Political Concepts: Leanne Betasamosake Simpson • Resurgence

Summary

The speaker, an Anishinaabek or Ojibwe, discusses the concept of resurgence from an indigenous perspective, rooted in deep relationality with the land and its inhabitants. They emphasize the importance of ancestral knowledge, self-determination, and the creative act of living as a means of resistance against colonialism. Through stories, like that of Bidaban and Bedobbin, the speaker illustrates the interconnectedness of life and the significance of maintaining traditional practices for future generations.

Takeaways

• 🌿 The concept of resurgence is deeply rooted in the Anishinaabek or Ojibwe culture and is connected to the land, waters, and all living beings in their territory.
• 🔄 Resurgence is described as a continual, reciprocal, and reflective interaction with ancestors, future generations, and the natural world, emphasizing a world-building process despite colonial pressures.
• 🌱 The speaker's understanding of resurgence is not merely academic but is an indigenous practice that predates colonialism and is integral to their way of life.
• 🏞️ The land and its elements, such as the Great Lakes and maple sugar bushes, play a significant role in teaching the principles of resurgence and maintaining a connection with nature.
• 🐾 The story of the black bear illustrates the importance of respecting the natural cycles and rhythms of life, including periods of rest and rejuvenation.
• 🛶 The hypothetical journey to a conference by canoe represents the deep connections and relationships with the land, other nations, and the process of international diplomacy.
• 🌳 The process of building a canoe and the challenges faced reflect the importance of learning, adapting, and relying on community and ancestral knowledge.
• 👪 The story of Bidaban (dawn) and Bedobbin (spring) demonstrates the interconnectedness of life, the value of observation, and the sharing of knowledge across different beings.
• 🍁 The making of maple sugar in the story symbolizes resurgence as a creative and communal act that honors the land and its resources, and the role of innovation in sustaining culture.
• 🌅 The concept of 'presencing' captures the essence of being fully present and connected to the past and future, highlighting the importance of daily practices in maintaining cultural ties.
• 🌍 The script calls for a collective effort to recreate circumstances that support the resurgence of indigenous cultures and practices, despite the challenges posed by colonialism and environmental threats.

Q & A

What is the speaker's cultural background and how does it influence their understanding of resurgence?

The speaker identifies as Anishinaabek or Ojibwe, from the north shore of Lake Ontario. Their understanding of resurgence is deeply rooted in the Anishinaabek's practice of living in deep relationality with the land, waters, plants, animals, and peoples, emphasizing a continual, reciprocal, and reflective interaction with their environment and ancestral knowledge.

What does the speaker mean by 'resurgence' in the context of their culture?

Resurgence, in the speaker's cultural context, is not a response to colonialism but a procedure for indigenous life that predates colonial encounters. It represents a persistent, stubborn, and beautiful world-building process that occurs despite the imposition of colonial machinery, focusing on the creation and maintenance of life and relationships within the indigenous community.

How does the speaker describe the relationship between the Anishinaabek people and their environment?

The Anishinaabek people have an intimate, spiritual, emotional, and physical relationship with the land. Their life and infrastructure are relational rather than institutional, and they engage in a creative act of self-determination and consent that is central to their existence.

What is the significance of the story about Bidaban in the speaker's narrative?

Bidaban, meaning dawn, represents the moment of presencing where the future meets the past. The story illustrates the concept of resurgence through the character's discovery of maple sugar, showing how knowledge, innovation, and community support are integral to indigenous life and culture.

How does the speaker use the story of Bedobbin to exemplify the concept of resurgence?

The story of Bedobbin demonstrates resurgence through the character's interaction with nature, learning from a squirrel to make maple sugar. It highlights the importance of observation, innovation, community support, and the passing of knowledge as part of the indigenous way of life.

What challenges does the speaker identify that could impede the process of resurgence?

The speaker identifies challenges such as land theft, environmental contamination, the legacy of residential schools, state-run education, colonial gender violence, and the erasure of indigenous peoples from society as barriers to the process of resurgence.

How does the speaker relate the concept of resurgence to the broader struggle against colonialism?

The speaker relates resurgence to the struggle against colonialism by emphasizing the need to not only dream of alternative realities but to actively create them in the physical world, despite the presence of colonial occupation and its effects on indigenous communities.

What role do relationships and consent play in the speaker's description of resurgence?

Relationships and consent are central to resurgence. The speaker describes a world-building process that is based on healthy reciprocal relationships with other beings, including plants, animals, and human communities, and the importance of obtaining consent from these entities in their practices.

How does the speaker's recounting of the process of building a canoe reflect the principles of resurgence?

The process of building a canoe reflects the principles of resurgence through the need for international diplomacy, the gathering of materials with consent, and the reliance on community and ancestral knowledge. It shows the interconnectedness of life and the importance of relationships in creating something meaningful.

What is the significance of the phrase 'an algorithm of living' as used by the speaker?

The phrase 'an algorithm of living' signifies the intertwined and relationally responsive theory and praxis of the Anishinaabek people. It represents the systematic way in which they engage with their environment and community to sustain and propagate their way of life.

How does the speaker's narrative challenge common perceptions of work and productivity?

The speaker challenges common perceptions by presenting work as a creative act that values the way one lives, rather than a means to an end or a commodity to be exchanged. The work of the Anishinaabek people is about building life and relationships, which is inherently valuable and not defined by colonial standards of productivity.