Decolonizing Your Emotions: A Call to Action
Indigenous women have been subjected to centuries of colonial violence, oppression, and dispossession. The impact of these experiences cannot be overstated, and has had a profound effect on the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual well-being of Indigenous women. In order to advance the struggle for decolonization, it is crucial to recognize and embrace the full range of emotional responses that result from these experiences.
In the paper, “Refusal to forgive: Indigenous women’s love and rage,” Rachel Flowers provides a critical examination of the use of the term “love” to describe Indigenous women’s resistance to colonization and solidarity with settler society. Flowers argues that this tendency is problematic because it suppresses the voices and struggles of Indigenous women, denies the validity of other decolonial emotional responses such as sadness, anger, or resentment, and ultimately undermines the transformative potential of these emotions.
The author explains that emotions are not simply personal experiences, but are also deeply political and have the power to shape the larger discourse and understanding of the world. The use of “love” to describe Indigenous women’s resistance reinforces the notion that Indigenous women must constantly be forgiving and loving towards our oppressors, perpetuates the cycle of violence and oppression, and undermines the struggle for decolonization.
The denial of Indigenous women’s anger and resentment perpetuates colonial violence and dispossession in several ways. It reinforces the power dynamic between Indigenous women and oppressors, silences our voices and struggles, suppresses the transformative potential of these emotions, perpetuates the cycle of violence, and ignores the experiences of Indigenous women. This reinforces the idea that Indigenous women should be patient and understanding, even in the face of ongoing colonial violence and dispossession, and perpetuates the power dynamic between Indigenous women and our oppressors.
However, there are several potential solutions to address the denial of Indigenous women’s anger and resentment in the decolonization process. These include the advancement of decolonization, education, awareness, and emotional capacity-building, recognition and acceptance of all decolonial emotional responses, support for Indigenous-led initiatives, and the fostering of alliances between Indigenous women and allies.
Advancement of decolonization, education, awareness, and emotional capacity-building is crucial in challenging widespread biases and assumptions surrounding acceptable emotional responses in the face of colonial harm. By acknowledging the full spectrum of emotional responses, Indigenous women can assert their agency and counteract ongoing colonial violence and dispossession. This requires recognition and acceptance of Indigenous women’s anger and resentment as valid and crucial responses to the ongoing violence and harm inflicted by colonialism.
Supporting Indigenous-led initiatives, such as community organizations, cultural and artistic initiatives, and political activism, can help to empower Indigenous women and give them a platform to resist ongoing colonial violence and dispossession. Additionally, fostering alliances between Indigenous women and allies, such as settlers, activists, and academics, can help to raise awareness about the experiences of Indigenous women and to challenge the notion that love is the only acceptable response to colonization. These alliances can also provide a space for collective resistance and solidarity in the struggle for decolonization.
In conclusion, recognizing and embracing the full range of emotional responses is crucial in advancing the struggle for decolonization and promoting a more equitable and just society for everyone. The denial of Indigenous women’s anger and resentment perpetuates colonial violence and dispossession, reinforces the power dynamic between Indigenous women and oppressors, and undermines the struggle for decolonization. Through education, awareness, and support for Indigenous-led initiatives, we can challenge the notion that “love” is the only acceptable response to colonization and work towards a future where Indigenous women are free from violence, oppression; and recognize ways in which even “well-intentioned” behaviour can perpetuate systemic harm and inequities.