Go back

Kiss of the Fur Queen is a nuanced appraisal of the damages wrought by residential schools

ArtsTop Arts

Tomson Highway tells a tale about finding one’s identity in a world that won’t allow you to be yourself

EIC
EIC
1 min.
0
2496
(Image courtesy of Anchor Canada)

By: Alex Bloom

Written by acclaimed Indigenous-Canadian writer Tomson Highway, Kiss of the Fur Queen is a powerful read that deals with the themes of identity, colonization, abuse, sexuality, and post-traumatic stress. It is a heavy novel, so be aware of that going in. The novel follows two Cree boys from Eemanipiteepitat, Manitoba. It shows a glimpse of their early childhood before making a transition from the idyllic to the sombre as they are forced into residential schools. It is loosely based off of the lived experiences of Highway and his brother.

     The book deals extensively with the aftermath of residential schools and also mentions the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. As well, it focuses on the theme of sexuality. One brother is struggling with his attraction to men and has a hard time accepting that he is gay. This isn’t helped by the fact that, at the time, being gay was widely and actively scorned in Canadian society (although that is not to say there isn’t discrimination today). The other of the two brothers rejects sexuality after facing sexual abuse in residential school. Both suffer from painful flashbacks of this abuse. Kiss of the Fur Queen can be a hard read, especially for survivors of abuse, but it is a moving, honest exploration of Canada’s past through both the lenses of identity and sexuality.

Was this article helpful?
0
0

Leave a Reply

Block title

Long Story Short: Paving a non-linear academic path

Features Peak Web -
By: Marie Jen Galilo, Staff Writer Before starting university, my peers and I started planning our careers. Everyone around me had such big dreams — my friends wanted to be doctors, lawyers, or engineers. Having always cared about my grades and academic success, my teachers, friends, and family would comment on how I would likely establish a respectable career that reflected my intellect. I felt compelled to choose a career path which reflected my efforts and fit their expectations. Another factor for me was family — as the daughter of immigrant parents who left their homes, careers, and loved ones behind, I felt pressured to establish a career that honoured their sacrifices in their hopes of giving me a better future.  I loved subjects in the...

Read Next

Block title

Long Story Short: Paving a non-linear academic path

Features Peak Web -
By: Marie Jen Galilo, Staff Writer Before starting university, my peers and I started planning our careers. Everyone around me had such big dreams — my friends wanted to be doctors, lawyers, or engineers. Having always cared about my grades and academic success, my teachers, friends, and family would comment on how I would likely establish a respectable career that reflected my intellect. I felt compelled to choose a career path which reflected my efforts and fit their expectations. Another factor for me was family — as the daughter of immigrant parents who left their homes, careers, and loved ones behind, I felt pressured to establish a career that honoured their sacrifices in their hopes of giving me a better future.  I loved subjects in the...

Block title

Long Story Short: Paving a non-linear academic path

Features Peak Web -
By: Marie Jen Galilo, Staff Writer Before starting university, my peers and I started planning our careers. Everyone around me had such big dreams — my friends wanted to be doctors, lawyers, or engineers. Having always cared about my grades and academic success, my teachers, friends, and family would comment on how I would likely establish a respectable career that reflected my intellect. I felt compelled to choose a career path which reflected my efforts and fit their expectations. Another factor for me was family — as the daughter of immigrant parents who left their homes, careers, and loved ones behind, I felt pressured to establish a career that honoured their sacrifices in their hopes of giving me a better future.  I loved subjects in the...

Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

For advertising inquiries: [email protected]
For promotional inquiries: [email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society

Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

For advertising inquiries: [email protected]
For promotional inquiries: [email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society