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Reviews
As We Have Always Done: Indigenous Freedom through Radical Resistance by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson
kublakat's review
This was really interesting and an absolute joy to spend time with. I read this for a class but was only assigned a few chapters and glad I read the rest. I feel like this would make for a really good audiobook tbh
rmuthiah's review
2.0
I feel guilty giving it 2 stars, but I didn’t connect that much with it. It very well could be that my mind is too colonized, which is part of what she is addressing.
corneliusmcstrawberry's review
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
should be required reading for every canadian, every person who is situated on Indigenous lands called ‘canada’, especially those who are settlers and descendants from white europeans. this is not a book written *for* white canadian settlers, it is NOT a self-help book, it emphatically does not aim to appeal to us (speaking from my own view as a euro-canadian white settler). it works in and through Nishnaabeg intelligence; ever time i read leanne simpson i feel like i learn so much, not just because of the subject matter she is writing about but also because of the way she writes it and the specific lens she is working through. it’s a book that says ‘if you want to learn about colonialism in the canadian context, sure you can, but im not going to hold your hand as you board the ship; the ship left the port centuries ago and it is up to you to find your footing.’ even that message is a reductive takeaway, as it covers an expanse of relevant topics such as anti capitalism and internationalism and non-normative sexual/gender identities. it’s hard to summarize this book — just go read it. leanne simpson is a brilliant writer and you will learn something. i certainly did.
juliaem's review
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
A book club friend finished this earlier than I did, and said she felt like she needs a re-read to fully absorb this; now having finished, I feel similarly. Now having read 2 nonfiction books and a novel by Betasamosake Simpson, I don't know that I will ever love her nonfiction as much as her fiction (If you're reading this, go read Noopiming: The Cure for White Ladies right now!), which is glorious, but this is almost on par with Hospicing Modernity for me in terms of reads where you have feel your worldview experiencing growing pains (and delight!) as you go along. I'm excited to see what that pain and delight looks like in action as I continue to let Betasamosake's vision for radical resurgence sit with me, and what solidarity with that resurgence looks/feels like.
anniemackillican's review
5.0
This was a joy to read. I loved reading about Simpson’s experience of resurgence on land that I will occupy shortly; it taught me how to be respectful and to pursue resurgence and resistance on Michi Saagig territory particularly. I also loved seeing the name of the late Alex McKay pop up; a great professor deserved a spot in this great book.
This made me glad I get to read more of Simpson’s work for school this upcoming year.
This made me glad I get to read more of Simpson’s work for school this upcoming year.