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Why I Read Indigenous Literature

I would like to acknowledge that I live on the unceded territory of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Stolo Nations. I am kind of ashamed of myself that I haven't done this sooner, but it is important to know that I am a settler on this land, and a part of a history that is still being written, and rewritten. 

Decolonizing Methodologies 

Have you ever thought about how you come to know and understand? It was not until I watched the TedTalk "The Dangers of a Single Story" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie that I realized many of the books I consumed in school and on my own were only telling one story of the place I call home (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ihs241zeg). Decolonizing Methodologies by Linda Tuhiwai Smith delves into why this is a dangerous thing, and how there are many ways of knowing and learning. 

Storytelling is truly a powerful thing, and as a Canadian citizen, I have to acknowledge that the history I was taught in school was not even close to the complete picture of this country. As a university student, I have to recognize that Western learning institutions to teach some, but also to exclude the Other. Learning and creating knowledge should not be exclusive things, and yet they are. I read literature by Indigenous Peoples of Canada, Native Americans, Aborigines of Australia and Indigenous Peoples of New Zealand because now that I know that the history I have been taught is not complete, I want to hear from the people who have been excluded from these stories. 

Decolonizing Methodologies is well written, so even if you are not a fan of non-fiction, this book is easy to read and get into. It is informative and inclusive, and should be essential reading. I give it 5 stars!

If you have any comments, suggestions, or review requests, please comment below, email me (theopinionatedbookworm@gmail.com) or follow me on Instagram (@theopinionatedbookworm1). 

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