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Part survey of the field of Indigenous literary studies, part cultural history, and part literary polemic, Why Indigenous Literatures Matter asserts the vital significance of literary expression to the political, creative, and intellectual efforts of Indigenous peoples today. In considering the connections between literature and lived experience, this book contemplates four key questions at the heart of Indigenous kinship traditions: How do we learn to be human? How do we become good relatives? How do we become good ancestors? How do we learn to live together? Blending personal narrative and broader historical and cultural analysis with close readings of key creative and critical texts, Justice argues that Indigenous writers engage with these questions in part to challenge settler-colonial policies and practices that have targeted Indigenous connections to land, history, family, and self. More importantly, Indigenous writers imaginatively engage the many ways that communities and individuals have sought to nurture these relationships and project them into the future. This provocative volume challenges readers to critically consider and rethink their assumptions about Indigenous literature, history, and politics while never forgetting the emotional connections of our shared humanity and the power of story to effect personal and social change. Written with a generalist reader firmly in mind, but addressing issues of interest to specialists in the field, this book welcomes new audiences to Indigenous literary studies while offering more seasoned readers a renewed appreciation for these transformative literary traditions.

Canadian literature --- American literature --- Native peoples in literature. --- Indians in literature. --- Indians of Central America in literature --- Indians of Mexico in literature --- Indians of North America in literature --- Indians of South America in literature --- Indians of the West Indies in literature --- Canadian native peoples in literature --- Native peoples in drama --- Native peoples in fiction --- Native peoples in poetry --- Aboriginal peoples in literature --- History and criticism. --- Native authors --- Indian authors --- Aboriginal kinship. --- Gabrielle Roy Prize. --- Indigenous activism. --- NAISA Award. --- PROSE Award. --- badger. --- cherokee authors. --- cherokee writing. --- good ancestors. --- good relations. --- native twitter. --- raccoon. --- resurgence. --- sovereignty. --- thorn and thunder. --- wonderwork.