Totem by Thomas King Short Story Analysis

The realities of colonialism and First Nations history must be acknowledged in order for reconciliation to take place in this nation. The story "Totem" by Thomas King utilizes this theme and acts as a reflection that acknowledges the history of the First Nations on their territory. The totem symbolizes how Canadian history and people overlook the truth about the colonialism of the First Nations people. By employing various metaphors in  “Totem”, Thomas King reveals how the abuse towards the totem in his narrative reflects how a settler-dominated society ignores and mistreats First Nations people, culture and religion.

The narrative "Totem" takes place in the Southwest Alberta Art Gallery and Prairie Museum, where a totem makes seemingly obnoxious sounds. The museum's staff unanimously agrees that the totem should be removed since they feel that it is out of place, "This totem pole isn't part of the show," Walter explains, "and we need to move it some place else“ (King 14). The museum's staff represent the tyranny of the Canadian government, which forcibly evicted First Nations people from their ancestral lands and put them on temporary reserves and residential schools. The plot revolves around the Canadian government's failure to address the challenges and existence of First Nations people. The problems that First Nations people face in Canadian society are well-known, yet, like the totem in the narrative, they are mostly neglected.

King's metaphors and literary devices further show how the Canadian government refuses to embrace the truth about First Nations culture and history. When the totem begins making loud sounds, the staff claims the totem will be interfering with their show, “We can't have it making noises in the middle of a show on seascape,” (King 15). Instead of being concerned for the totem’s wellbeing, the staff is far more concerned that the totem would disrupt the show's tranquilly. The narrative mirrors how the Canadian government does not want First Nations people "making any noises" because it will disrupt the quiet of the White-dominated society they have created. This is why the government disregarded the First Nations' history, culture, and cries for assistance. The totem just becomes louder and angrier as a result of the story's resistance and lack of respect. It exemplifies how First Nations people have been ignored and marginalized in Canadian culture. Instead of allowing the totem to be placed in its proper location, the staff decided to cut it down, as Jimmy explains: "we could get the chainsaw and cut it off close to the floor" (King 15). This is a metaphor for the cultural genocide that occurred at residential schools when the government chose to separate First Nations people from their families, languages, culture, and traditions. This shows how, just as the totem was taken down and put in the basement, the reality of First Nations culture and history was not only disregarded but also erased to conceal the truth. 

One method to achieve reconciliation is for the government to identify the major concerns in First Nation communities and to take steps to ensure that they do not happen again. Instead of suppressing the truth, King employs an indirect way to narrate Canadian history, unblocking all facts and advocating for truth and reconciliation. When the totem is taken down to the basement, it resists every time by making different sounds. The staff resolve to ignore the totem in the hopes of it ceasing to bother them, reasoning that "maybe if we ignore it, it will stop singing." and that maybe “It might even go away or something" (King 17). The staff makes no effort to accept the totem or compromise the area, showing that they are reluctant to change their minds about the totem and accept it as is. When the Canadian government conquered the territory of the First Nations, they violated their human rights, and the totem decided to sing at the conclusion of the narrative as a method of healing from the trauma.

The morning after the first totem is taken from the gallery, a new totem arises with different noises than the previous one, and Larue states that it "does sound like grunting." It doesn't sound like the other one” (King 16). It interprets the many tribes' desires for social obligations, education, and land rights in the First Nation society. To achieve Reconciliation for First Nations and to make progress toward a more happy and improbable future, it is necessary to address the realities rather than to hide from them. For more than a century, Canadian authorities removed thousands of Indigenous children from their families and sent them to residential schools with the goal of severing Indigenous familial and cultural connections and assimilation into white Canadian culture. (Via Aljazeera)

In essence, the message King argues through the extensive use of metaphors and symbolism in his narrative is that having an open and honest discourse about Canada's racist history and the culture of Indigenous Peoples will provide helpful tools for developing and sustaining an understanding of each other's cultures and traditions among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples in this country. The absence of respect lies at the heart of King's message. One strategy to achieve truth and reconciliation is to enlist the help of all non-Aboriginals and work to improve the representation of First Nations people. Besides reading literature that reflect on the residential school experience, watching films and documentaries, attending cultural events, and learning about the history of residential schools are also effective strategies for achieving truth and reconciliation. Furthermore, thinking on the challenges that the First Nations have encountered throughout time will aid in the preservation and transmission of traditions to future generations.