ColonialismontheGround Waziyatawin,Ph.D. Atonetimeourancestorswouldhavehaddifficultyimagininglivinginastateof unfreedom.Nowwehavedifficultyimagininglivinginastateoffreedom.Thisisperhapsthe mostprofoundimpactofcolonialisminourlives.Itrevealsalimitationinthinkingsosevere thatitpreventsusfromreclaimingourinherentrightsasIndigenousPeoplesofthisland,even inourdreams. Colonialismisthemassivefogthathascloudedourimaginationsregardingwhowe couldbe,excisedourmemoriesofwhoweoncewere,andnumbedourunderstandingofour currentexistence.Colonialismistheforcethatdisallowsusfromrecognizingitsconfineswhile atthesametimelimitingourvisionofpossibilities.Colonialismisthefarcethatcompelsusto feelgratitudeforsmallconcessionswhileourfundamentalfreedomsaredenied.Colonialism hassettheparametersofourimaginationstoconstrainourvisionofwhatispossible.

le. Tobesure,thebrandofcolonialismintheUnitedStatestodaydiffersfromthebrands ofearliertimeswhenimperialforcesfromEuropeestablishedcoloniesintheNewWorldasa meansofexpandingthewealthandpoweroftheirnationswhilealsobattlingwithcompeting imperialnationsoverpiecesoftheglobalpie.Thus,intheUnitedStatesAmericanschools teachourchildrenthatthecolonialeraendedwhentheUnitedStatesgaineditsfreedom fromGreatBritain.However,thisdenialofitselfissimplyoneofcolonialismsmyths.This denialissoextremethateventodaytheUnitedStatesgovernmentinsistsonthelanguageof possessionsratherthancoloniestoidentifyitsholdingsoutsidethecontiguouslandbaseit claimsinNorthAmerica,despitethefactthatmanyofthemfitclassicdefinitionsofcolonies preciselybecausetheyhavenotbeenabsorbedintothestate.But,theinterestindomination andcontroloverterritorieswasestablishedevenbeforetheentityoftheUnitedStateswas born.AsAmericancoloniesgainedtheirindependencefromtheirMotherCountry,theysought tofurtherexpandtheirwealthandinfluencethroughthecontinuinginvasionandacquisitionof otherPeopleslandsandresourcesandthesubjugationoftheOriginalPeoples.Theshedding oftheconstraintsoftheirMotherCountrysimplyfacilitatedandhastenedthatproject.The UnitedStatessoundlyexpandeditsempireandisnowsodeeplyentrenchedinitscolonial acquisitionsthattoanyonebutthemostconscientiousobserver,thoserootshavebeenlostin obscurity. Thehope,perhaps,isthatIndigenousPeopleswilleventuallybeincorporatedintothe lowestrungsofsocietyenoughtoforgetourcolonizedstatus.Whenwehaveforgotten,the UnitedStatesanditscitizensareamelioratedofwrongdoingandtherewillbenoneedfor restitutionforthecrimeagainsthumanitythatiscolonialism.IndigenousPeoples,therefore, mustbeconscientiousobserversbecausethecolonizingsocietywillexerciseallmeansto compelourhistoricalamnesia.

