From the Iron House

This book examines connections between residential schools and prisons, highlighting Indigenous authors' resistance to institutional control. From the Iron House offers fresh perspectives on incarceration in literature.

In From the Iron House, Deena Rymhs explores the connections between residential schools and prisons, presenting a nuanced understanding of incarceration in contemporary Aboriginal literature. This work delves into the concept of 'the carceral,' examining how various forms of incarceration are represented and articulated through the writings of Indigenous authors. By focusing on both well-known figures like Tomson Highway and Basil Johnston, as well as lesser-known writers contributing to prison serials and underground publications, Rymhs highlights the literary and political strategies employed by these authors to resist institutional confinement.

The first section of the book analyzes a diverse range of writings from prison serials, anthologies by prisoners, and individual autobiographies. Works such as Stolen Life by Rudy Wiebe and Yvonne Johnson serve as crucial examples, demonstrating how these narratives provide their authors with a platform to challenge the law's authority over their identities. This section emphasizes the importance of these writings as second hearings, allowing authors to engage with broader audiences while asserting their personal and public narratives.

The second part of From the Iron House shifts focus to residential school narratives, illustrating how authors craft identities that confront the control exerted by these institutions. By examining the interplay between prison accounts and residential school stories, Rymhs invites readers to recognize the colonial constructs of guilt and the ways authors use their writing to navigate and distance themselves from it. This pioneering study not only enriches the understanding of prison literature in Canada but also situates it within the larger context of international criticism, making it relevant for scholars across various fields including indigenous studies and postcolonial studies.