Indigenous American women: decolonization, empowerment, activism

Devon A. Mihesuah

U of Nebraska Press, 2003 - Social Science - 246 pages

Oklahoma Choctaw scholar Devon Abbott Mihesuah offers a frank and absorbing look at the complex, evolving identities of American Indigenous women today, their ongoing struggles against a centuries-old legacy of colonial disempowerment, and how they are seen and portrayed by themselves and others. Mihesuah first examines how American Indigenous women have been perceived and depicted by non-Natives, including scholars, and by themselves. She then illuminates the pervasive impact of colonialism and patriarchal thought on Native women's traditional tribal roles and on their participation in academia. Mihesuah considers how relations between Indigenous women and men across North America continue to be altered by Christianity and Euro-American ideologies. Sexism and violence against Indigenous women has escalated; economic disparities and intratribal factionalism and “culturalism” threaten connections among women and with men; and many women suffer from psychological stress because their economic, religious, political, and social positions are devalued. In the last section, Mihesuah explores how modern American Indigenous women have empowered themselves tribally, nationally, or academically. Additionally, she examines the overlooked role that Native women played in the Red Power movement as well as some key differences between Native women "feminists" and "activists."

What people are saying

Review: Indigenous American Women: Decolonization, Empowerment, Activism

User Review  - Jasetyn - Goodreads

An amazing woman and a fantastic book for our Native people. It helped to give me a platform to speak and think critically about my identity as a Native woman.

Review: Indigenous American Women: Decolonization, Empowerment, Activism

User Review  - Andrea Riley - Goodreads

an interesting read. This selection of essays are relevant to the academy and Indigenous writers as well as non-Indigenous writers...where do we all stand? Although Mihesuah believes that not all Native voices have the authority to participate in this discourse...

Contents

• A Few Cautions on the Merging of Feminist Studies with Indigenous Womens Studies: 3
• Writing about Anna Mae PictouAquash: 9
• Review of Ian Fraziers On the Rez: 14
• Comments on Linda McCarristons Indian Girls: 19
• In the Trenches of Academia: 21
• Colonialism and Disempowerment: 41
• Culturalism and Racism at the Cherokee Female Seminary: 62
• Finding a Modern American Indigenous Female Identity: 81
• 1970s Activist Anna Mae PictouAquash: 115
• Interview with Denise MaloneyPictou and Deborah MaloneyPictou: 128
• Activism and Expression as Empowerment: 143
• Feminists Tribalists or Activists?: 159
• Notes: 173
• Bibliography: 211
• Index: 237

About the author

Devon Abbott Mihesuah is a professor of applied Indigenous studies and history at Northern Arizona University. Her books include Cultivating the Rosebuds: The Education of Women at the Cherokee Female Seminary, 1851–1909 and Roads of My Relations.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Indigenous American women: decolonization, empowerment, activism; Contemporary indigenous issues
• Author: Devon A. Mihesuah
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: U of Nebraska Press, 2003
• ISBN: 0803282869, 9780803282865
• Length: 246 pages
• Subjects: History / Native American; Social Science / Ethnic Studies / Native American Studies; Social Science / Women's Studies