 ForIndigenousPeoplesU.S.colonialismmeanttheinvasionandsubsequentlargescale theftofourlandsandcontinuingdominationoverthemeagerlandsweretained.Itmeantthe systematicinterferenceinIndigenouswaysofbeingandassaultsonallaspectsofIndigenous lifeincludingourphysicalbodies,ourmeansofsustenance,ourspirituality,ourlanguages,our genderrelations,andourkinship,economic,andeducationalsystemsaswellasbothnatural andhumanlaws. InAmerica,theprocessofdestroyingindigeneitywasdramaticallyacceleratedbythe monumentallossoflifethatoccurredasaconsequenceofexposuretonewdiseases.While colonizerscholarsandpopularculturesuggestthatlossoflifeduetodiseasewaseither inevitableorunavoidable,thistooisacolonialmyth.TherealityisthatEuropeansandlater EuropeanAmericansunderstoodthattheirpresenceintheAmericastriggeredpandemicsthat weredevastatingIndigenouspopulations.Yet,theychosetokeepcomingbecausetheyheld noregardforthelivesofIndigenousPeoplesandmassivedieoffsofthepopulationsclearly servedtheircolonialinterests.Notonlyweretheyunrepentantabouttheirparticipationinour microbialslaughter,theywereoftencelebratory.Thuswhenourpopulationswerealready severelyweakened,theprocessofcolonizationwasimplementedmuchmoreeffectively. Tounderstandtheprocessphaseofcolonialism,thatiscolonization,itmightbeuseful toarticulatethegeneralchainofeventsintheAmericancontext.Manyofthecolonialtactics wereborrowedfrompreviouscolonialpowers,orhavesincebeenreplicatedbyglobalcolonial powers,preciselybecausetheyworksoeffectively.Explorersandtradersweretypicallythe forerunnersofAmericanempire,seekingopportunitiesforexploitationandgaugingtheextent ofIndigenousresistance.Soldiersandmilitaryfortscamenextwiththepurposeofestablishing Americansupremacyinaregion,notjusttosubdueIndigenouspopulationsbutalsotocontest othercolonialinterests.Thiswasimportantforinitiallysecuringeconomicpreeminence,often manifestedintheformofthefurtrade.WhiteinvadersintentonsettlingIndigenouslands soonfollowedthefortsandsoldieryandtheypavedthewayformissionariestoimplement theirownimperialistagenda.UndertheguiseofsavingsoulsandcivilizingIndigenous people,missionariesimplementedwhatwewouldcharacterizetodayaspoliciesofethnocide. SettlersthenclamoredfortitletoIndigenouslands,pressuringaneagerandsupportiveU.S. governmenttoformalizeandlegalizetheirusurpationofIndigenouslandsandthesubjugation ofIndigenousPeoples.Missionaries,Indianagents,traders,settlers,andtheU.S.government thenallworkedtogethertolaunchsystematicandprofoundattacksonIndigenousbodiesand waysofbeing,dividingusandcrushingusintosubmission.Allsegmentsofourpopulations weresubjecttocolonialviolenceandbrutality,includingthechildrenwhoborethebruntof colonizerindoctrinationandmanipulationinthegenocidalboardingschools. Divideandconquertechniquesarethehallmarkofcolonialmanipulation.Those indigenousindividualsconsideredthefriendliesttocolonizerinterests(thatis,whoofferedthe leastamountofresistance)weresingledoutforspecialfavorsandrewardsuntiltheywere firmlycooptedtodothecolonizersbidding.Thosewhoresistedcolonizerinterestsmost vehementlyweretargetedforparticularlyoppressivepunishments.Thecollaboratorsareoften distinguishedinwrittenrecordsasthefriendlyorgoodIndians,whilethosewhocontinued toresistcooptationwerequicklyidentifiedasthesavageorhostileIndians.Theleaders,
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thinkers,peacemakers,warriors,spiritualleaders,healersandteacherswhodidnotfallinline withtheemergingorderwereisolated,dehumanizedanddiminished.Thus,colonizersablyand superblyfosteredresentmentsbetweenthetwogroups,pittingthemagainstoneanotherand alwayscallingonthefavoritefriendliestomonitortheircolonizedcohortandenforcethe colonialsystem.ThesedivisionsseverelyerodedtheunityinIndigenoussocietiesthatwere oftensimultaneouslydevastatedfromdisease,warfare,forcedremovals,lossofhomelands, masskillings,andpoliciesofethniccleansing.Thetremendousharmcausedbygenerationsof factionalismasadirectconsequenceofcolonialismcannotbeoverstatedasithasgreatly