The Spaces of Dangerous Freedom: Disrupting Settler Colonialism
This chapter expands on two related concepts developed by Mohawk scholar Alfred (2005): that of ‘the clearing’ and the ‘space of dangerous freedom.’ We examine how the embodied encounters in the clearing can model a powerful practice for transforming relationships in place through ritualised relational protocols. The clearing is rooted in Haudenosaunee practices and customs but can be applied to a wide variety of meetings between Indigenous peoples and Settler communities, supporting struggles for Indigenous resurgence. We follow on work by Hunt and Holmes (2015) on the complexities of pursuing decolonisation through (inter-)relational encounters in ‘everyday’ domestic spaces, and Haiven and Khasnabish (2014) on effective spaces generated in support of social justice movements.
| Item Type | Book Section |
|---|---|
| Identification Number | 10.1007/978-981-10-2654-6 |
| Additional information | Emma Battell Lowman, Adam J. Barker, ‘The Spaces of Dangerous Freedom: Disrupting Settler Colonialism’, in Sarah Maddison, Ravi de Costa, Tom Clark, eds., The Limits of Settler Colonial Reconciliation; Non-Indigenous People and the Responsibility to Engage, (Switzerland: Springer, 2016), ISBN 978-981-10-2653-9, eISBN 978-981-10-2654-6. |
| Date Deposited | 15 May 2025 16:38 |
| Last Modified | 18 Feb 2026 21:01 |