Not Sacred, Not Squaws: Indigenous Feminism Redefined
Decolonizing feminism always prioritizes the collective liberation of Indigenous and other women and names patriarchy as the central component of women’s oppression.
In Not Sacred, Not Squaws, Cherry Smiley analyses colonization and proposes a decolonized feminism enlivened by Indigenous feminist theory.
Building on the work of grassroots radical feminist theorists, Cherry Smiley outlines a female-centered theory of colonization and describes the historical and contemporary landscape in which male violence against Indigenous women in Canada and New Zealand is the norm. She calls out ‘sex work’ as a patriarchal colonizing practice and a form of male violence against women.
Questioning her own uncritical acceptance of the historical social and political status of Indigenous women in Canada – which she now recognizes as male-centred Indigenous theorizing – she examines the roles of culture and tradition in the oppression of Indigenous women and constructs an alternative decolonizing feminist methodology.
This book is a refreshing feminist contemporary challenge to the patriarchal ideology that governs our world and a vigorous and irreverent defence against the attempts to silence Indigenous radical feminists.
APRIL 2023 | ISBN 9781925950649 | Paperback | 257 pages
Decolonizing feminism always prioritizes the collective liberation of Indigenous and other women and names patriarchy as the central component of women’s oppression.
In Not Sacred, Not Squaws, Cherry Smiley analyses colonization and proposes a decolonized feminism enlivened by Indigenous feminist theory.
Building on the work of grassroots radical feminist theorists, Cherry Smiley outlines a female-centered theory of colonization and describes the historical and contemporary landscape in which male violence against Indigenous women in Canada and New Zealand is the norm. She calls out ‘sex work’ as a patriarchal colonizing practice and a form of male violence against women.
Questioning her own uncritical acceptance of the historical social and political status of Indigenous women in Canada – which she now recognizes as male-centred Indigenous theorizing – she examines the roles of culture and tradition in the oppression of Indigenous women and constructs an alternative decolonizing feminist methodology.
This book is a refreshing feminist contemporary challenge to the patriarchal ideology that governs our world and a vigorous and irreverent defence against the attempts to silence Indigenous radical feminists.
APRIL 2023 | ISBN 9781925950649 | Paperback | 257 pages
Decolonizing feminism always prioritizes the collective liberation of Indigenous and other women and names patriarchy as the central component of women’s oppression.
In Not Sacred, Not Squaws, Cherry Smiley analyses colonization and proposes a decolonized feminism enlivened by Indigenous feminist theory.
Building on the work of grassroots radical feminist theorists, Cherry Smiley outlines a female-centered theory of colonization and describes the historical and contemporary landscape in which male violence against Indigenous women in Canada and New Zealand is the norm. She calls out ‘sex work’ as a patriarchal colonizing practice and a form of male violence against women.
Questioning her own uncritical acceptance of the historical social and political status of Indigenous women in Canada – which she now recognizes as male-centred Indigenous theorizing – she examines the roles of culture and tradition in the oppression of Indigenous women and constructs an alternative decolonizing feminist methodology.
This book is a refreshing feminist contemporary challenge to the patriarchal ideology that governs our world and a vigorous and irreverent defence against the attempts to silence Indigenous radical feminists.
APRIL 2023 | ISBN 9781925950649 | Paperback | 257 pages
Endorsements
“In celebrating cultural differences, Cherry Smiley calls us all to take the courage to work together to challenge and change the patriarchy of male privilege, refusing any cultural practices that restrict, limit, or discriminate against women and girls because of their sex; all cultures and traditions are open for criticism and change.”
—Judy Atkinson, AM, Professor Emeritus and author of Trauma Trails, Recreating Song Lines: The Transgenerational Effects of Trauma in Indigenous Australia, Founder We Al-li
Read this excellent review of Not Sacred, Not Squaws by Aurora Linnea here.
Julie Bindel interviews Cherry Smiley for UnHerd. Read the UnHerd article here. .
Not Sacred, Not Squaws: Indigenous Feminism Redefined discussed by Cherry Smiley and Sheila Jeffreys for Radical Feminist PerspectivesWatch on Youtube, Women’s Declaration International. Watch on YouTube here.