affectedthecapacityofIndigenousPeoplestomobilizebroadlyforsignificantchange. Eventoday,thosewhoattempttorestoreIndigenouswaysofbeinginthemodern worldaredismissedbycolonizersandtheircolonizedpuppetsasangry,unrealistic,nave,less sophisticated,orevenlessintelligentthanthosemimickingthevaluesandidealsofthe dominantsociety.ThefriendlyIndiansinvestedinwhateversmallperkstheygainfromthe colonialsystemaredeeplydevotedtomaintainingtheexistingsystemandtheydefendits justnessateveryturn.Or,theyhaveindividuallyreapedsubstantialprestigeandpowerfrom totingthecolonizerspartylineandasaconsequenceturntheirbackonthesufferingoftheir Indigenouscommunitieswhileatthesametimeapplaudingtheamazingresiliencyofthe People.Theyseenoneedtoseriouslychallengetheexistingsystembecausehavingbought intotheAmericandreamtheyarewellontheirwaytoachievingit.Theyactivelyparticipatein theblindmarchtowardprogress,regardlessofhowthatmarchcontinuestodevastatethe People,theirhomelands,ortheirrelationshipwiththerestoftheuniverse.Someofthemtalk abouttweakingtheexistingsystem,maybepassingbetterlegislationonthisissueoverhere,or developingamorestrategiceconomicplanoverthere,andtheyhaveabandonedthestruggle forliberation.They,infact,donotwantliberationbecauseitmightaffecttheircomfortable status.And,becausethesefriendliesoffernothreattotheexistingpowerstructure,they becomethefavoredpets,routinelylaudedbythecolonizersfortheirsuperiorintelligence, insight,andcommitmenttothewellbeingoftheirPeople.Theyareparadedinfrontof colonizeraudiencesasIndianmodelsofsuccess. Stillothersliveindailyfear.They,too,haveabandonedthestruggleforliberation becausetheyseenowayoutofthisoverwhelmingoppression.Havinggrownaccustomedto livingassubjugatedpeople,theymightreaponlymildbenefitsfromthecolonialsystemwhile injusticesoccurallaroundthem,yettheyareafraidofwhatmighthappeniftheywereto engageinresistance.Forthem,liberationissimplynotconceivable,andtheybelievethatifthe colonizedcanneverwinfreedom,thenwemustsimplytrytonegotiatethebestscrapswecan whilewenumbourselveswithchemicals,feedouraddictions,andentertainourselveswith materialgoodsandHollywoodentertainment.Forifwechallengecolonialism,eventhose smallprivilegesmightbetakenawayfromusandwemightfaceincreasedharassmentand assaults,wemightbetheonescartedofftocolonialprisons,andwemightbetheoneswho haveourchildrentakenaway.Thesefearsarenotunjustified.Theycankeepusimmobilized fromenactingtransformativechange.Ratherthanchallengethecolonialsystem,welive accordingtoitsvalues.Webecomelowlevelenforcersofitsrules,replicatingcolonialinjustice inourowncommunities,afraidtoevenimagineadifferentreality.
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OurcurrentrealityascolonizedPeoplesechoestherealityofcolonizedPeoplesaround theworld.However,intheUnitedStates,withtheadventofcasinogamingandotherformsof economicdevelopmentamongsomeIndigenouspopulations,itiseasytobeseducedinto believingthatthingsreallyarebetter.Forexample,manycontemporaryhistoriansand scholarsofIndigenousPeopleshighlightIndigenousagencyandresiliencyintheiranalysisof ourreality.TheydescribethehistoricalexperiencesofIndigenousPeoplesasprocessesof culturaltransformationorofevolutionaryanddynamicchange.TheycelebrateIndigenous projectsandplans.Allofthis,onthesurface,seemstomakesense.But,thequestionis, betterrelativetowhat? Forexample,ifvisitorscametomyhomecommunity,theywouldbeinundatedwith positivemessagesaboutallthegoodprojectshappeningonourreservation.Theywould receiveatourofourcasino,oftherecenthousingdevelopmentandtheplansforthenew communitycenter.Theywouldbeshownourwatertowerandthewatertreatmentsystemas wellasourtribalcourthouse.Thesevisitorsmightbeinvitedtoourannualwacipi(powwow) heldinAugustofeveryyear.And,theywouldbetoldaboutourstrongyouthprogram,the languageandcultureclassesoffered,ourcommunitygarden,thetribalpolicepatrollingour reservationlands,andthechemicaldependencysupportsystemwehaveinplace.Indeed, theseprojectsandactivitiesinspireasenseofaccomplishmentandprogressinallofour communitymembers. Yet,theseprojects,howeverworthyofcelebration,donottellthefullstory.Ifa