Poems such as “The Stranger” help reveal dark periods in canadian history by showcasing what the aboriginal children went through and spreading awareness. In the poem “The Stranger” it shows how the children in the residential schools suffer, are are willing to run away even if the distance back to home is extremely far. The poem also spreads awareness about the issues of the residential schools. The poem also shows how the children were mistreated,”They’re not gonna stop. Please just let me catch my breath”. In conclusion, the poem “The Stranger” showcases the dark periods in canadian history by spreading awareness and showcasing the mistreatment that went on in the residential schools.