What is the plot summary of Totem by Thomas King?

Answer 1

The theme of this short story. "Totem" is that traditions change in order to merge into the main society. In a simple way of saying, it explores the story behind the assimilation of the First Nations by Canadian Governments. You could say, the theme is Change vs. Tradition vs. Choice.

Basically, Thomas King uses the technique of understatement to express the feeling of that Canadian Government is not taking care of its people. The government only accepts the problem, but not actually solving it. Just like the replacement of the First Nations to the reserve lands.

Correct me, if I made any mistakes. ^.^

Answer 2

he wrote this story as a commentary. the museum staff represent the government of Canada and the museum represents the people of canda i don't know what the totem poles and their sounds represent different cultures within Canada.

It's basically how the government moved aboriginals from their land to different places

Answer 3

Totem, by Thomas King represents the struggles and perseverance of the idigenous people in Canada over the canadiancolonisation. The museum built around the totem pole symbolises how the settlers overtook the First Nations land.

Answer 4

there is a totem pole in a museum representing the aboriginals, and the Canadian government is trying to move the totem pole like they tried to do to the aboriginals but failed