heal “injuries that colonialism and racism had inflicted” (1) e.g. by telling the Natives’ history from their own perspective, a ‘history from below’ in the manner of speaking. In this term-paper, I will concentrate on this very act of healing and therefore also on the contents of their poems rather than on their form. I want to examine different works with a particular focus on the wounds, which demand to be healed, within them and I want to present the ‘patients’ that suffer from these injuries – i.e. the people that are to be cured. In doing so, I will analyse the works of Gregory Scofield, Marilyn Dumont, Louise Bernice Halfe and Ruth ‘Roo’ Borson. Which issues do these poets attempt to process by writing about them?
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Analysis
2.1. Gregory Scofield
2.2. Marilyn Dumont
2.3. Roo Borson
2.4. Louise Bernice Halfe
3. Conclusion
4. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This research paper examines the therapeutic function of poetry within the works of four contemporary Canadian writers—Gregory Scofield, Marilyn Dumont, Louise Bernice Halfe, and Roo Borson—with a specific focus on how they utilize writing to process personal and collective trauma.
- Analysis of individual versus societal healing through literature
- Exploration of Native identity, racial discrimination, and colonial trauma
- Examination of language as a tool for resistance, including code-switching
- Evaluation of the influence of gender, sexuality, and personal background on poetic themes
Excerpt from the Book
2.1. Gregory Scofield
Gregory Scofield’s life story, which is characterized by violence, drugs and the absence of his biological father (cf. Richards 1), suggests that his work features an abundance of themes, topics and – most of all – many wounds demanding a remedy.
In addition to these issues mentioned above, another aspect playing a role in Scofield’s poetry is indeed the jigsaw of his identity (cf. Scudeler 130; Driskill 223).
He is a Half-Breed of Cree, Scottish and English descent; and he is openly homosexual.
But how do these aspects influence Scofield’s poetry? What bearing do e.g. a long-lasting drug abuse, being gay and being Half-Breed have on the contents of his work?
One aspect, which clearly occupies a major role in his poetry, is that Scofield had to suffer from a violent step-father (cf. Richards 1), who beat Scofield’s mother numerous times in front of her son.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction establishes the foundational premise that Native literature often functions as a vehicle for healing, aiming to address the soul wounds caused by colonialism, racism, and historical trauma.
2. Analysis: This chapter provides a detailed examination of how the four selected poets utilize their creative work to process personal experiences, community trauma, and the complex realities of their respective identities.
3. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, noting that while all poets use writing for healing, they differ in their methods and focus, ranging from individual personal catharsis to broader societal commentary.
4. Bibliography: This section lists the academic sources, literary works, and interviews utilized to support the arguments throughout the research paper.
Keywords
Canadian Native Literature, Healing, Gregory Scofield, Marilyn Dumont, Louise Bernice Halfe, Roo Borson, Colonialism, Trauma, Métis Identity, Code-switching, Racism, Individual Healing, Societal Healing, Indigenous Culture, Poetry
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores how contemporary Canadian poets, specifically Gregory Scofield, Marilyn Dumont, Louise Bernice Halfe, and Roo Borson, use their poetry as a therapeutic tool to heal from individual and collective trauma.
What are the primary thematic areas covered in the work?
The study investigates themes such as the impact of colonialism, the struggles of Métis and Indigenous identity, the influence of domestic violence and substance abuse, and the role of memory and nature in the healing process.
What is the primary objective of the author?
The author aims to determine how these poets process their personal wounds and broader community issues by analyzing the content and intent behind their poems.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The paper utilizes a literary analysis approach, drawing upon specific poems and supplemental literary theory and interviews to interpret the poets' motives and messages.
What does the main body of the text cover?
The main body offers a comparative analysis of each poet, examining how their unique backgrounds—such as mixed-race identity or specific cultural affiliations—shape their approach to healing and language.
Which keywords characterize this publication?
Key terms include Canadian Native Literature, healing, colonial trauma, Métis identity, and poetic resistance.
How does Gregory Scofield differentiate between individual and societal healing?
Scofield is identified as using 'individual healing' to process his own childhood traumas, while simultaneously employing 'societal healing' by addressing systemic issues like the abuse of Indigenous children in residential schools.
Why is code-switching significant in the poetry of Marilyn Dumont?
Code-switching is analyzed as a strategic act of resistance, where the use of Cree terms challenges the hegemony of the English language and reasserts cultural autonomy.
How does Roo Borson’s approach differ from the other authors in this study?
Unlike the other poets who focus heavily on social and Native issues, Borson’s work primarily centers on nature, memory, and the personal loss of her parents, illustrating a more introspective form of healing.
What is the significance of the title "Nitotem" in Louise Bernice Halfe’s work?
The title, meaning "my relative, could be anyone," is used by Halfe to universalize the experience of abuse among her people, thereby extending her healing narrative to all victims of sexual violence.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Patrick Schmitz (Autor:in), 2009, The aspect of healing in the poetry of Gregory Scofield, Marilyn Dumont, Roo Borson and Louise Bernice Halfe , München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/190612
