Reclaiming Indigeneity: Recent Publications at the University of Arizona Press

Abstract

Colonial voices have often attempted to silence Indigenous voices, but contemporary publisher the University of Arizona Press is dedicated to disseminating scholarly texts that give voice to colonized peoples. The press’s fall 2017 catalogue is particularly interesting because of its dedication to Indigenous activism, publishing three texts that depict varied ways in which Indigenous communities are attempting to overcome stereotypes and colonial trauma while also reflecting upon one another, allowing for new discussions to build within academia and beyond. Native Apparitions focuses on visual sovereignty and reclaiming Indigenous identity, Sovereign Acts includes various contributions that add to political activism and explore issues of sovereignty, while Marking Indigeneity elaborates on Tongan communities, in particular, the concepts of time and space in contemporary society. Highlighting current trends within one press’s catalogue, this review discusses the authors’ expressed need to reclaim Indigenous identities, cultures, and languages separately, yet it also examines larger Indigenous concerns across multiple communities.