We help each other up: Indigenous scholarship, survivance, tribalography, and sovereign activism

Abstract

In an academic system that perpetuates the control and limitation of Indigenous narrative in order to reinforce the Western settler-colonial framework, Francis and Munson aim to create a more appropriate space for Indigenous scholarship. Through conversation, the authors discuss the exploration of sovereign scholar activism through an Indigenous autoethnographic approach. Tribalography, Survivance, and creation and experiential stories of home serve as fuel for the examination of identity, community, and authenticity in the formation of a framework built upon the scholarship of Indigenous researchers, conversations, and experiences since time immemorial. Questions are posed to continue and broaden the conversation toward actualizing a state of sovereign scholarship and the entrenchment of Tribalography and Survivance as means of establishing an Indigenous scholarship free from the confines of settler-colonialism.

Keywords:

• Indigenous scholarship
• sovereign scholar activism
• Indigenous autoethnography
• tribalography
• survivance
• sovereign scholarship

Notes

1. In using the term Indigenous, we are aware of the complex nature of both the word and the concepts that are derived from it. We are deliberate in its use, however, as an evolving term to discuss those people who identify as Native American, Aboriginal, First Nations, etc. In our conversations, it will be noted that we often substitute the above categorizations for Indigenous, though our meaning aligns with the concept of those groups who have identified themselves as first peoples of a particular location (Stewart-Harawira, 2005).

2. A note on the dialogic aspects of this work: the conversation(s) held between the authors is woven throughout the sections of the document. The change in voice is indicated in each instance.

3. Atwen is Tony in the Sqelix^w (Salish) language as the Sqelix^w language does not contain the same letters and sounds as English.

4. Sqelix^w can be used in three ways. The first, is the linguistic identification for the joint body of Salishan speaking people (the Seliš and Qlispé) who now reside primarily on The Flathead Reservation. Sqelix^w is also a term used to refer to the Salish language. Finally, Sqelix^w also refers to ‘Indian people’, in general, in the Sqelix^w language.