For Those Who Will Follow; Earth Marred and Renewing Relationships

Wherever one is in North America, on Indigenous lands. Some peoples may have been exterminated or removed to other locations, and their contemporary presence not be highly visible, yet this remains land. Nevertheless, rarely do non-Indigenous individuals institutions consider the responsibilities that come with fact of being lands (cf. Asch, 2014). To a large extent, because settlers regard state they control as holding legitimate claim sovereign authority. Not only bars rightful relationships peoples, it also discloses settler societies’ disconnection from Earthboundedness (Asch et al., 2018; Borrows, 2018) extends both over I propose how, locality some states such Canada United States, an intimate connection between settlers’ sovereignty, mastery possession, Modernity/Coloniality, disclosed, which significant for understanding Anthropocene envisioning ways acting otherwise help remedy it. My claims regarding Modernity/Coloniality are thus perspectival; pretend offer complete universal accounts either, but rather hope diagnose distinctive features both, experienced disclosed underside Modernity. see Anthropocene, Age Man, symptom view themselves floating free land, use Brian Burkhart's formulation (2019) associated idea Man. context, does refer humanity whole, Western white cis-gendered heteropatriarchal agent (Mignolo, 2007, 2011; Yusoff, who driven by will possession (Schulz, 2017; Singh, 2018). This Modern/Colonial Man presents himself subject, thereby erases disqualifies alternative human (Singh, 2018, Chapter Introduction). engage First Nation Native American—hereafter Indigenous—political thought movements articulate un-earthbound political practices subjectivity Anthropocene. collective shorthand, my focus distinct experiences, struggles, traditions now claimed States radical alternatives disclose dominant lifeways, significance far beyond respective contexts. Although appeal distinction thoughts, essentialize deny complexities reference dynamics erasure destitution lifeways diversity subjected through Eurocentrism. In argument, thoughts path, has destituted can reconstituted (Mignolo & Walsh, 2018), renew another rest creation deviate path ecological ruin our species currently follows, already marred Earth.1 begin explaining how then argue perfected sovereignty states, Canada, expresses—and buttresses—Man's pretension world. question legitimacy validity contrast, stewardship hospitality hosts guests. These decolonize indigenize im-perfecting transcending favor reciprocal responsibilities, arise within concrete point Land Back movement practical project transcend transformation subjectivities, contributes renewal As such, article articulates localized theoretical analysis path2 light service demand mobilization get land back. shares basic theses about reason nature Dialectic Enlightenment, method adopted distinct. Horkheimer Adorno Odyssey, instance, elucidate present unearthing deep entanglement Enlightenment National Socialism tradition (Horkheimer Adorno, 2002, p. 218). For part, critical transformative sources knowledge insights silenced disavowed Modernity/Coloniality. approach disruptive conservatism challenges dominating forms terms while revitalizing recentering traditional lifeways. It seeks own voices (Allard-Tremblay, 2019), preserve ground reflections disjunctive practices, support self-determination freedom harmony all. regards having required intellectual resources negotiate problems, without assisted reduced voices, preclude engagements collaborations (decolonial) perspectives. The concept first gained grounds “geo- environmental sciences” 20 years ago (Randazzo Richter, 2021, 2), today literature topic diversified increased multifold. fruitfulness led scholars familiar literature, Steve Mentz, recognize “readers forgiven certain befuddled baffled attitude” multiplicity discourses (2019, 1), especially if expect unified account response, Mentz pp. 1-13) suggests should pluralized. Accordingly, provide interpretation taken univocal final, considering its role disavowing (Taylor, 2021). said, relevant deeply changing circumstances faced conduct trigger shared, though differentiated, even these differently distributed causes consequences (Sharp, 2020). accept ruin, need to, individually collectively, act prevent collapse ecosystems. Yet, think societies embedded broader natural contexts (Henderson, 2000; Ladner, 2003). embeddedness informs agency conceptualized; specifically, stand Creation entail Sioui, 1992, 9). sense, adopt elements “discontinuous-descriptive” perspective sees “a break Holocene” “potentially fatal” call remedial actions 4-5). “continuous-ontological” perspective, according offers opportunity more complex shaping power constitutes life environment necessarily intertwined, primarily reside reason” 5-6). Significantly, however, refuse positions last recognizing diminishes would “about deferring catastrophes enduring them, building structures address injustice we so” (Mentz, 2019, 10). Rather, similar discussed Elisa Randazzo Hannah remain “unapologetically insistent directed possible” (2021, 11). Indeed, worldviews often precarious balance ecosystems, assert importance responsibly sustain