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Being Again of One Mind: Oneida Women and the Struggle for Decolonization
Being Again of One Mind combines the narratives of Oneida women of various generations with a critical reading of feminist literature on nationalism to reveal that some Indigenous women view nationalism in the form of decolonization as a way to restore traditional gender balance and well-being to their own lives and communities.By giving a voice to Oneida women's thoughts on tradition and nation, this book challenges mainstream feminist ideas about the masculine bias of Western theories of nation and about the dangers of nationalist movements that idealize women's so-called traditional role. Lina Sunseri shows that feminist insights, although useful to many women's and feminist groups, cannot be applied universally to all women or to societies with traditional forms of nation based on good relations between men and women. Oneida women do not view nationalism as a threat but rather as a way for women and men to be again of one mind.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2010
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April 1, 2026
I have never given a 5 star rating to a textbook before, but I had never read Lina Sunseri before. Assigned for a university course, Being Again of One Mind provides insight into some Indigenous women's view on nationalism.
“Decolonization is the agenda, the whole agenda, and until it is accomplished, it is the only agenda.”
I find this quote profoundly powerful because it identifies colonialism, not gender, not Indigenous men as the root cause of oppression for many Indigenous women. Where do you begin when there are so many injustices to be addressed? You start at the root. The women interviewed had clarity, understanding the importance of their community, the land, their family and future generations. They realized that until the colonial infrastructures that disrupted the Indigenous way of life are dismantled, meaningful and lasting change cannot occur.
I am left wondering what this land would look like if the matrilineal society had not been forced into a patrilineal system.
“Decolonization is the agenda, the whole agenda, and until it is accomplished, it is the only agenda.”
I find this quote profoundly powerful because it identifies colonialism, not gender, not Indigenous men as the root cause of oppression for many Indigenous women. Where do you begin when there are so many injustices to be addressed? You start at the root. The women interviewed had clarity, understanding the importance of their community, the land, their family and future generations. They realized that until the colonial infrastructures that disrupted the Indigenous way of life are dismantled, meaningful and lasting change cannot occur.
I am left wondering what this land would look like if the matrilineal society had not been forced into a patrilineal system.
Displaying 1 of 1 review