In class, when we started talking about the assimilation Native Americans experienced in America, I immediately thought of the show Anne With an E, specifically season three. Anne With an E is a television show based on one of my favorite book series, Anne of Green Gables. However, the show is a much more modern take and attempts to be much more inclusive than the books.
I immediately thought of season three of this show because of our reading on the Trail of Tears. Assimilation is the process of becoming similar to others through taking in and using their customs and culture. The Trail of Tears involved the forced removal of Native Americans from their homeland. However, some Native Americans were able to escape relocation but instead were assimilated into Western culture, and “the assimilation of indigenous people who escaped relocation [is described] as a form of genocide.”
In Anne With an E season three, a new character named Ka’kwet from the Mi’kmaq tribe is introduced. Her parents are told of a nearby boarding school that would welcome her and would love to teach her how to read and write in English. Both Ka’kwet and her family are incredibly excited about this opportunity. However, the reality of the school is soon shown, where Ka’kwet is forced to cut her long hair, adopt an English name (Hannah), is not allowed to speak her native language, and is treated very poorly.
This story within the show represents the actual Indian Residential Schools that did this to hundreds of children in real life. I think this story in the show reflects the events that happened in real life for people to achieve their American Dream. White settlers dreamed of making a fortune on cotton, which they wanted to grow in the Native Americans’ homelands. As a result, thousands lost their homes and died because of the dreams of white settlers. Overall, this demonstrates what some may do, whether illegal or unethical, to achieve their American Dream.
Lucy. “Review: Anne with an E Brings Green Gables into the 21st Century.” Teacup Kingdom, 19 June 2020, teacupkingdom.com/review-anne-with-an-e/.
“Trail of Tears.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Feb. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trail_of_Tears.