Indigenous in the City: Contemporary Identities and Cultural Innovation

by Evelyn Peters (Editor), Chris Andersen (Editor)

Research on Indigenous issues rarely focuses on life in major metropolitan centres. Instead, there is a tendency to frame rural locations as emblematic of authentic or “real” Indigeneity. While such a perspective may support Indigenous struggles for territory and recognition, it fails to account for large swaths of contemporary Indigenous realities, including the increased presence of Indigenous people in cities. The contributors to this volume explore the implications of urbanization on the production of distinctive Indigenous identities in Canada, the US, New Zealand, and Australia. In doing so, they demonstrate the resilience, creativity, and complexity of the urban Indigenous presence.

Genres: Indigenous, Nonfiction

428 pages, Paperback

First published February 23, 2012

Reviews

[Dasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a diverse collection of essays that takes an international approach (focusing on Canada, US, Australia, and New Zealand) in order to reveal the similarities and differences in conceptualizing urban Indigenous identity in a variety of settler-colonial countries. I also appreciate that over half the authors are Indigenous which highlights the importance of elevating Indigenous scholars and their perspectives. While long, you could also conceptualize this as four separate books (one for each country) where essays would be great for assigned readings in a course.

[Daniel Dumas · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Indigenous in the City" explores the lived experiences of urban Indigenous peoples across present-day Canada, the US, Australia, and New Zealand. The chapters touch upon the evolving character of urban Indigeneity through a variety of disciplinary lenses. With urban Indigenous populations steadily growing and cities becoming the primary residence for the majority of Indigenous peoples, this book is timely, thought-provoking, and provides ample direction for further study.

One key takeaway is that Indigeneity is not static or rooted in a romantic rural/hinterland past. All settler cities are located on traditional Indigenous territories and despite historical efforts to exclude them from urban areas (especially in the Canadian context), they have always had and will continue to have a crucial stake in city life.

[Zoe Chambers · Rating 3 out of 5]

lowkey ate

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for an Indigenous Studies course at University and it is such a great book. It is both insightful and statistical without being overwhelming and tied the different countries together.