broaderviewofhistoryisemployedtoexamineourcurrentstatus,adifferentpictureemerges withamorepainfulsignificanceandlegacy.Ifwedelvemoredeeply,welearnthatthereason weneedacasinoisbecauseinthenineteenthcenturytheinvadersstrippedourPeopleofour homelandandwithitourentiremeansofsubsistence.Settlersocietysystematicallydestroyed thelifeofabundanceandsustainabilitythatweknewforthousandsofyearssothattheycould exploitanddestroytheresourcesinourlandswhiledenyingmostofuseventherightof occupancy.Sinceweweredispossessedfromouroriginallandbaseandcolonizersocietykilled manyIndigenousanimalsandplantstonearextinctionanddevastatedourhomeland environments,ourPeoplehaveexperiencedlivesofexceptionalpoverty. Forexample,atonetimeourPeoplemaintainedahighlyevolvedandspirituallyfulfilling relationshipwiththebuffaloandwedependedonthemasamajorsourceofourbasicneeds includingfood,clothing,andshelter.Buttoday,evenafterobtaininganewmeansofeconomic subsistence(atleastpartialsubsistence)thathelpsputfoodonthetable,ourcasinoremainsa poorsubstituteforthebuffalowhilealsofosteringanewsetofaddictionsandacompromising ofDakotavalues(antimaterialism,reciprocity,respectfulkinshiprelations).Itinnowaycan satisfactorilyreplaceourformerrelationshipwiththebuffaloorthekindofengagementwe previouslyhadwithourhomeland.Inprecolonizedtimewesustainedourselvesinaccordance withnaturallaws,eachgenerationpossessingextraordinarycapacitiesforeconomicself sufficiencyandselfdetermination,whilenowwehaveagamingoperationthathelpssustain thecommunity,butataheavysocialandspiritualcostthatdoesnotinducethesamesenseof individualorcollectiveselfsufficiencyandselfdetermination.Furthermore,wealsoknowthat relyingongamingforourwellbeingplacesusinaprecariouspositionbecausecolonizing
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societycouldstripitfromusatanytime.Alargerscopeofcomparisonfromtheself determinationthatexistedinprecolonialdaystothecostlycompromisewithoppressive externalauthoritiesforlimitedeconomicgainthatoccurstodayinthecontextofgaming, indicatesthatprogresshasnotbeenachieved,atleastifprogressisintendedtoindicatesome kindofimprovement.Instead,wecannothelpbutlookatthislossofcompleteeconomicself determinationassimplyanothermanifestationofcolonialism.Areourlivesbetterasa consequenceofgaming?Thesignificantquestionis,betterthanwhat? Similarly,ourwatertowerisnecessarytodaybecauseitprovidesthecommunitywith cleanwaterthatisdistributedtoallthereservationhouseholds.Thatisextremelyimportant. Inlightofthedesecrationtotheriverthatrunsthroughourreservationwhereourancestors drewtheirwater,however,itseemsasmallconsolation.Ourriverisnowsotoxicthatwe cannotevenswiminitswatersbecausethepoisons,stemminglargelyfromcorporaterunoff andfarmpesticidesandfertilizers,willleachthroughourskin.Thefishandotherbeingswho inhabittheriverarecurrentlythreatenedandtheytoohavebecometoxic.They,inturn, threatenallthewildlifeintheregionwhorelyonthemforsubsistence,includingusas IndigenousPeople.Whilewe,atleast,havethecapacitytoseverelylimitourfishconsumption, otherbeingswhorelyonfishcannotdothesameandtheytoobecomepoisonedasa consequence.Nowourmanmadewatertowersitsatopabluffbesideariverfromwhichwe cannolongerdrinkoreat.Isthisbetter? AsforsomeoftheotherinstitutionswehaveinplacemodeledontheU.S.(in)justice system,wearemerelyreplicatinginternallycolonizerwaysthathaveharmedgenerationsof ourPeople.Wehavebecomeinvestedinpunishmentasaresponsetocrimes,ratherthan communityhealing.Atthesametimethesupportsystemswehadinplacepriortocolonization tosanctionappropriatebehaviorareeitherseverelydamagedornonexistent. Theprocessesofinvasion,conquest,landtheftandcolonizationdonotjustcontribute toharmfulbehaviorswithinourcommunitiestheycausethem.Whensettlersocietydenies ourpeopleourlandsandwaysoflifethatsustainedusandnourishedusphysically,emotionally andspiritually,thepopulationsuffers.Whenpeopleareroutinelydehumanized,weforgethow tointeracthumanely. TheattacksonIndigeneityintheU.S.havenotonlybeensystematic,thegovernment