In Good Relation
History, Gender, and Kinship in Indigenous Feminisms
Description
Over the past thirty years, a strong canon of Indigenous feminist literature has addressed how Indigenous women are uniquely and dually affected by colonialism and patriarchy. Indigenous women have long recognized that their intersectional realities were not represented in mainstream feminism, which was principally white, middle-class, and often ignored realities of colonialism. As Indigenous feminist ideals grew, Indigenous women became increasingly multi-vocal, with multiple and oppositional understandings of what constituted Indigenous feminism and whether or not it was a useful concept. Emerging from these dialogues are conversations from a new generation of scholars, activists, artists, and storytellers who accept the usefulness of Indigenous feminism and seek to broaden the concept.
In Good Relation captures this transition and makes sense of Indigenous feminist voices that are not necessarily represented in existing scholarship. There is a need to further Indigenize our understandings of feminism and to take the scholarship beyond a focus on motherhood, life history, or legal status (in Canada) to consider the connections between Indigenous feminisms, Indigenous philosophies, the environment, kinship, violence, and Indigenous Queer Studies. Organized around the notion of “generations,” this collection brings into conversation new voices of Indigenous feminist theory, knowledge, and experience. Taking a broad and critical interpretation of Indigenous feminism, it depicts how an emerging generation of artists, activists, and scholars are envisioning and invigorating the strength and power of Indigenous women.
Reviews
"This writing is so necessary in encouraging us to take up a culture-based practice that does not contribute to further oppression. […] _In Good Relation_ is a dynamic read for anyone wishing to learn more about Indigenous feminisms."
- Kim Anderson
"[In Good Relation] defies simple dichotomies and compartmentalisations, with contributors' different backgrounds and positions highlighting diverse ways to engage with Indigenous feminisms today, inside and outside of academia. This book poses important questions and offers insightful reflections on a topic that is gaining powerful momentum in Canada. Its nuanced treatment of the complexities involved in thinking about Indigenous feminisms renders it valuable to a variety of readers interested in feminist, queer, and decolonial studies."
- Valentina de Riso
“This well-researched and highly readable volume is a collection of broad and historically underrepresented voices of artists, activists and scholars in an attempt to Indigenize feminism in necessary and critical ways."
- Karla Strand
"In Good Relation: History, Gender, and Kinship in Indigenous Feminisms is held together by the felt relevance of its critical affinities and intersecting concerns. This ambitious anthology, co-edited by Sarah A. Nickel (Tk’emlupsemc/French Canadian/Ukrainian) and Amanda Fehr, sets out to diversify understandings of Indigenous feminisms, recentre 2SQ (Two-Spirit and queer) perspectives, and sustain cross-generational and Indigenous transnational conversations."
- Mylène Gamache
“One of the strengths of this volume is its inclusion of diverse time periods, geographic locations, topics, perspectives, audiences, and styles. The inclusion of nonbinary and Two-Spirit voices—perspectives that are often missing in feminist anthologies—adds to this volume’s uniqueness and success.”
- Karla J. Strand