Indigenous Textual Cultures

“This volume brings together an exciting range of scholars whose cutting-edge work critiques contemporary and historiographical assumptions about the primacy of orality in indigenous cultures by reconsidering the ways in which local writing and ways of knowing have been deployed as powerful tools against colonial rule. This collection is an extremely valuable resource.” - Fiona Paisley, coauthor of Writing Transnational History

“The written word may have come as cargo of colonialism and modernity, but it soon became a vehicle of indigeneity, critique, and resistance as indigenous peoples underwent their own textual and literate revolutions and participated in those of others. Bringing together a rich group of scholars who span a vast part of the indigenous world, this remarkable volume critiques, renarrates, and presents indigenous encounters with texts, literacy, and literary practices that have been too often overlooked or minimized. A landmark collection.” - Damon Ieremia Salesa, Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific, University of Auckland

“Indigenous Textual Cultures is a cohesive, well-edited collection of twelve articles written by an international community of experts in indigenous cultures and colonialism. . . . These scholars bring a fresh approach that focuses on using original-language indigenous sources and interpreting this array of materials within their proper cultural contexts.” - Julie K. Tanaka, RBM

“Research that draws on decolonizing methodologies remains urgent and necessary. This powerful, eloquent collection of new essays sets innovative agendas for this research.” - Gillian Whitlock, Australian Historical Studies

“Each chapter offers well-written, engaging, and thoughtful illustrations and analyses. . . . [Indigenous Textual Cultures] is an important contribution to the role of communication in the vicious and devastating struggles between colonial structures and Indigenous communities.” - David Troolin, Pacific Affairs

“There is great value in this collection for historians of the American West. . . . Each chapter brings much needed nuance to our understanding of Indigenous responses to colonialism and forced assimilation.” - Justin Gage, Western Historical Quarterly

"The wide variety of topics covered and the discussion of so many different Indigenous textual cultures have helped create a collection that is an extremely important resource. In particular, this book will appeal to researchers from a range of disciplines, such as cultural studies, postcolonial studies, linguistics and Indigenous studies and, more specifically, to anyone who is interested in transcultural concepts. The coverage of various theoretical and methodological approaches as well as the Indigenous perspectives voiced are very impressive, sound and innovative." - Hanne Birk, Journal of New Zealand & Pacific Studies