"By virtue of their very existence, Indigenous literatures affirm Indigenous experiences, presence, and possibility," Daniel Heath Justice states. What does this mean for engaging these texts in a white-dominated cultural space such as our university? How can we learn from them while avoiding the "Indianthusiasm" (Lutz) characteristic of so many white German discourses about what Lee Maracle has called Turtle Islander cultures?
This will be the overarching question as we read and discuss contemporary texts by Native American / First Nations authors ranging from novels and memoirs to poetry and graphic historiography. In the process, we will hopefully also develop a more thorough understanding of the ways in which settler colonialism continues to shape North American culture and politics, the crucial role of gender and sexuality in this dynamics, as well as Turtle Islanders' ongoing struggles for sovereignty.
Credit for the course requires reading excerpts from the novels (and one entire text), participating in class discussions, and organizing one session (together with some fellow-students). |