hasalsodoggedlysustainedtheminvariousformsovercenturies,manyofthemuntilthe presentday.Hence,itwasnotonlyonegenerationofIndigenousPeoplesthatsufferedfrom boardingschoolabusesandtheethnocideperpetratedinthoseschools,itwasmultiple generations.ItwasnotonlyonegenerationofIndigenousPeoplesthatwassubjectedto relentlessreligiousimperialism,itwasmultiplegenerations.Itwasnotonlyonegeneration thatsufferedfromvariouscrimesagainsthumanity,itwasmultiplegenerations.Forinstance, IndigenousPeoplesgenerallyacknowledgetheharmsresultingfromthefederallymandated andgovernmentandchurchrunboardingschools(suchasthepracticesofseverecorporal punishmentaswellasphysicalandsexualabuse),butwehavenotlearnedhowtoeffectively healfromthosegenerationaltraumasthatarenowperpetuatedinourfamiliesand communities,norhavewebeenabletostopthecyclesofabuseandchemicaldependency
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fromafflictingourpopulations.Eventoday,thereisapalpablesenseofdesperationinmostof ourcommunities.Wehaveacceptedtraumaasawayoflifeandwecontinuetoharm ourselvesandothers.Allofthisoccursinthecontextofabrutalandongoingcolonization.Yet, settlersocietyhasneverrectifiedmostofthecrimesagainsthumanitytheyperpetratedagainst ourancestorsandourselvesandmostofthelosseswehavesustainedacutelyaffectour populationstoday.Ratherthanaddressingthemonumentalcrimesagainsthumanityinflicted onIndigenousPeoplesthroughoutthecountry,theU.S.criminal(in)justicesystemchooses insteadtoincarcerateourpeopleinresponsetorelativelymildercrimes,inpunishmentforthe consequencesoftheircolonizationofourPeoples. TheU.S.(in)justicesystemisnowthepredominantchannelthroughwhichwehelpto funnelthedejectedfromourcommunitiesanditisthesystemthatrelentlesslycontinuesto wrestourpeopleaway.ThevastmajorityofourIndigenousbrothersandsisterswhoendup doingtimeinthecriminal(in)justicesystemarealsovictimsofhorrendousabuseswhichare colonialismslegacy,includingstructuralracismandaconstantdegradationofpersonhood.In addition,mostneverhadadequatelegalrepresentation,theytypicallyhaveharshersentences thantheirnonIndigenouspeers,andtheyaresubjecttobrutalandinhumaneprisonconditions inwhichindigeneityisconstantlyattackedanddehumanizationisroutine. Yet,thereislittleresistancetocolonialisminmanyofourcommunitiesandwecontinue toexhibitharmfulbehaviorstoothersandourselves.Manyofthoseharmfulbehaviorsbegin earlyandcolonizersocietycriminalizesthem.Ourseveresocialproblemsareareflectionofour stateofcolonization.WhatIndigenousfamilyisnotaffectedbychemicaldependency?By someformofviolence?Whatcommunityisnotplaguedbyhighratesofaddictions, depression,suicide,incarceration,andearlymortality?Ourcommunitieshavenormalizedpain andsufferingtosuchanextentthatmanyofourpeopledonotknoworcanevenenvisionalife differentfromtheonewehaveexperiencedandseenmodeledforus.Manyofourpeople contemplatesuicideaschildrenandthenslowlyenactlifestylesthatfacilitateanearlydeath, eitherthroughviolence,accidents,orcompromisedhealth.Howmanyofourpeoplehave beenkilledorinjuredincaraccidentsorendedupincarceratedbecauseofviolentcrimes perpetratedundertheinfluenceofdrugsoralcohol?Thelatestharmfuldrugtosweepthrough ourcommunityiscrystalmethanditisdevastatingthelivesofouryoungpeople.Therealityis thatwellpeopledonotusecrystalmeth.Wellpeopledonotfeedtheiraddictions.Well peopledonotcommitsuicide.Still,thesebehaviorsarenottheconsequencesofweakor inferiorindividuals.Thesebehaviorsareadirectoutcomeofacolonizationprocessthatsinks peopleintoastateofdespairanddoesnotofferanyrecognizablealternatives. Againstthisoverwhelmingbackdrop,ifweattempttoidentifyprogressinthe community,whatcouldpossiblyqualify?Suddenlythechemicaldependencyoraddiction treatmentprogramswenowoffercanofferonlyasmallbitofhopeinthefaceofadevastating socialreality. ThisisinsevereconflictwithIndigenouswaysofbeingpriortocolonization.Fromthe timechildrenwereborn,theywereembracedbyawhole,nurturingcommunitydeeply investedinproducingindividualswhowouldbehealthy,contributingmembersofsociety.
