Goodbye Buffalo Bay

Loyie, Oskiniko Larry

Theytus Books, 2008.

Book Summary

Goodbye Buffalo Bay is the story of Lawrence, a First Nation (Cree) who goes through Residential School and who how once he is out in the world he has to find ways to fit within it. The first portion of the book is a recount of his 6 years at the Mission School in Buffalo Bay. From his arrival at the school we start to his a helpful person that slowly gets torn by his environment. The first part of the book finish with two very important chapters, one where he and a friend try to run away and the other, where he finally stands up as he starts to recognize how anger ca change a person. The second part of the book follows Lawrence as he re-enters his home, family and most of all, the Cree nation community he was born into. The second part tells of how Lawrence finds himself to be isolated, as he feels he no longer fits in with his traditional role in his community. This second half is also important as it is within these chapters that he understands freedom and the notion of being on his own, making his own decision, overall he finds independence. As he finds this latter to be so precious he vows to not ever go back to school, where he knows he will be told what to do, more specifically he doesn’t want to go to another Mission School. As an adult Lawrence becomes more aware of his anger and strives to overcome these emotions by understanding the reason behind them. Furthermore thanks to a teacher we meet during the first part of the book, Lawrence decides that he wants to be a writer, like Ernest Hemmingway and to travel the world.

The Warrior/Hero archetype:

Lawrence is the warrior as he makes goals for himself while fighting his inner emotions to be a better person. He is always willing and looking to help others: “then Lawrence jumped and helped his younger sisters” (p.7). Lawrence wants to seem as strong and in control enabling him to hide his weaknesses or that he can be vulnerable. “‘Darn it! He’s going to make me cry if I don’t stop him’, Lawrence thought.” (p.15) “Lawrence hesitated. The memory of his mother had made him want to cry” (p.17) but in order to maintain his tough image he abstains from fully feeling the emotions that might make him seem as needy.

Lawrence has a strong code of honor which comes with a high level of discipline and a strong sense of pride, which he demonstrates in several occasions. ““I thought I was a sin to steal,” Lawrence said under his breath.” (p.24)

Lawrence’s archetype of the warrior/hero allows him to identify enemies or antagonists that are seen as the root of the problems further setting out to defeat them. “Be quiet or the sister will get you”(p.15).

In a scene between Lawrence and his little brother, Lawrence tells hime how to overcome the fierce antagonist of the story, Sister Denise. ““Don’t listen to them. That’s how I do it”” (p.16). Throughout the novel Lawrence continues to show or model how real courage can allow anyone to face adversity with determination. Lawrence develops a strong desire to stand up not only for him but for others as well. This can be seen in the novel when: “

Although Lawrence is extremely scared at first, as the archetype of the warrior/hero defines itself figure that does whatever it takes to fight injustice and challenges that arise.

Through this hero/warrior persona he is able to face problems directly while defending his own boundaries and those of others.

You tend to notice injustice, challenges and antagonists, and you develop strategies to overcome them and to achieve your goals.

However this archetype also tends to be unable to recognize the talents and contributions that can be made by others. “Lawrence took his note to Sister Theresa … Most of the times he ignored her, like he did the other Sisters” (p.31). After Sister Theresa gives him a break he realizes that although “it was a strange place to find kind person who also wanted to teach [him]. She talked to him like he was a person, not just number 26” (p.32).

When your commitment to doing what it takes gets out of control, you may need to guard against burnout.

To some people, you may seem so aggressive or ruthless that you scare them.

The Warrior is our internal sense of authority that enables us to deal realistically with other authority figures in the world.