Choice Reviews Online · 2007 · 259 citations · 0 references
HumanitiesArea StudiesLiteratureIndigenous StudiesNationalism StudiesNative American StudiesIndigenous LiteratureNative American LiteratureIndian NationalismNationalism In LiteratureSovereignty Movements
Indian Literary Nationalism engages recent debates on hybridity by proposing strategies grounded in the material realities of diverse communities, building on earlier work such as Simon Ortiz’s 1981 essay and reflecting over three decades of growing academic recognition of American Indian literature. The authors argue that adopting a nationalist perspective is a legitimate and essential approach to Native American literature, urging more Native voices and allies to articulate criticism that clearly connects literature to Native communities. They find that a nationalist methodology is defensible and vital for supporting Native sovereignty and self‑determination, yet acknowledge it is not the sole viable approach to Native literature.
In a contentious field characterised by divergence of opinion, Indian Literary Nationalism intervenes in recent controversial debates on the role of hybridity, suggesting common sense strategies rooted in the material realities of various communities. These essays deal with issues the authors have been wrestling with throughout their careers. Jace Weaver, Craig Womack, and Robert Warrior, assert being a 'nationalist' is a legitimate perspective from which to approach Native American literature and criticism. They consider such a methodology not only defensible but also crucial to supporting Native national sovereignty and self-determination, an important goal of Native American studies, generally. However, the authors do not believe the nationalism suggested in Indian Literary Nationalism is the only possible approach to Native literature. Each invites Natives and non-Native allies who support tribal national sovereignty and nationalist readings of Native literature to join the discussion. With this writing, each author acknowledges and honours the foundational contribution of Simon Ortiz in his 1981 'MELUS' essay, 'Towards a National Indian Literature: Cultural Authenticity in Nationalism'. It has been over thirty-five years since academe has accepted the legitimacy of American Indian literature. Weaver, Warrior, and Womack now call for more Native voices to articulate literary criticism and for clearer thinking about what links the literature to Native communities.