balance, precisely thinking relation contexts; James Tully reports, Haida “have mantra remind tipping-point feature inherent all living systems. They say, ‘The world sharp edge knife’” (2018, 100). avoid falling off knife, merely learn live off. Furthermore, although acknowledge stands responsibility produced universally shared 2017, 49). Black severely oppressed negatively impacted capitalist colonial processes enslavement, alienation, dispossession, extraction fueled growth powers at vanguard (Whyte, 159; Yusoff (2018) writes: “The cannot dust itself clean inventory was made: cut hands bled rubber, slave children sold weight flesh, blades sugar, lingering dislocation geography, dusting diasporic generations. shift grammar keep rawness out.” threatened threat born equally. properly comprehend brought specific, colonial, mode relating puts it: ‘Age Man’ subjectification—of nature, non-Western world, ecologies, planet” (Yusoff, subjectification denies strives others nature. seen Coloniality, consummation Modernity: work saying affirm, following Karsten Schulz, “capitalist world-ecological system,” whose current predicament clear (Moore, 2015; Parenti Moore, 2016), needs understood “inextricably linked coloniality defined … racialised, androcentric, class-based hierarchy knowing still marginalises non-western cultures histories” 47). economic system crisis, matrix integral part. Walter Mignolo explains, Modernity “darker side, ‘coloniality’” hides, nevertheless “constitutive of” (2011, 2−3).3 Coloniality refers core ideas Modernity—such progress, civilization, reason—that give rise correlative ideas—such traditionalism, savagery, superstition—that disqualify knowledges colonized, oppressed, dominated, excluded groups justify subordinated dominated positions. results control, Europeans, “colonial power,” capacity enunciate pretensions constitute structure “the economy,” “authority,” “gender sexuality,” “knowledge subjectivity” 478; 2011, 8). Europeans four domains legitimated “racial patriarchal foundation knowledge” 8) non-Europeans, non-white, non-men full right- power-bearing humanity. Importantly, explains depends fundamental “separation nature” sets Man/Human apart other-than-humans 160). underlying constitutive separations “racism,” “sexism,” “humanism,” “Eurocentrism” 163) subjects agents Modernity; hence logic objectification based ‘thingification’ so-called subaltern people nonhuman Just subject status beings […], negates right, objects mastered exploited. (2017, 51) sum, implicating subjectification, am pointing principles thought, speech, action seemingly ‘natural’ foundations unlimited earth” 58). master possess 13). drive clearly expressed René Descartes, dawn Modernity, whom rational inquiry had potential “make ourselves like masters possessors (2000, 99 translation). seeking claiming other-than-humans, define, manage, order them his wishes judgments. objectifies agency; abstracts ignoring replacing relationship ownership he determinant reference; separates denying mutual accountability those possess. Mastery allow turn into object, good possessed, resource used, extracted, exploited, destroyed 16; Mignolo, 11-13; 2015); racialized tools enslaved labor violently alienated (Wolfe, 2016); inconveniences dispossessed displacement elimination gain access (Nichols, 2020; Wolfe, 2006). Being central fuel directing Man's humans, consolidation extractive, racial, capitalism. built find diverse expressions. Julietta Singh 12) dominion expression, interpreted expression same levels. Put differently, closely enmeshed, part fabric unravel then, explore alternative, Indigenous, non-sovereign undermine other-than-human given form practice modern state. Christopher Morris (2002, 178) explains: “Sovereignty highest, supreme legal authority territorially domain direct rule.” Across most variants, marked hierarchical authority, where entity vested make final binding decision under When absolute, bound any restriction field application. idealized form, practically possessor contains—humans other-than-humans. practice, absolute uncontested hegemony confronted. possible reproduce oppose, case when violence used oppose (Alfred, 2005, 23; 2, 24; Tully, Transformative decolonial enact together challenge counterclaim sovereignty. realities seek us perceive draw out manifests engaging made contexts, before alternatives. Patrick Wolfe (2006) Lorenzo Veracini (2010, 2015) explain, colonialism organized around aim acquiring occupied peoples. gives whereby policies effect clearing naturalizing presence. Elizabeth Strakosch Alissa Macoun (2012, 42) wished-for endpoint colonialism, never achieved, moment completion. That society fully replaced naturalized replacement.” ideological essentially requires disavowal masks accordingly consistent ignore Thinking specifically terms, process naturalization Settlers satisfied authorized, were sojourners, migrants, guests (Veracini, 2015), makes dependent another. not, nor be, effectively inception inserted incorporated existing orders, sometimes drawing local (Hsueh, 2010), depended agreement authorized newcomers treaties (Asch, Lisa Ford progressively exerted extended territorial reach whole claimed. Through process, perfected, notably “by subordinating indigenous jurisdiction” (Ford, 2010, 183), effective came match normative pretensions. wish making sense that, recognizes Aboriginal rights treaty rights—and extent Crown virtue recognition 35 Constitution Act—the right here question. Supreme Court clear: “It worth recalling British policy towards native population respect occupy lands, there outset doubt legislative power, indeed title, Crown” (R. v. Sparrow, 1990). title equivalent sovereignty; burdens constant unquestionable Crown. truly countenance undermines Andrew Schaap (2009) it, “aboriginal sovereignty” appears “absurd proposition.” useful limited politics reconciliation, articulated, once again, Canada. 