irouse as awfully nice for talking to her (431). After their conversation, the priest moves further to another seat. This appears like the priest is ashamed to be seen sitting with the Natives. Also, take the occasion when a nun calls native homes as camps for instance. Englund admits that she is hurt and is still whenever she thinks back (432). This gives an impression that the European nuns see the Natives as a lower class people who are unsuitable to live in a home like theirs. In another occasion when the native children are practising a speech in English, Sister V comments, Now if you werent an Indian girl you could do that perfectly well, better; a white girl she would go over that very well, nicely. (438) It seems like the amount of effort they put in would never matter because they are Indians. In addition, Englund seems bitter when they are served with grounded food. She mentions that the nuns believe that Indians eat rotten fish so they give less attention to the food they serve them (438). Moreover, Englund recalls how the nuns constantly remind them of their Indian roots and that they are uncivilized and savages (438). Despite of how much the Indians try to adapt to the European way of living, it appears like they would never fit in. Furthermore, Englund is deprived of her aspiration to be a nun because she has no money and her parents are unmarried (441). This could possibly be an excuse to indirectly tell her that she is unworthy to be a nun because she is an Indian. With all of these racist comments and harsh treatments, she finds it degrading to her and her fellow Indians (438). At the same time, these mistreatments seem to serve as an awakening call that helps her realize what she wants her life to be. This is demonstrated when she makes a sensible decision to choose health over money. In here, she seems to finally realize that she is ready to take control of her life.Are all these ways of civilizing for the best intere...
