The Inuit sled dogs
Talaga tells us the story of how Inuit people in Canada were forced to give up their homes and move to the city. During this process, many of their sled dogs were killed. For Inuit people, sled dogs are essential for survival, and symbolize their home and way of life.
The suicide pact
Talaga gives a haunting account of the suicide pact between seven young girls in indigenous communities. Although the pact was discovered and reported to the federal government, no help was given due to a lack of funding. As a result, the seven girls carried out their pact.
This suicide pact symbolizes the failing of the federal government in denying funding, and for not trying to find a solution to this problem. In the text, Talaga finds many faults in the current system, arguing instead for a system where indigenous communities have control over their own funding.
Children
Children are the most vulnerable members of the society, and therefore have an emotive impact. In this text, Talaga tells us many examples of children who are so unhappy and hopeless they decide to take their own life. Children usually symbolize happiness and naivety, however Talaga shows the desperation of many indigenous children who romanticize death and ultimately commit suicide. This has an emotive affect, showing how tragic the suicide crisis is.
Global indigenous communities
One motif that recurs repeatedly in the text is the idea that this problem is not just present in North America. Talaga shows that in many colonized nations there is a suicide problem among indigenous communities. This includes Aboriginal people in Australia, and Inuit people in Greenland.
