Native North American Literature and Literary Activism

The works included in this issue arise out of an awareness of the historical settler colonial ‘word wars’, but they proceed as well from a twenty-first century understanding of the trans-indigenous, the global, the digital, and the capitalistic underpinning of contemporary societies. Therefore, they become palimpsestic works, layered with complex allusions. At times the works arise from an awareness of imminent danger — not to Native nations alone, but to the very planet itself. Pieces in this volume attend to global environmental concerns, justice issues as well as location-specific or tribal nation-specific political disputes. Though the balance may shift in these literary exposes between artistic and political concerns, most proceed from a commitment to tribal continuance. This issue illustrates that indigenous activism is proactive, not simply reactive. It is grounded in the firm belief in our obligation to past and future communities, impressing on individuals a responsibility to the collective.