Native American feminism, sovereignty, and social change
A Smith - Feminist studies, 2005 - JSTOR
A Smith
Feminist studies, 2005•JSTORWe are American Indian women, in that order. We are oppressed, first and foremost, as
American Indians, as peoples colonized by the United States of America, not as women. As
Indians, we can never forget that. Our survival, the survival of every one of us-man, woman
and child-as Indians depends on it. Decolonization is the agenda, the whole agenda, and
until it is accomplished, it is the only agenda that counts for American Indians. You start to
get the idea maybe all this feminism business is just another exten sion of the same old …
American Indians, as peoples colonized by the United States of America, not as women. As
Indians, we can never forget that. Our survival, the survival of every one of us-man, woman
and child-as Indians depends on it. Decolonization is the agenda, the whole agenda, and
until it is accomplished, it is the only agenda that counts for American Indians. You start to
get the idea maybe all this feminism business is just another exten sion of the same old …
We are American Indian women, in that order. We are oppressed, first and foremost, as American Indians, as peoples colonized by the United States of America, not as women. As Indians, we can never forget that. Our survival, the survival of every one of us-man, woman and child-as Indians depends on it. Decolonization is the agenda, the whole agenda, and until it is accomplished, it is the only agenda that counts for American Indians.
You start to get the idea maybe all this feminism business is just another exten sion of the same old racist, colonialist mentality? The critique and rejection of the label of feminism made by Jaimes is important and shared by many Native women activists. However, it fails to tell the whole story. Consider, for instance, this quote from Madonna Thunder Hawk, who cofounded WARN with Means:
JSTOR