Thinking about decolonization is rather new to me. I decided to do some more outside research to really try and understand the full meaning behind the word, because up until the beginning of this course I’d just heard it in passing. It seems to me as if decolonization goes beyond the formal reclamation of territory, but also the reintroduction of cultural practices and languages as well as beginning to heal from the traumas caused by colonization. However, decolonization cannot be a one-sided effort, and proper tools and support need to be given to these groups in order for them to be restored.

After reading through Smith, Yang, and Tuck’s text, I found parts of it to be rather discouraging. Tuck made a point of saying decolonization efforts have only been fought for by other indigenous scholars as well as pointing out that when white scholars ask questions about indigenous works, “they drain the energy and imagination of indigenous scholarship.” I do believe it is not the job of indigenous people to educate others on their oppression and trauma, but I couldn’t help but feel like these opinions were rather one-sided, and didn’t take into account other points of view. The repetitive use of the term “white settler” bothered me as well, because it seemingly assumes every person who isn’t indigenous is then an oppressor and opponent of the indigenous community. I do not wish to speak over indigenous voices, but in my mind, it’s hard to see this term as anything but presumptuous.