“Night Hymns on Lake Nipigon” by Duncan Campbell Scott combines natural beauty and peaceful serenity with blatant and disgraceful racism. Similar to many of the other works by Scott, this racist tone is not always obvious throughout the entire poem, nor is it concealed, requiring serious analyzing to decipher it. The racist tone is comprised of conspicuous as well as inconspicuous racism. In addition to racism, this poem, as well as much of the other literature by Scott, also has many other significant themes—for instance religion and nature. As a result of Scott living in a time where nature had a much larger part in peoples’ lives than it does now; religion being a cornerstone of society; and nature and religion being major tools in the assimilation of First Nations people, these are three ingredients in Scott’s writing that are normally present. In Scott’s writing, he frequently demonstrates his racism, which is possibly unintended or unknown by him. Regardless, this theme has its place in this poem. “Night Hymns on Lake Nipigon” has demeaning tones towards First Nations people, incorporated…show more content… People depended on nature to provide the raw materials and the food necessary for survival, very unlike currently, where peoples’ reliance on the natural world has drastically decreased. Aside from the time period, nature additionally is a significant part of the lives and cultures of First Nations people. Unsurprisingly (on account of the setting of the poem being Lake Nipigon), “Night Hymns on Lake Nipigon” has a strong connection to nature and there are a lot of descriptions of nature. For example, “One after one the stars and the beaming planets” (6) which look “serene” (7) is a wonderful illustration of the beautiful night sky. Scott and his canoe full of crew must face a ferocious storm with “bursting thunder” (9) that crashes and rings “like cymbals”