Identity
Identity is shown to be a huge aspect of the suicide crisis among young indigenous people. Identity is deeply impacted by culture and personal history, however indigenous people have been robbed of their language, land, culture and history through colonization. In trying to find a solution to this issue, Talaga looks at schemes that attempt to reconnect indigenous people to their past, and advocates this as a positive solution.
Suicide
Suicide is arguably the main concern in this text. Talaga points to statistics which show that one third of deaths among the indigenous youth in North America is caused by suicide. These alarming statistics are illustrated by real life examples of young people who have taken their own life, and the impact this had on their families and communities. Ultimately, this high rate of suicide reveals the socio-political problems that exist in North America.
Violence
Talaga shows that the story of colonialism is characterized by violence. She gives examples of violence in residential schools, and violence in the removal of indigenous people from their land and the separation of families. In one upsetting example, she describes how Inuit people living in Canada were forced from their homes into cities. During this process, many of their dogs were killed. This was terribly upsetting to many people, as the dogs were key to their survival and way of life.
Stories
Talaga illustrates her arguments with many real-life examples. Many are very emotive, including the story of the seven young indigenous girls who took part in a suicide pact, and the young indigenous boy who died of strep throat due to failings in healthcare. Talaga uses these examples for an emotive impact, to show her readers how devastating and tragic the reality behind the statistics is.
