Tip | “Dancing on our turtle’s back”: A book on the concept of Indigenous knowledge and culture by Adivaani.org – Canada

Dancing on our turtle’s back: Stories of Nishnaabeg Re-Creation, Resurgence, and a New Emergence. By Leanne Betasamosake Simpson. Kolkata: Adivaani. 2014 (First published in Canada, 2012) ISBN 9788192554174. Rs. 250. | Order details >>

Felix Padel reviews Dancing on our turtle’s back…

Because we belong to the land — a special introductory section for the Indian edition makes clear what Indigenous peoples worldwide have in common, alongside an infinite array of differences […]

This book is a timely affirmation of Indigenous together with environmental issues. Dancing on our turtle’s back refers to the continent of America, and implicitly Mother Earth, as the turtle we dance on.  […]

These details give a few glimpses into traditions and thought processes both very distant, and very close to living Adivasi traditions, whose wealth is rapidly eroding in the rush for change. Dancing on our turtle’s back complements a gentle conjuring of Indigenous consciousness, with vast sensitivity towards issues of child-rearing and female identity. India needs a resurgence of indigenous consciousness and thinking processes, in a time when many people are losing awareness of deep spiritual links to the land; when Indigenous cultures face many levels of genocide; and when movements of resistance to unjust takeovers and repression need to call on ancient, enduring forms knowledge lying dormant in the land and people’s hearts. | Read the full review by Felix Padel >>

From the Introduction to the Indian edition

[…] Indigenous resurgent theory is based on very old Indigenous ideas about how to survive devastation, how to rebuild our worlds, and how to re-emerge as engaged, caring societies. Indigenous philosophies, although diverse and unique to our place-based nations, hold the idea that the way we bring about that transformation must be consistent with the end goal. If we are trying to build strong and healthy Indigenous nations, the way that we do that must be consistent with our own values, philosophies […]
I originally wrote this book for a Nishnaabeg audience—for my friends and family and like minded people in my community and nation. I wrote to my children and to my great grandchildren. I wrote for myself, to remember. It never occurred to me at the time that this book would be of interest to other Indigenous peoples in Canada. It never occurred to me that non-Native people would be able to connect to the book, and I was surprised the day I learned a publisher in India was buying the international rights to the book. | Read more >>

Publisher’s information

In the end of 2012, adivaani was following the emergence of the Idle no more movement of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprising the First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples and their non-Aboriginal supporters in Canada. This in their own words is a peaceful revolution to honour Indigenous sovereignty and to protect the land and water.

It was during this interface that we came across Canadian indigenous scholar and writer Leanne Betasamosake Simpson. | Read more >>

Source: Dancing on our turtle’s back: Leanne Betasamosake Simpson | adivaani
Address : https://adivaani.org/2014/06/16/dancing-on-our-turtles-back-leanne-betasamosake-simpson/
Date Visited: Thu Oct 23 2014 19:26:47 GMT+0200 (CEST)

Read the full interview, click here >>

We published Leanne’s Dancing on our turtle’s back in India because we think a resurgence of indigenous consciousness and thinking processes is very much needed. At a time when many indigenous people are losing awareness of deep spiritual links to the land; when Indigenous cultures face many levels of genocide; and when movements of resistance to unjust takeovers and repression need to call on ancient, enduring forms of knowledge lying dormant in the land and people’s hearts.

We then decided to interview Leanne knowing that her experience and insight would help our readers, activists and journalists to understand why the book matters to us. Here’s the transcript of the conversation between Leanne and Ruby, on July 18th, 2014.

Source: adivaani
Address : https://adivaani.org/
Date Visited: Thu Oct 23 2014 19:16:47 GMT+0200 (CEST)

Learn more

Adivasi (Adibasi)

Adivaani (platform for indigenous expression and assertion)

Biodiversity and development – Jharkhand

Colonial policies

Education and literacy | Right to education

Ghosaldanga Bishnubati Adibasi Trust

Hul (Santal rebellion 1855-1856) | Tribal freedom fighters

“Is tribal identity relevant in today’s world?” Inaugural Speech for “Tribes In Transition-II: Reaffirming Indigenous Identity Through Narrative” (National Conference 2017) – New Delhi

Literature and bibliographies | Literature – fiction | Poetry

Revival of traditions

Santal | Santal Parganas | The Santals by Boro Baski

Storytelling

Success story 

Video | Hul Sengel: The Spirit of the Santal Revolution (1855)

Video | Poetry reading by “Marshal” Parimal Hembram – West Bengal