A Short Course in Indigenous Feminism
Indigenous feminists, like Jessica Yee pictured here, are on the rise and they aren't takin' shit from nobody
For those who don’t know much about me, I am a currently studying for a Masters Degree in Public Issues Anthropology, specializing in an analysis of revolutionary Native nationalist and anti-colonialist movements in North Amerika. I also have really strong interrelated interests in Native revolutionary critical pedagogy, the “reindigenization” of the Chicano-Mexicano community and movement and, the subject of this post, indigenous feminism. Anyway, one of the perks of my program is that I can create my own courses, and I’ve taken such a route this semester by creating my own directed studies course in indigenous feminist theory.
The growth of indigenous feminism is, for me, a huge interest, both personal and academic, not just because of the obvious importance struggling against both white supremacist (neo)colonial capitalism and hetero-patriarchy if we want to achieve meaningful freedom, justice and equality, but also because for a long time the status quo within our movement was that you could not be both a feminist and a native warrior. On the one hand we are not Native enough if we call ourselves and our movement feminist, but on the other we are not feminist enough for the whitestream feminists since we are pointing out that the whitestream movement does not take us, and our unique experiences and struggles into account. I am an indigenous man and I find this to be one of the greatest failings of our movement, and for that reason I wholeheartedly endorse, support and promote the rise of an indigenous feminism.
Anyway, with that in mind and in the spirit of sharing ideas, and radical education I’ve decided to post my reading list, derived from a list put created by Jessica Yee for BITCH Magazine, for others to take a look a lot, critique and/or otherwise contribute their thoughts. It’s made up of a mix of books and articles, both academic and non-academic, which are available on line.
Books:
Making Space for Indigenous Feminism, edited by Joyce Green
I Am Woman: A Native Perspective on Sociology and Feminism, by Lee Maracle
From a Native Daughter: Colonialism and Sovereignty in Hawaii, by Haunani-Kay Trask
Conquest: Sexual Violence and American Indian Genocide, by Andrea Smith
Talkin’ Up to the White Woman: Indigenous Women and Feminism, by Eileen Morton-Robinson
The Sacred Hoop: Recovering the Feminine in American Indian Traditions, by Paula Gunn Allen
Indigenous American Women: Decolonization, Empowerment, Activism, by Devon Abbott Mihesuah
Online Articles:
Indigenous Feminism Without Apology, by Andrea Smith
Anti-Colonial Responses to Gender Violence, by Andrea Smith
Not an Indian Tradition: The Sexual Colonization of Indian Peoples, by Andrea Smith
Better Dead Than Pregnant: The Colonization of Native Women’s Health, by Andrea Smith
Women and the Indian Act, by Deborah Simmons
Nuu-Chah-Nulth Struggles Against Sexual Violence, an Interview with Na’cha’uaht & Chiinuuks
Sexism, Racism or Both? A Closer Look at the Indian Act and the McIvor Case, by Martin Cannon
Jennifer Nez Denetdale on Indigenous Feminisms
An Indigenous Perspective on Feminism, Militarism, and the Environment, by Winona LaDuke
Zapatismo and the Emergence of Indigenous Feminism, by Aida Hernandez Castillo
Video Lectures
The Lives of Indigenous Women in a ‘Post-Racial’ and ‘Post-Feminist’ World, by Andrea Smith
Conquest: Sexual Violence and the American Indian Genocide, by Andrea Smith
Academic Journal Publications:
Wicazo Sa Review “Native Feminisms: Legacies, Interventions, and Indigenous Sovereignties,” guest edited by Mishuana R. Goeman and Jennifer Nez Denetdale
Whiteness Matters: Implications of Talking Up to the White Woman, by Eileen Morton-Robinson
Race, Tribal Nation, and Gender: A Native Feminist Approach to Belonging, by Renya Ramirez
Introduction: Special Issue on Native American Women, Feminism, and Indigenism, by Anne Waters
Patriarchal Colonialism and Indigenism: Implications for Native Feminist Spirituality and Native Womanism, by M. A. Jaimes Guerrero
Dismantling the Master’s Tools with the Master’s House: Native Feminist Liberation Theologies, by Andrea Smith
Other Important Resources
Settlers: The Mythology of the White Proletariat, by J. Sakai
Patriarchy and Accumulation On A World Scale: Women in the International Division of Labour, by Maria Mies
Caliban and the Witch: Women, The Body, and Primitive Accumulation, by Silvia Federici
Feminism without Borders: Decolonizing Theory, Practicing Solidarity, by Chandra Talpade Mohanty
Similar Posts:
- Tucson Tonight: Andrea Smith Speaks
- Sexual Violence, Systematic and Institutionalized [#Feminist Friday]
- Native American Liberation or Rights? A Critique of Perspectives on Native American Feminism
- Submit Your Writing to Upping the Anti
- Talking Race, Class and Gender in the Feminist Movement
This list is almost exactly what Jessica Yee had originally posted on BITCH magazine about Indigenous feminisms and you have her picture there – why no credit to her then??? If this is about supporting Indigenous feminism shouldn’t you be acknowledging the Indigenous woman’s image and work you are posting on???
@Cynthia:
Thanks for pointing out my mistake there. If you check out the original version of the article on my own site, I do indeed reference Jessica’s creating of this list for BITCH(http://bermudaradical.wordpress.com/2011/01/24/indigenous-feminism/). However, when I was writing the introduction again for its posting here on POCO (I didn’t simply copy and paste) I had a complete brain fart and left our the reference to Jessica, and because no one else commented and I never made any additions to the article, I never caught it.
I’ve now added both the reference to her in both the picture and in credit for the list. I apologize if my own lazy oversight seemed malicious.
N.B. I did not know the picture I used was actually of her! I found it by searching “indigenous feminists” on Google Images and just grabbed one of the first ones I saw. So thanks again for pointing it out.