Robin Morgan speaks with Cherry Smiley, an activist on prostitution and trafficking of women, and author of Not Sacred, Not Squaws: Indigenous Feminism Defined. Listen here.
Watch the launch of Not Sacred Not Squaws with Judy Atkinson on YouTube.
In this episode Cherry discusses what the dominant discourse gets wrong about colonialism and asks why it's always women who are given all the rules.
Reviews
FIVE STAR AMAZON READER REVIEW An amazing book, Smiley is incredibly insightful, down to earth and her writing is engaging and personable. Within the first few chapters she expanded my worldview and made me question what I had been taught during my time in academia. This book is a must read for feminists and Indigenous activists. Her stance is solid, true and necessary for decolonization and the dismantling of the patriarchy. And unfortunately, is not often found in mainstream activist consciousness - this book will help fill the glaring holes of logic in most gender studies and Indigenous studies university courses. I plan to pass my book on to my family and friends so her knowledge and experience can reach the people in my life. I cannot recommend this book enough!
Table of Contents
3. Toward a Decolonizing Feminist Methodology
Methodology?
Feminist Methodological Foundations
Decolonizing and Indigenous Research Methodologies
My Struggle, Our Struggles: Conscious Partiality
Ethics of Prostitution Research
(Not) Making the Documentary: An Anti-Machiavellian Upside-Down Inside-Out Research-Creation Unmovie- Making Adventure
An Outline for a Decolonizing Feminist Methodology An Example of a Decolonizing Feminist Method and Outcome
Conclusion: Toward a Decolonizing Feminist Methodology
4. Sex Work
What Does ‘Sex Work Is Work’ Mean?
Decolonizing Sex Work
Decolonization, Consent, Agency, and Choice
Colonization Only Impacts Some Indigenous Peoples’ Problems or the Problems with Trafficking Inclusive Sex Work
Sex Work Politics Are Anti-Feminist and Anti-Woman
The Mythology of Screening
Conclusion: Sex Work
5. Prostitution
Married Women and Prostituted Women
Understanding Male Violence Against Women
Prostitution Survey Results
Discussion About the Discussion
Indigenous Women Who Survived Prostitution
6.Shut Up Squaw: The Silencing of Indigenous Women
I Went to Aotearoa and All I Got Was This Lousy PhD Prostitution in New Zealand
Doing Prostitution Research in New Zealand
Attempted Silencing
The Silence Is So Loud
THE NEW ZEALAND MODEL IS THE MODEL (Just Ignore the Bad Parts)
The New Zealand Prostitutes Collective
No Child Rape Here, Only ‘Family Abuse’: Consequences of the Lack of Feminist Knowledge about Male Violence against Women
NZPC Interview
The Collusion of Queer Theory, Sex Work, and Transgender Politics
Conclusion: The Silencing of Indigenous Women
7. In Conclusion
Indigenous Feminism Redefined: Depoliticize This
Decolonizing Feminism
And in The End
Acknowledgments
List of Figures
KICK ASS GRANDMA: a poem by cherry smiley
Introduction
The Beginnings of the Beginning
Now That We’re in the Middle Let’s Start at the Beginning Original Documentary Research Plan
The Women’s Advisory Committee
Outline of a Shapeshifting Thesis
Notes About Language
Notes About Structure: Kind of Like a Collage but Not Really
1. Male Violence Against Indigenous Women in Canada
Male Violence
The Road to the Inquiry
Colonization
Indigenous Feminism as a Gender-Based Analysis of Colonization
Indigenous Feminism Is Not Feminist Indigenous Feminism Is Feminist
Indigenous Queer Theory
Memorialization and Trauma
The Importance of a Sex-Based Feminist Analysis
Conclusion: Male Violence Against Indigenous Women in Canada
2. Redefining Colonization and Indigenous Feminism
Colonization
Toward a Feminist Definition of Colonization in Canada Colonization is a Hierarchical Sex-Based Process Where Men Dominate Women
Colonization is a Process of Male Entitlement and Female Obligation
Old Skool Patriarchy?
Really Though, It Wasn’t a Feminist Utopia
So, What the Heck Does This All Mean?
Making Deals
Treaties as the First Formal Collusion Between Indigenous and White Men
The Indian Act
Colonization as an Excuse for Male Violence Against Women
Police: Defenders and Protectors of the Patriarchy