1997, Delgamuukw decision, affirmed purpose s. 35(1) [that constitution affirming aboriginal rights—was]—‘the reconciliation pre-existence Crown.’ Let face stay” (Delgamuukw Columbia, 1997). Such facts first, did settlers—not individuals, social, political, legal, institutions—acquire and, importantly, peoples? asking question, investigate answers, simply none convincing conclusive, contested issue 2014; Vowel, 2016, 26). Even doctrine cession, nations agreed numbered “…cede, release, surrender yield up Government Dominion ever, rights, titles privileges whatsoever, lands…” (Vowel, 254) denied basis oral traditions. hold transfer contracts, compacts durable established share explored detail Michael agree writes existed time asserted therefore, way around” (2014, Interestingly purposes, im-perfect possession. center open relational task calls “turn toward evocations subjectivities no longer wed uncritical worldly mastery” 19)4 means must undoing undermining One “be compelled reconsider guests” 2015, 106-107). option risks claim—that settlers—by another—that groups.5 avoided guest referring, enter master-host, privileges, host guest, privileged place. this, Ruth Kolezsar-Green's what host, settler, informed “teachings [that] originate span east west coasts” her discussions “Elders Traditional Teachers six different Nations” 166). Kolezsar-Green allowing understand means, teachings protocols hospitality, behave preexistence nations. envision relate perpetuate someone acknowledges commit “unsettle privilege” 174) take space differences words, assume fact.6 A respects special integrates disrupts, displaces, disavows relationship: why said “in supports ownership” (Koleszar-Green, 175). land: abstracted enacted inform governance. Correlatively, land—it welcomed. general, socialized settlers. conscious efforts everyday become legislating specific duties, learned reclaimed revitalized embraced. learning ways, supporting enabling governance key strategy whereas realms, typically relationality humans (Watts, 2013). Kiera Ladner “learning govern best context” (2003, 130). takes life-sustaining (Kimmerer, 2013; Mohawk, 7-13): stewardship, ownership. reframes away reciprocity, responsibility, contexts—becoming respectful allows embed Learning change world: decolonization indigenization relationships. evocation modality move (2007, 458) writes, “if colonizer decolonized, proper guidance damnés.” depend However, guidance, im-perfected concretely transformed. projects reconstitute recenter jurisdictions so forsaken, renewed. project; transform Over past few years, witnessed various mobilizations questions Right beginning COVID-19 pandemic, railroads blocked members Wet'suwet'en nation stop construction pipeline. protectors eventually arrested Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Unist'ot'en Camp, More recently, Algonquins Barriere Lake Québec sought moose hunting protect relative/kin moose, Mi'kmaw fishers Nova Scotia acted constitutionally protected fish despite opposition attacks fishers. Ontario, Six Nations Grand River Reserve mobilized “1492 Lane” housing development (Manuel Klein, Though forms, immediate objectives, coherently single movement, united restore manifestations movement. minimal—albeit criticized—ways giving back implementation robust free, prior, consent (FPIC). FPIC Declaration Rights Peoples (United Nations, 2007) affect interests reasons space, go developed ‘Land Red Paper’ Yellowhead Institute (2019). Of concern institutionalizing response rights; broadly resurgence revitalization. Nickita Longman, Emily Riddle, Alex Wilson, Saima Desai write “Land than sum part” (2020): “when say Back’ aren't just ground, piece paper tear pollute earth. We want alive itself, extension itself. That's back: place keeping spiritually connected.” jurisdiction guide meaning “relations back” (Gouldhawke, followed context terms.7 romanticize governance, epistemologies, laws holds promise embodied always better scepter held allowed him portion relative abundance comfort, dying. Giving sufficient predicament, way, casting hubristic becoming, Robin Kimmerer (2013, 112) “member[s] democracy species.” utopian fantasy—as shown Institute's proposal—and discomforting countenance, expectedly unsettling. refusal widely bankrupt. generates8 globalized economy beckon otherwise, wherever revitalization guests, renewed land-based earthbound try mend follow. draws research supported Social Sciences Humanities Research Council. Yann Allard-Tremblay assistant professor department science McGill University. His theory focused Indigenization theory. He member Huron-Wendat Nation.