Allotment Stories: Indigenous Land Relations under Settler Siege

The book "Allotment Stories" explores over two dozen accounts of Indigenous resistance to the privatization and allotment of Indigenous lands, highlighting the devastating consequences of this settler colonial process. It showcases diverse disciplinary perspectives and how Indigenous peoples have used creativity to sustain collective ties and cultural commitments.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 376 pages
Publication date: 22 April 2022
Publisher: University of Minnesota Press

Land privatization has been a protracted and ongoing settler colonial process that has severed Indigenous peoples from their ancestral lands, resulting in devastating consequences. Allotment Stories explores this conflict, weaving a rich tapestry of narratives from Indigenous communities who have resisted allotment and other dispossessive land schemes. From the nineteenth-century Anishinaabe women's use of homesteading to maintain their independence to the role that roads have played in expropriating Guam's Indigenous heritage to the connections between land loss and genocide in California, Allotment Stories gathers over two dozen chronicles of white imperialism and Indigenous resistance. Spanning from historical to contemporary times and addressing Indigenous land struggles across the globe, these narratives showcase a diverse range of scholarly and creative expressions, creating a multifaceted book that offers insights and provokes further research into Indigenous resilience.

One of the key themes that emerges from these narratives is the resilience of Indigenous peoples in the face of privatization. Contributors to the book, including Jennifer Adese, Megan Baker, William Bauer Jr., Christine Taitano DeLisle, Vicente M. Diaz, Sarah Biscarra Dilley, Marilyn Dumont, and Munir Fakher Eldin, provide insights into how Indigenous communities have creatively sustained collective ties, kinship relations, and cultural commitments despite the forces of allotment.

One example highlighted in the book is the use of homesteading by nineteenth-century Anishinaabe women to maintain their independence. Homesteading allowed these women to claim and cultivate land, which was crucial in preserving their cultural practices and livelihoods. Despite the challenges of colonialism and allotment, these women continued to cultivate their land and pass on their traditions to future generations.

Another notable aspect of the book is the role that roads have played in expropriating Guam's Indigenous heritage. Roads were constructed by the United States military during World War II, leading to the displacement of many Guam residents and the loss of their traditional lands. The book explores how the construction of roads facilitated the colonization of Guam and the dispossession of its Indigenous people.

The connections between land loss and genocide in California are also explored in the book. The book notes that the forced relocation and dispossession of Indigenous peoples in California during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries were closely linked to the loss of their land and resources. The book argues that the dispossession of Indigenous peoples was a key factor in the genocide of Native Americans in California.

Allotment Stories highlights how Indigenous peoples have consistently used creativity to sustain collective ties, kinship relations, and cultural commitments in the face of privatization. The book showcases a range of scholarly and creative forms of expression, including essays, poetry, and visual art, that provide a deeper understanding of the complexities of Indigenous land struggles.

In conclusion, Allotment Stories is a valuable contribution to the field of Indigenous studies. The book provides a rich tapestry of narratives that showcase the resilience and creativity of Indigenous peoples in the face of privatization and dispossession. By highlighting the historical and contemporary experiences of Indigenous communities, the book encourages readers to further explore the complexities of Indigenous land struggles and to recognize the ongoing struggles of Indigenous peoples to reclaim their ancestral lands and preserve their cultural heritage.

Dimension: 229 x 178 x 51 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781517908768