Indigenous Antif*scism

"Leanne Betasamosake Simpson's work has been crucial to our understanding of the subjective and objective transformations necessary not merely to respond to colonization but to destroy its conditions of possibility. Her latest book, Theory of Water, helps us better discern the links between colonization, capitalism, fascism, and the state-form. It helps us continue to find the work to be done as crises intensify and broaden. Simpson teaches that there are ways otherwise, traditions and practices that can and must be woven together- sintering like snowflakes, transforming together to become part of the snowpack-to build what she has previously called constellations of co-resistance against the fascism of the present moment."

"Philosophical and political traditions that teach reform and/or revolution are insufficient to meet the task at hand. The world is on fire, and countering the fascism of the present moment requires affirming only the parts of those traditions that lead emphatically away from the archism of settler colonialism. We have come to believe that our philosophical and political practices must transform, sintering with those who have a ruthless critique of the state-form and following the maps toward futures that Simpson points at by gifting us, her readers, a theory of water."

""The deeply relational nature of our worlds means that we must fight against systems that attack and undermine the planetary network of life" (144)."

""just because Nishnaabeg worlds are deeply relational does not mean that we should be in relationship with everyone" (144)."

Relational Indigenous knowledge and water-based metaphors foreground resistance against intertwined systems of colonization, capitalism, fascism, and the state-form. Learning from water emphasizes selective relationality: relationships must protect the planetary network of life and exclude harmful actors. Reformist or solely revolutionary traditions are inadequate; only elements that decisively reject settler archism should be retained. Practices should sinter together—like snowflakes forming a snowpack—to build constellations of co-resistance. Academic knowledge production often captures Indigenous knowledge for state use, requiring vigilance and alternative practices that transform subjective and objective conditions to destroy settler colonialism’s conditions of possibility.

Read at Apaonline