The State is a Man - Flashcards

Abstract

• Examines the link between settler colonialism and the lives and deaths of Indigenous women.

• Discusses the hunger strike of Chief Theresa Spence and the murder of Loretta Saunders.

• These events highlight the gendered aspects of settler sovereignty and governance.

Key Arguments

• Canada’s sovereignty requires the death and disappearance of Indigenous women.

  • Settler governance is directly tied to erasing Indigenous presence.

• The narrative produced by Canada often ignores historical violence and ongoing inequalities, presenting an illusion of reconciliation and progress.

Themes of Settler Violence

• Settler societies like Canada promote an image of multiculturalism and democracy while perpetuating dispossession and violence against Indigenous peoples.

• The ongoing process of settlement is defined by dispossession and systemic marginalization of Native populations.

  • This includes historical and current violence against Native women, underscoring the necessity of understanding governance as intertwined with gendered violence.

Jodi Byrd’s Theoretical Framework

• Uses concepts of “cacophony” and “transit” to discuss histories and Indigenous political identities.

• Cacophony recognizes competing narratives and the challenge of listening to marginalized voices.

• Transit illustrates how Indigeneity serves as a mechanism for empire, moving beyond the physical bodies to a broader, global understanding.

Gendered Nature of the State

• The representation of the state is characterized as heteropatriarchal, centered around white, male dominance.

• This state is engaged in eliminating or rendering invisible any challenges to its sovereignty, particularly from Indigenous political orders.

  • Indigenous political orders predating settler governance challenge the legitimacy of the settler state.

Historical Context: The Indian Act

• The Indian Act created gender-specific laws that enforced patriarchal norms, thereby undermining Indigenous women's roles within their societies.

• Iroquois women historically held power and authority, and settler colonial policies directly targeted these structures to assert control.

Case Study: Theresa Spence

• Spence's hunger strike criticized governmental neglect toward Indigenous communities, particularly her own in Attawapiskat, Ontario.

• Misinterpretations of her protest, particularly regarding her physical appearance, reflected broader societal biases against Indigenous women.

• The community's support for her action illustrated a collective mobilization against state indifference.

Case Study: Loretta Saunders

• Loretta Saunders, a young Inuk woman, was murdered in 2014.

• Her death catalyzed public outrage, prompting discussions about the epidemic of violence faced by Indigenous women in Canada.

• The historical context of Indigenous women’s murders demonstrates a systematized pattern of violence and neglect.

Public Response and Reflection

• Existing narratives about Indigenous women are often dismissed or minimized in mainstream discourse.

• The connection between Loretta Saunders' appearance and public perception raises questions about the societal value assigned based on race.

Recommendations for Pedagogy

• Highlights the importance of Indigenous studies as a means to confront the erasure of Indigenous histories and experiences.

• Calls for critical engagement with Indigenous issues in educational settings to foster a more accurate understanding of history and ongoing colonial impacts.