These Indigenous Feminists Are Ready To Lovingly Detonate The Patriarchy

“I don’t accept colonizers propaganda about what constitutes a ‘successful’ Indian. In my opinion, any Indian still alive is a success.”

For as long as the United States has existed as a settler-colonial nation — a good 500 years at least — Indigenous people have resisted state violence and worked tirelessly to survive and thrive. Yet despite this long history of protest and community-building, Indigenous voices and issues are predominantly invisible in conversations on social justice.

What does this continued erasure — even by those who claim to be anti-racist — mean for Indigenous people, our tribal nations, and the nation as a whole? How are Indigenous activists, creators, and scholars building resilient and healthy communities?

I recently spoke with four prominent Indigenous people about feminism, resistance, and tribal sovereignty:

Leanne Simpson is a Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg activist, scholar, and poet who was heavily involved with the Idle No More movement that called attention to treaty violations and environmental degradation.