Green Grass Running Water by Thomas King is about the construction of a dam on a native land and the battle the natives face in their daily lives. Throughout the novel, the story and what is happening in the real world parallel each other, then it deviates from the devastating reality to showcase the freedom of indigenous people without government intercession. The dam symbolizes the government and through its construction represents what is being done to the native people by taking their land through the Native Relocation Act as well as the expulsion of the North American Indians. Dr. Joseph Hovaugh symbolizes stereotypical white culture and its goal of assimilating native people. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get the original essay The novel and real life are differentiated at the end with the destruction of the dam and the possibility for the natives to return to their lives without government interruption. ; this resembles real life, where the government keeps taking over native lands and displacing them. The dam is used as a symbol of the white government and culture attempting to control the indigenous people and take over their traditional lands. The dam is used as a symbol to represent indigenous peoples excluded by the government, as well as what is happening in the real world through the use of the Native Relocation Act and the removal of North American Indians. The parallels between reality and the novel become more evident through the use of propaganda, the Duplessis Company hires a public relations firm as well as a native lawyer to convince the natives that the dam will benefit them as well; “a public campaign to convince the Indians that the dam was in their interest.” The use of these lines shows how far the government, as well as big business, are willing to go to deceive native people into believing it is in their best interest. Careful planning was not taken when choosing the location of the dam; “Environmental concerns have been pushed aside. Questions about possible fault lines beneath the dam were dismissed. Indigenous land claims that had been before the courts for over fifty years were abandoned. King used this passage to prove that all other questions of safety and ethics have been put aside, because taking land from the tribe is free to the government. The similarities to real-world actions are highlighted more clearly through the unlimited promises made to the government. Blackfoot Tribe; “After just one year of operating the dam at full efficiency, the tribe would earn more than two million dollars. White farmers and white businesses would also benefit, but the article conceded, but Indians would be the big winners.” King uses this statement to blur the lines between reality and the novel by showing the promises made to the natives and how they will benefit, but in reality the natives are losing land and only the government benefits. The location of the dam under construction, as well as the propaganda and promises made, show the restraint of the natives on the part of the North American government. Dr. Joseph Hovaugh represents white culture, as well as the attempt to assimilate native culture, through his criticism and his attempt to catch the four old Indians. Every time the four old Indians escaped, there was ;.