Analysis of Louise Halfe’s Poem, My Ledders

Rituals, teachings, ceremonies and identities of the Aboriginal people were lost and neglected in the past. Even today, those of the culture continue to heal and strengthen from the consequences. In Louise Halfe’s poem “My Ledders,” a native woman addresses the Pope expressing her passionate feelings towards the traditions that were robbed of her culture, while pleading him to change the teachings back to the original way. In the letter the speaker writes as if she was speaking, using phonetic spelling and broken English, asking the Pope if he could use his power to retain the native culture, as the government may listen to him. Directly linking the losses of native traditions, customs and languages to the residential school system, the speaker uses orature combining a native dialect along with satire to express how the losses in one generation continue to affect the aboriginal identity in future generations.

Considering the idea that the Pope is associated to the Christian faith and the discussion of how the native culture has been abused, it is clear that the speaker is expressing on behalf of the effects resulting from the residential schools. There is not only a reference to the Pope but as well as many Christian beliefs and traditions. The speaker goes into more detail of the Christian traditions, where as those of the native culture are only named. The author mentions “fastin” (41) and “drink[ing] his [God’s] blood,” (49) but only briefly names “sweatlodge[s] and sundance[s]” (6) that correspond to the natives. It is stated in the poem that the cultural customs were taken from “nohkom and nimosom” (5), which are grandmother and grandfather in the speaker’s language. Consequently, this can prove how a later generat...

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... dook you/ gold cup and wine/ pass it ‘round circles” (29-33), the sardonic attitude is illustrated once more. The ironic tone is not only addressed through the use of Christianity, but the speaker also discusses how it ironic it is that it becomes acceptable for “whitemen” (14) to build sweat lodges. The speaker uses satire to convey the disgusted feelings of how her culture has been altered and combined with a loss of meaning.

As this poem characterizes the view of a native woman expressing feelings of passion relating to her culture, it also criticizes society, in particular Christianity, as the speaker is experiencing feelings of discontent with the outcome of residential schools. It does not directly criticize the faith, but through the use of a heavy native dialect and implications to the Christian faith it becomes simple to read the speakers emotions.