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Amidstconstantloveandcompassion,ourancestorsraisedchildrenwithstrictteachingsabout howtobeagoodrelative,andwhatwasacceptablebehavioraccordingtothecommunalethic. Ourcommunitiespraisedthepositivebehaviorsandpubliclycelebratedindividualsduringrites ofpassageaswellasforactionsthatbenefitedthecommunity.If,afteryearsofthis upbringing,individualsstillperpetratedaterriblecrime,theirbehaviorwouldbeconsideredso aberrant,theywouldlikelyfaceharshconsequencessuchasdeathorbanishmentasawayto restorebalanceandpeacetothecommunity.Today,weemploysimilarlyharshconsequences, notasawaytorestorebalanceandpeace,butasameansofpunishment,withoutproviding theyearsofcommunalsupport,teaching,andnurturing.Consequently,afterincarceration, manyofourpeoplereturnhomeonlytorepeatoffenses.Thisdoesnothingtohelphealour communities.Meanwhile,settlersocietylocksawayourrelativesinwhitecolonial institutionsindividualswithtremendousgiftsandstrengthstopotentiallyofferour communitiesoftenforyearsatatime. Similarly,thecorrespondingculturalprogramsinmycommunity,whileworthwhileand important,arealsoresponsestotremendousdevastationwroughtfromcolonialism.Wenow haveanannualwacipi(powwow)whendancingandsingingatonetimeaccompaniedpartof ourdailyexistence.WhenourdanceswereoutlawedandIndianagentsjailedpractitionersof heathenrituals,weeliminatedourpracticeofthem,practicedtheminsecrecy,orlearnedto adjustourtraditionstocolonialregulations.Welearnedhowtocloakourtraditionsin monikersofsettlersociety.WenowhaveagrandentryinwhichwecarrytheAmericanflag, theultimateiconofourownsubjugation,outofapparentrespectforourveteranswhofought toenforceAmericanintereststhroughouttheworld,therebyexpandingtheAmericanempire. And,becausewecouldnothaveourtraditionaldancesfrequentlyundercolonialrule,we learnedtoconcentratethemintooneweekendayear.Thus,eventhiscelebrationofculture ismarredwithcolonialcompromises. OneofthestarkestexamplesofthemisplacedargumentforIndigenousresiliency occursintheareaoflanguage.Ourhighschoolageyouthareofferedtheopportunitytotake ourlanguageinthelocalhighschoolandthereisanoccasionalclassofferedtootherinterested communitymembers.Theseclassesareabsolutelyessentialtodayandtheyareworthyof celebration.However,beforeanyofuscangetcarriedawaywithacelebrationbasedonsome notionofprogress,wehavetorememberthattheurgencyregardingintensivelanguage programmingtodayexistsbecausemostofourlanguagesarehangingontheedgeof extinction.Ifwedonottakedrasticandimmediatestepstoreviveourlanguages,wewilllose them.This,too,isnotacoincidence,butisadirectconsequenceoftheU.S.governments policyofculturalgenocideperpetratedagainstIndigenouschildrenthroughbrutalboarding schoolsandreservationdayschools.Thus,toanyonecommittedtoIndigenouslanguages, thereisamixtureofexcitementaboutthegrowinglanguagemovementsinourcommunities coupledwithasenseofsheerpanicaboutthelossesourcultureshavesustained.Attheendof 2007weburiedthreefluentspeakingDakotaeldersinMinnesotaandwecancountontwo handsallthefluentDakotaspeakersremainingonourMinnesotareservations.Whatdoesthis sayaboutouragency?Aboutourresiliency?ForthoseIndigenousPeopleswhoalready losttheirlanguages,dotheymaintainasenseofresiliencyandagency?Or,arethey
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mourningtheirtremendouslossandgrievingasapeople?Ifthelatteristrue,itsuggestsa rejectionofthenotionofmereculturalchange(asopposedtoculturalloss)andchallengesthe notionofvibrancyandagency.Itsuggestsinsteadthattheforcesofcolonialismwere historicallysobrutalandeffectivethatsomeofourpeopleandtraditionshavenotbeenableto survivethem.Notbecauseweareweak,notbecauseweareinferior,butbecausethepowerof colonialismhasbeen,insomeinstances,toodevastatingtoovercome. Thus,Indigenousprojectsandactivitiesthathavecometosymbolizeprogressinsome academiccirclesmayonlybeseenassuchbyexaminingourselvesthroughanelitistandvery narrowscopeofhistory.Ifwetakeabroadviewofhistory,theargumentofanynotionof progress,agencyorresiliencybecomesimpossiblebecauseweultimatelyhavetoaccountfor thelossofIndigenousselfdeterminationandtheviolent,unremittingassaultsonourbodies, lands,andspirits.Itisnotacceptableforcolonialismsapologists,bothIndigenousandnon Indigenous,tohighjacktheframingofourexperiences. Ah,butsomemightarguethatIndigenousPeoplesintheUnitedStatesaresovereign nationsandarealreadyselfdetermined.Bywhatstandards?Everysystemandinstitutionthat webumpupagainstonadailybasisisnotofourmaking,buthasbeenimposedundercolonial rule.Theeconomicsystem,landtenuresystem,educationalsystem,socialwelfaresystem, governmentalstructure,religiousinstitutionsareallcolonialinstitutionsthatcontinueto oppressIndigenousPeoplesanddenyIndigenousliberation.Evenfreedomsthattheoretically applytoallAmericancitizens,suchasreligiousfreedom,areroutinelydeniedtoIndigenous Peoples.Wedonotevenhavecontrolovertheprotectionofourancestorsremains.Certainly, thefundamentalfreedomsthatarenecessaryforIndigenouswaysofbeing,suchasaccessto homeland,cleanairandwater,arenotpartofourreality.What,inourlives,dowehave completecontrolover?Whilewe,alongwithotherantistatistcommunities,occasionally experiencewhatHakimBeyidentifiesasTemporaryAutonomousZones(createdasan alternativetotheexistinghegemonicorder),wehaveyettoproducelastingIndigenous communitiesintheU.S.thatoperatefullyoutsideofacolonialexistence.Instead,wecreate spaceswhereourwaysofbeingarepracticedandnurtured,whereweattempttoliberate ourselvesfromtheoppressionthatsurroundsourdailyexistence,whereitisgoodtobe Indigenous.Wemakethemlastaslongaswecan,butbecausethey,asofyet,cannotbe sustained,weareforcedtoreturntotherealworldthatsmotherswithanoppressiveweight notallofuscanbeartocarry.Selfdeterminationisanimpossibilityundercolonialrule. Meaningfulchangewillrequiredramaticactiononourpartthatcanmoveusbeyond colonialinterference.IfweasIndigenousPeoplesintheUnitedStateseverwantaliberated futureforourfuturegenerationsorourselves,wehavetoworktowarddecolonization. Decolonizationistheintelligent,calculated,andactiveresistancetotheforcesofcolonialism thatperpetuatethesubjugationand/orexploitationofourminds,bodies,andlands,anditis engagedfortheultimatepurposeofoverturningthecolonialstructureandrealizingIndigenous liberation. 1 Agrowingawarenessofcolonialisminexorablyleadstoasimultaneous dissatisfactionwiththesituationandagrowingunrest.This,inturn,hasthepotentialtolead torevolutionarypraxis.Thus,recognitionofthiscolonialrealityisthefirststeptowardour liberation.Wecannotresistwhatwecannotidentifyandname.Thenweneedtobeginto
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imagineanalternativereality.Ourcolonizershavetoldusthatwemustacceptthewaythings arebecausewecannotchangethem.Thatis,wemustacceptourownsubjugationandtheir dominationasanaturalandinevitablestate.Decolonizationisarejectionofthatlogic.It thereforerequiresopeningupthemindtonewvisionsofwhatispossible.Ifwewerenot subjecttotheauthorityorpresenceoftheUnitedStatesgovernmentanditscitizenswhat wouldwewantourlivestolooklike?Thestrugglefordecolonizationrequiresustoidentify clearlyourobjectivesasIndigenousPeoplesandtocriticallyquestionwhetherthoseobjectives areconstrainedbytheparametersofthoughtsetbycolonialism,orwhethertheytraverse thoseparametersandreflectourdesiresasfree,IndigenousPeoplesoftheland.Ifthiscritical interrogationofourownvisiondoesnotoccur,evenuponoverturningcolonialismwewould runtheriskofreplicatingcolonialinstitutionsandsystemsamongourownpopulations. LestcriticsinsistthatarecognitionofcolonialismmeanscondemningIndigenous Peoplestoaperpetualstateofvictimage,letmestatenowthatthispositiondoesnotdeny Indigenouscapacityforactionandresistance,butonlythatouractionsareoftenviolently limitedwithinacolonialstructure.Oneofthecriticismsfrequentlyhurledatdecolonization theoristsisthatdecolonizationresearch,analysis,andactivismanditsaccompanyingfocuson colonization,meansanacceptanceandadvocacyofvictimage,thatwhenweattributeour socialproblemstoexternalcolonialforceswearedenyingIndigenousagency.Ithinkjustthe oppositeistrue.Whileemployingcolonialismasanintellectualframeworkacknowledgesthe horrendousinjusticesperpetratedagainstIndigenousPeoplesandthelimitedchoicesour peoplesfacedasaconsequence,thisisnotinappropriate,norisitoverstated.Whenthelossof IndigenouslifeintheAmericasweighsinminimallyat95%andtheensuinglandtheft,lossof resources,meansofsubsistenceandattemptsatculturaleradicationareconsidered,tofocus solelyontheagencyofthelessthan5%whosurvivedandarefacingseveresocialproblems seemsdisingenuousatbest.Ananalysisofcolonialismallowsustomakesenseofourcurrent condition,strategicallydevelopmoreeffectivemeansofresistance,recovertheprecolonial traditionsthatstrengthenusasIndigenousPeoples,andconnectwiththestrugglesof colonizedpeoplesthroughouttheworldtotransformtheworld.Whencolonialismisremoved fromtheanalysis,wehavelittlealternativeotherthantosimplyblameourselvesforthe currentsocialills.Thisblamingthevictimstrategyonlyincreasesviolenceagainstourown people. Predictably,thosewhomostfiercelydenytheeffectsofcolonialismareoftentheones whoadvocatethemoststronglyforworkingwithintheexistingsystem.Theyrejectdreamsof liberationanddefeatistrhetoriccharacterizestheirposition.Itincludessuchsentimentsas Theworldisnotgoingtochange,orWehavetoacceptthewaythingsareanddowhatwe canwithintheexistingsystem.Ironically,thispositiondeniestheprofoundnatureand propensityofhumanagencyandrelegatestheresultsofhumanactivitytonegligible proportions.Thisiswhatdecolonizationadvocatescannotaccept.Instead,weputourfaith andactionstowardmakingrevolutionarychange,lookingtothehighestpotentialofhuman agency. Therewasatimewhenmyancestorsdidnotneedtohavestrategiestoresistforcesof colonialism.Whentheydid,theprocessesofinvasion,militaryconquestandsubjugationwere
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unleashedsoabruptly,impromptustrategieswerecourageously,butunsuccessfullyattempted. Noneofthempreventedthetotalonslaughtofcolonialviolencethatensued.Throughtime andprocessesofcompleteandhumiliatingsubjugationthataffectedeveryaspectofthelivesof subsequentgenerations,resistanceweakenedintocomplacency.Ofcourse,notallIndigenous peoplechosethispathandinsteadstayedthecourseofspiritedresistance,buttodaythey representtheexceptionsratherthantherule.Thevastmajorityfounditeasiertoattemptto negotiatepettybenefitsfromthecolonialsystemwhilemaintaininglowvisibilityandsmall dreams. Today,however,wehavereachedanerainwhichtheexistingsystemisonthevergeof collapse,withcolonizerandcolonizedalikerestingnearaprecipitousedge.Wecaneither succumbtotheongoingdiscourseofcomplacencypropagatedbythecolonizinggovernment, orwecanmobilizeforrevolutionarychange.

WaziyatawinAngelaWilsonandMichaelYellowBird,eds.,ForIndigenousEyesOnly:ADecolonizationHandbook (SantaFe:SchoolofAmericanResearchPress,2005),2.

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